White Sox 1 - 6 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Tigers take out White Sox to win series

Sep 25, 2014 - 2:46 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Ian Kinsler collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs, while Justin Verlander tossed eight strong innings, as Detroit claimed a 6-1 decision over Chicago in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Miguel Cabrera, Nick Castellanos, Andrew Romine and Rajai Davis finished with an RBI each for the Tigers, and gained a postseason berth with a Mariners loss and whose magic number to clinch the AL Central was reduced to three with four games left. They lead Kansas City by two games after the Royals lost in Cleveland.

"We should be way better than where we're at right now," Victor Martinez admitted. "I've been around in the game for a little bit and that just shows you how baseball can be. That's why you don't take anything for granted."

J.D. Martinez added three hits and a run scored.

Verlander (15-12) gave up a run on seven hits with six strikeouts, then Joakim Soria tossed a perfect ninth to lock up the matinee and series victory.

Conor Gillaspie posted two hits and Dayan Viciedo knocked in the lone run for the White Sox.

Javy Guerra (2-4) was charged with two runs in the seventh inning to take the loss. Chris Sale worked the first six frames, fanning 10 and walking three while allowing four hits and one run.

Detroit surged ahead in the home seventh, taking advantage of the Chicago bullpen. Davis singled with one out and came in when Kinsler ripped a double to the wall in left, Torii Hunter singled to put runners on the corners and Kinsler was able to come in on a Cabrera fly to left for a 3-1 score.

A suicide squeeze bunt from Romine to the third-base side of home plate allowed J.D. Martinez to score in the eighth to provide a three-run cushion for the Tigers. Davis added an infield single to score Don Kelly then a solid hit from Kinsler plated Davis and made it 6-1.

Chicago put runners on the corners with one out in the fifth, but Adam Eaton reached on a fielder's choice where Jordan Danks was tagged out in a rundown between third and home, then Alexei Ramirez lined out.

The Sox picked up a run in the following frame, as Jose Abreu singled, stole second and scored on a two-out triple from Viciedo.

Victor Martinez was hit in the forearm with one down in the home half -- briefly drawing the ire of the Tigers and causing a stoppage in play when both benches emptied.

"(Avisail) Garcia came down from right field and I was like, 'What's wrong with him?'" Martinez said. "He was saying, 'You've got somebody behind that is giving you signs.'"

Sale responded: "Oh, shoot, I mean, obviously we know the numbers against myself. If you are going to pitch him in, you got to get in. One got away."

Once the players were dispersed, J.D. Martinez followed with a double and a liner to right-center from Castellanos scored Victor Martinez easily.

Game Notes

Detroit won 10 of 19 games against Chicago this season, and split 10 meetings at Comerica Park ... Verlander is unbeaten in his last four starts since Sept. 8, winning three ... Sale has not lost back-to-back starts in 2014 ... Both clubs are in action on Thursday, as the Tigers begin a four-game season-ending set by welcoming Minnesota, while the White Sox return home to host Kansas City for the first of four.






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