In 17 games the Detroit Tigers scored only 45 runs, averaging just 2.6 per game. As a team, they were hitting .203/.280/.311 and only scored more than five runs in a game twice.
Of course in their first game against the White Sox, Detroit unleashed for a season-high nine runs on 14 hits on their way to a 9-7 victory.
Sox hitters had a tough time squaring up against Tigers starter, Tyson Ross. After four innings, only Ryan Cordell had a base hit against Ross, who oddly retired 12 out of 13 batters without a strikeout. Meanwhile, old friend Gordon Beckham started the Tigers offense early. Beckham singled and scored off Greyson Greiner’s double in the second inning. In the fourth, Beckham singled, stole second, and scored off Greiner’s single giving Detroit a 2-0 lead early.
In the fifth inning is when Sox hitters started to figure Ross out. Three straight singles from Tim Anderson, Welington Castillo, and Yolmer Sanchez cut the lead in half to 2-1. Then after two quick outs in the sixth inning, Yonder Alonso hit a sharp grounder that Tigers first baseman Niko Goodrum couldn’t field cleanly. Second baseman Josh Harrison almost made the play from the outfield, but Alonso barely beat out the throw to keep the inning alive.
That set the stage for Eloy Jimenez, who took advantage of the second life by taking Ross deep to right field for his third home run of the season, and the Sox were ahead, 3-2.
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There was hope for more runs as Sanchez walked, Cordell singled, and Leury Garcia reached on a throwing error by Candelario loading the bases for Yoan Moncada.
A day after being hit in the head stealing second base, Moncada wasn’t able to put the ball in play striking out on a slider low in the zone ending the threat. Moncada went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, and missing out on that opportunity might have been the difference in this game.
Carson Fulmer called up again by the White Sox was tasked with the eighth inning. After allowing a single to Greiner on a 0-2 count, Fulmer hit both Jones and Harrison with pitches. Bases loaded, Castellanos hit a sac fly to center deep enough to score a run and move Jones from second to third base. That came in handy as Cabrera also hit a sac fly to left that plated Jones putting the Tigers ahead for good. Closer Shane Greene notched his ninth save of the season pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Game Notes:
- White Sox 1-2-3 hitters (Garcia, Moncada, and Abreu) went 0-for-15 today.
- Tim Anderson is now hitting .422 on the season with a 2-for-5 day at the plate and scored twice.
- The White Sox have allowed 107 runs in 18 games this season (5.94 runs allowed per game).
Record: 7-11 | Box Score | Highlights
