• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Tigers try to become first team to 10 wins

Apr 18, 2015 - 11:40 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Tigers try to become the first team to 10 wins on Saturday when they continue their three-game set with the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park.

Detroit won for the ninth time in 10 tries in dramatic fashion on Friday, as Jose Iglesias' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the red-hot Tigers to a 2-1 win.

After Jeff Samardzija pitched eight solid innings, the White Sox sent Zach Duke (1-1) to the mound in the ninth. Nick Castellanos led off with a hit to right that fell in front of a charging Avisail Garcia. The right fielder made a nice throw to second and shortstop Alexei Ramirez appeared to make the tag on Castellanos, who was going for a double. But Castellanos was called safe.

"It was a bang-bang play, and I couldn't really feel if he touched me or not," Castellanos said. "A lot of umpires, if the ball beats you there, they take it for granted and call you out. I was happy that didn't happen."

Andrew Romine came on as a pinch-runner and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on Iglesias' hit to right-center field.

Detroit starter David Price gave up one run on four hits while striking out nine and walking two over eight innings. Joakim Soria (1-0) tossed a perfect ninth to pick up the win.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 9-1 overall -- matching Detroit's 1984, 1968 and 1911 teams for the best 10-game start in franchise history. Of course, the '84 team started that season with 16 wins in 17 games en route to a world title.

"3 for 3 in my starts being GREAT team wins!!," Price tweeted after the game. "Not a better feeling than your team WINNING!! Shark was nasty but we held our ground!!"

Samardzija allowed one run on eight hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

"When you are facing their ace, you know you've got to be ready," Samardzija said. "I knew I had to pound the strike zone, but the home run to Cespedes was basically the game. I wish I had that one back."

After totaling 47 runs through their first six games, the Tigers have managed two or less in their last three. All three, though, have been wins.

Runs figure to be at a premium again on Saturday when Chicago sends lefty Chris Sale to the hill. After missing some time recovering from an avulsion fracture in his right foot Sale won his season debut on Sunday against Minnesota, as he allowed a run and five hits in six innings.

"Like I said before, I'm not hurt anymore. I'm back to being a baseball player," Sale said. "It helps when you have some runs in your back pocket, too, especially that early in the game. You try to find a rhythm and try not to mess it up."

Sale has split 10 decisions against the Tigers, while pitching to a 2.84 ERA in 21 games (11 starts) against them.

Detroit, meanwhile, will counter with an impressive hurler of its own, but one who has the only loss on its team in righty Anibal Sanchez, who is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA. Sanchez tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings to win his first start, but was roughed up in Pittsburgh on Monday to the tune of five runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 frames.

He also served up three home runs, but did strikeout nine batters without allowing a walk.

Sanchez gave up nine home runs over 182 innings in 2013, resulting in the best home-run rate in the AL. He actually improved that rate last year with four homers over 126 innings.

"It's one game," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "I'm not going to start harping on him giving up home runs. It was one game."

Detroit was 10-9 versus the White Sox last season.