Cabrera fuels White Sox to series win over Tigers
CHICAGO -- Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs as the Chicago White Sox rallied for a 7-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.
Jose Abreu and Tyler Saladino added three hits apiece as the White Sox claimed the series victory. Chicago (67-72) has won four of its past six games.
Justin Upton went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Tigers. Detroit (75-64) dropped back-to-back games for the first time this month.
White Sox right-hander Chris Beck (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings to earn the win.
Tigers right-hander Shane Greene (3-4) absorbed the loss out of the bullpen. He allowed three runs on three hits while retiring only one White Sox hitter.
Closer David Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 35th save.
Chicago rallied with four runs in the eighth inning to erase a 4-3 deficit. Justin Morneau doubled to the wall in right-center field to drive in Abreu. Pinch runner J.B. Shuck replaced Morneau at second base and sprinted home on Avisail Garcia's single to center field. Saladino and Adam Eaton each added run-scoring singles as Detroit manager Brad Ausmus reached deeper into his bullpen.
White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana did not factor into the decision after failing to record a quality start for the second straight outing. In 6 2/3 innings, Quintana surrendered four runs on eight hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez also did not factor into the decision after a rocky performance. Sanchez allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out three.
The White Sox grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cabrera drove in Tim Anderson with a double to left-center field.
The Tigers responded quickly to go ahead 3-1 in the second inning. After back-to-back singles by Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez, Upton ripped a line-drive home run into the left-field bleachers. The blast marked Upton's 22nd home run of the season and his fourth in the past six games.
One inning later, a defensive miscue by Upton helped Chicago even the score at 3. Upton misjudged a soft fly ball from Cabrera, which fell in front of the left fielder and allowed Saladino to score from third base. Abreu followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center field to drive in Eaton.
Detroit regained a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning. Jose Iglesias hooked a ground-rule double down the left-field line to drive in James McCann and chase Quintana from the game.
NOTES: The start of the game was delayed by 40 minutes because of severe weather in the area. ... Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler returned to the lineup for the first time since a ground ball ripped the nail off his right middle finger on Sunday. ... White Sox RHP James Shields threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled to start Saturday against Kansas City, manager Robin Ventura said. Shields' next start had been in jeopardy because of tightness in his back. He is 5-17 with a 6.07 ERA in 28 starts. ... Tigers 3B Casey McGehee started his second game in a row since being promoted from Triple-A Toledo. The 33-year-old journeyman replaced rookie 3B JaCoby Jones, who started the series opener. ... White Sox C Omar Narvaez started his second straight game ahead of C Alex Avila, who has three home runs in his past six starts.