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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Gordon Beckham clubbed a three-run homer and Mark Teahen added a two-run blast in his return from the disabled list, as the Chicago White Sox doubled up Detroit, 8-4, in the rainy opener of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.
Juan Pierre hit a run-scoring triple for the White Sox, while Mark Buehrle (11-9) earned the win after giving up three runs on five hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
Chicago, which has won 22 of its last 26 home games, remains one game back of AL Central-leading Minnesota. The Twins beat Oakland on Friday.
Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn both homered for the Tigers, who have dropped seven of nine. Jeremy Bonderman (6-8) allowed six runs on seven hits over six full frames to take the loss.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Teahen, who hadn't played since May 30 because of a fractured middle finger on his right hand, and Alexei Ramirez hit back-to-back singles to begin the inning. After a sacrifice by A.J. Pierzynski, Mark Kotsay hit a chopper to the mound. Bonderman fielded the ball but his throw home wasn't in time to get Teahen. Beckham followed by crushing an 1-0 pitch to right-center field for his seventh home run of the season.
The Tigers trailed 4-2 in the sixth after consecutive RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen, but Teahen followed a one-out walk to Paul Konerko in the home half of the inning with a blast to right field.
Buehrle was replaced on the mound by Sergio Santos after the veteran left- hander surrendered a home run to Raburn. Gerald Laird then reached on an infield single before the rain came.
Santos returned to pitch following a 1-hour, 22-minute delay and walked Austin Jackson, but fanned Johnny Damon and got Jhonny Peralta to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Eddie Bonine succeeded Bonderman to start the bottom of the seventh and gave up back-to-back triples to Beckham and Pierre.
Inge and Ramirez exchanged home runs in the eighth inning.
Buehrle has won eight of his last 11 decisions. He improved to 16-8 lifetime against the Tigers...Chicago is 7-2 against Detroit this season...The White Sox optioned infielder Dayan Viciedo to Triple-A Charlotte following Thursday's loss to Minnesota to make room for Teahen.
(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers are fading fast from the postseason picture, but can throw a wrench in the Chicago White Sox' playoff aspirations when the two AL Central rivals begin a three-game series tonight from U.S. Cellular Field.
Detroit is 9 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the division lead and the White Sox sit one game back after just losing two of three matchups with the Twins at home. In Thursday's 6-1 loss in the series finale, A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and knocked in Chicago's lone run.
Alex Rios collected a pair of hits for the White Sox, who have lost four of five games. Starter Gavin Floyd was dealt the loss for allowing six runs and 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings
"We missed a lot of opportunities," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "We got people on base almost every inning and we couldn't get a base hit."
Guillen and company will pay a visit to the Twins at Target Field following this series with the Tigers.
Chicago looks for a bounce-back performance from starter Mark Buehrle when he takes the hill tonight. Buehrle was 7-2 with a 2.70 earned run average in a 10-start span before losing at Baltimore his last time out on Sunday. In the 4-3 setback to the Orioles. he allowed four runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits though seven innings of work. The left-hander fell to 10-9 in 23 starts this season to go along with a 4.04 ERA.
Buehrle, who has won five of seven decisions in 10 starts at home, beat Detroit in the first game of a doubleheader on August 3 with 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball in a 12-2 drubbing from Comerica Park. He is 15-8 with a 2.97 ERA in 29 career games (28 starts) against the Tigers.
Detroit will begin a seven-game road trip against the White Sox and Yankees and was able to salvage the finale of a three-game home set versus Tampa Bay with Wednesday's 3-2 triumph.
Ryan Raburn clubbed a two-run homer in the sixth inning to put the Tigers ahead for good and Brandon Ingeadded a run-scoring single. Justin Verlander started for Detroit and recorded his 13th win with six innings of one-run ball and seven strikeouts.
"We just haven't done very well lately. We haven't had much offense," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "We had a big blow from Raburn, and that helps obviously. Verlander limited damage. I was a little concerned about the high pitch count early, but we got through it."
Ryan Perry threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Verlander and Jose Valverde allowed one unearned run in 1 1/3 frames for his 22nd save.
Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman enters tonight's contest on a losing decision, as he was reached for four runs and four hits in only 4 1/3 innings of a 10-1 setback versus the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday.
Bonderman is 6-7 with a 4.96 earned run average in 21 games (20 starts) this season. He defeated Chicago in the nightcap of that twinbill on August 3, hurling 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a 7-1 victory. He is 6-10 with a 4.56 ERA in 17 career starts against the White Sox.
Chicago is 6-2 against Detroit this season after the two AL Central inhabitants split 18 matchups a year ago.
Sox May Send Jenks To DL
According to the Sun-Times, Bobby Jenks’ bad back may send him to the DL:
Aug 14 8:34a by Al Yellon - 0 comments