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Tigers hope to bounce back against White Sox

May 6, 2015 - 2:21 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Tigers will try to bounce back against the AL Central-rival Chicago White Sox when the clubs resume a three-game series Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Tigers suffered a 5-2 loss in Tuesday's series opener and starting pitcher Shane Greene was in search of his fourth win of the season. However, Greene was banged around for all five runs and five hits in only 2 2/3 innings.

A four-run third inning sent Greene to the showers.

"The four-run inning is obviously what hurt us," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "(Greene) had trouble throwing strikes."

Alex Avila homered and Ian Kinsler went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Detroit, which entered the night having won two straight and six of nine games. The Tigers are 4-4 on a 10-game road trip.

Alfredo Simon looks to pitch the Tigers back into the win column Wednesday and he has a 4-1 record to go along with a 3.13 earned run average in five starts. Simon was aiming for a 5-0 start, but was beaten by Kansas City last Thursday in an 8-1 defeat at Kauffman Stadium.

Simon gave up a season-high six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked two batters. The Dominican right-hander will make his first career start against the White Sox and has a 1-0 record with an 8.31 ERA in four relief appearances.

The White Sox halted a five-game slide last night and Jeff Samardzija evened his mark at 2-2 with seven strong innings. Samardzija, donning Chicago's vintage uniforms from decades back, limited the Tigers to a pair of runs, struck out seven batters and issued one walk.

"(Samardzija) picked us up big," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "That's what he was brought here to do."

Zach Duke and David Robertson each threw a scoreless inning of relief.

Conor Gillaspie had two hits and two RBI, while Jose Abreu, Adam LaRoche and Avisail Garcia knocked in a run apiece.

Chicago will send Chris Sale to the mound Wednesday hoping he can put the past behind him. Sale was hammered for nine runs (8 earned) and nine hits in just three innings of a 12-2 defeat at Minnesota last Thursday.

"Hitting is contagious. You give a team like that energy, and they're going to roll with it. And that's what they did," Sale said.

Sale is 2-1 in four starts with a 5.32 earned run average and defeated the Tigers in Detroit on April 18, when he gave up two runs in six innings of a 12-3 beating. In 22 career meetings (12 starts) with the Tigers, the lefty is 6-5 with a complete game and a 2.85 ERA.

Chicago lost two of three meetings at Detroit from April 17-19.