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Tigers down White Sox on Cabrera's homer

Jun 5, 2011 - 5:39 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Miguel Cabrera blasted a two-run homer in the ninth inning to back Justin Verlander's eight innings of two-run ball, as the Detroit Tigers outlasted the Chicago White Sox, 4-2, in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Verlander (6-3) scattered seven hits and struck out seven in another solid outing for Detroit, which got back on the winning track after losing the series opener and have now won five of their last six. Brennan Boesch also had a two-run homer for the victors.

"The more you limit mistakes, the better opportunity you have to win against this team," Verlander said.

Gordon Beckham had a two-run shot in fifth to tie the game for Chicago, which had its season long four-game win streak halted.

"It's hard to hit a guy that's throwing 99 m.p.h with the kind of breaking stuff he has and off-speed stuff," Beckham said about Verlander.

Jesse Crain (2-2) gave up Cabrera's two-run shot during his 1 1/3 innings on the bump to get the loss, while starter Edwin Jackson allowed two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts over six frames.

Chicago could have taken the lead in the eighth with runners on the corners with one out. But Verlander blew a 100 m.p.h. fastball past Carlos Quentin for a second out. He then made a stabbing grab and throw during A.J. Pierzynski's comebacker while falling down at the front of the mound to end the frame.

Austin Jackson followed with a ninth-inning lead-off triple that bounced off the base of the left-center wall. The opportunity looked to be squandered after Don Kelly popped out, Boesch struck out and Cabrera was quickly down 0-2 in the count. Two pitches later, though, the slugger launched an opposite field homer over the fence in right to take the 4-2 lead.

Jose Valverde came in the ninth and worked around a leadoff walk to get his 15th save of the season.

Detroit posted two runs in the first inning but left the bases loaded.

Jackson started with a single and stole second before Kelly struck out. Boesch then launched a moonshot into the right field seats for a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers looked to keep the inning going when Edwin Jackson walked Cabrera and gave up a Victor Martinez double. Edwin Jackson got Andy Dirks to pop out before Jhonny Peralta walked to jam the bases, but Alex Avila grounded out to second, ending the threat.

Verlander was his own worst enemy in the fifth inning after knocking down a Brent Lillibridge comebacker and sailing the throw over Cabrera's head. The ball skipped into foul territory, allowing Lillibridge to scamper to third with no outs.

Verlander then served a first pitch curveball to Beckham, who sent it into the seats in left field to tie the game at two apiece.

Game Notes

Verlander has won each of his last seven starts against the White Sox dating back to June 10, 2009. Also his seven strikeouts put him at 1,048 career strikeouts, passing Virgil Trucks for 11th place in franchise history...Detroit left 10 on base, while the White Sox were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.