The way the game started for the White Sox Monday, it looked like they wanted to give back the game that Cleveland gift wrapped for them on Sunday. Detroit scored two unearned runs in the third inning after Gordon Beckham dropped a ball which was followed by an “I got it, I got, you get it” moment between Alex Rios and Alexei Ramirez. The Sox would get past that and go on to win 6-3.
The White Sox (50-51) closed the gap to 2-1 in the third after a sacrifice fly by Paul Konerko. The Sox would then take the lead in the fifth thanks to an RBI single by Alexei Ramirez and a two-run double by Carlos Quentin. A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko would add solo homeruns and the Sox would go on to a 6-3 victory in game one of the series.
Mark Buehrle pitched well again for the Sox on Monday. Buehrle went six innings and allowed no earned runs on ten hits. The Sox lefty improved to 8-5 on the season. Sergio Santos got the last two outs to earn his 21st save of the season.
Tigers (54-48) rookie Duane Below struggled in his second career start. Below lasted just four and two-thirds and allowed four runs on six hits. The Detroit lefty fell to 0-1 on the season.
Things won’t get easier for the Sox when they face off Tuesday against Justin Verlander.