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Sox Blow Seven Run Lead, Fall To Tigers in Ninth

Sox blow lead and playoff hopes with tough loss on Saturday.

By Tim Sieck
Getty Images

The Chicago White Sox came in to this weekend series realistically needing a sweep against the first-place Detroit to have any shot at making the playoffs. Not only was Saturday one of their worst losses on the field, it pretty much ended any hopes the Sox had of making the postseason.

Things got off to a nice start for the Sox in Detroit Saturday afternoon.  A.J. Pierzynski gave the Sox a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly. The lead wouldn't last long though when Miguel Cabrera tied things up with an RBI double in the bottom of the first. Things looked good for the Sox in the fourth inning. The Sox scored five times highlighted by a three-run homer from Alexei Ramirez to give Chicago a 6-1 lead. In the fifth the Sox increased their lead after back to back homeruns by Alejandro De Aza and Brent Morel. Everything looked great as the Sox held an 8-1 lead.

The Tigers would begin to mount a comeback starting in the fifth. The Tigers scored three times in the fifth, once in the seventh, and once in the eighth to pull within two heading to the ninth. Things still looked ok for the Sox though with their closer Sergio Santos taking the mound. That all changed with one out in the ninth. Austin Jackson started things off with a triple and Ryan Raburn would tie things up with a two-run homer. One pitch later the game was over as Miguel Cabrera homered to give Detroit the win 9-8.

Gavin Floyd started the game for the Sox and didn't pitch great. Floyd went five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. The Sox righty didn't figure in on the decision. Sergio Santos took the loss and dropped his record to 3-4. Saturday was Santos' fifth blown save of the season.

Brad Penny struggled Saturday for the Tigers. Penny went five innings and allowed eight runs, four earned, on ten hits. The veteran righty didn't figure in on the decision. Luis Marte got the win to improve his record to 1-0.

The Sox will look to avoid the sweep when the two teams meet Sunday evening in the Motor City.