White Sox 1 - 6 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Sale states AL Cy Young case in Detroit

Sep 24, 2014 - 11:36 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Sale will state his case to be the American League's Cy Young Award winner for likely the final time and get a chance to play spoiler in the process on Wednesday when the Chicago White Sox close out a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Sale may not have the wins, but he has certainly been one of the best pitchers in the AL this season, as he enters what will probably be his final start with a league best 2.20 ERA.

The left-hander had compiled a 1.54 ERA over his previous six starts before getting roughed up last Wednesday in Kansas City, as the Royals reached him for five runs and nine hits in five innings to drop him to 12-4 on the season.

"It shocks you when that happens," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It just shows he's human. He'll bounce back. It's just that tonight wasn't his night."

Sale will try to bounce back against a Tigers team that he has gone 5-5 against in his career with a 2.93 ERA in 20 games (10 starts).

Detroit, meanwhile, will counter with righty Justin Verlander, who is 14-12 with a 4.68 ERA. Verlander was spotted a 10-run lead and won his second straight decision on Friday in Kansas City, as he surrendered a run and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings.

"Guys do recognize the moment. I think that's what makes this team so special," Verlander said. "I think this entire team, especially the veterans, recognize the moment. This is one of those moments when you need to step up, and obviously I wasn't the only one. We scored 10 runs."

Verlander is 16-13 lifetime versus the White Sox with a 4.07 ERA in 33 starts.

Detroit moved one step closer to an AL Central title on Tuesday, as Miguel Cabrera's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Tigers to a 4-3 win.

David Price surrendered just three hits through eight frames before the White Sox tagged him for three runs on five hits to tie the game in the ninth. Joe Nathan (5-4) recorded the final out to notch the win and the hosts bounced right back in the home half.

Ian Kinsler singled and Torii Hunter walked against Jake Petricka (1-6) before Cabrera ripped a base hit to left to plate Kinsler and record his 11th career game-winning hit.

"That was a little more stressful than we wanted to make it, but we'll take it," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.

Detroit remains a game ahead of Kansas City for first place in the AL Central following the Royals' 7-1 win over Cleveland Tuesday.

Cabrera finished 2-for-5, while Kinsler posted two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Tigers, who have a magic number of five for clinching the division.

Chicago has split its 18 matchups with the Tigers.






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