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Big inning propels Tigers past White Sox

May 15, 2012 - 11:26 PM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Austin Jackson belted a go-ahead three-run homer to cap an eight-run sixth inning as the Tigers took a 10-8 victory over the White Sox to wrap up a two-game series at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday.

Ryan Raburn added a three-run blast and knocked in four runs, while Miguel Cabrera crushed a two-run homer in the sixth as the Tigers finished a nine- game road trip at 4-5.

Collin Balester (2-0) got the win in relief of starter Max Scherzer, who allowed six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and three walks in four-plus innings.

A.J. Pierzynski finished 5-for-5 and knocked in three runs while Paul Konerko added a solo shot and scored three times, but the White Sox dropped their third game in four tries.

Will Ohman (0-2) took the loss after giving up Jackson's go-ahead blast in relief of starter Jake Peavy, who cruised through five frames before giving up six earned runs in the sixth.

"If I say I'm ready then it's on me," lamented Ohman. "I got beat. I cost us the game."

Trailing 6-0 after five frames, The Tigers took the lead for good with three homers in an eight-run top of the sixth.

Andy Dirks smacked a leadoff single and Cabrera then crushed his eighth of the season deep into the left-field seats to make it a four-run contest.

After Prince Fielder doubled and Brennan Boesch was hit by a pitch, Raburn launched his first home run of the season over the wall in left-center field.

Jhonny Peralta then walked to end Peavy's day and Ohman abruptly drilled pinch-hitter Delmon Young before serving up Jackson's three-run blast to cap an eight-run sixth and give the Tigers an 8-6 lead.

Detroit tacked on two more in the seventh as Alex Avila worked a one-out walk and Boesch followed with a single before Raburn and Peralta stroked consecutive RBI singles to provide Detroit with a 10-6 edge.

Detroit closer Jose Valverde entered in the ninth and retired the first two batters before Konerko singled and Pierzynski followed with a double. Valverde then left the game with a 3-1 count on Alex Rios and Octavio Dotel entered, firing his first pitch for a ball to walk the bases loaded.

Alexei Ramirez then slapped a double down the right-field line, plating Konerko and Pierzynski to make it a 10-8 contest, before Dayan Viciedo launched a fly ball to deep right field, but Boesch reached up and snagged the ball one step in front of the wall to give Dotel his first save of the year.

"The guys played hard. They could have quit down six runs," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "I told the guys after the game this is why we're a good team and you've got to believe it."

Earlier in the game Chicago tallied two runs each in the first, third and fifth innings.

The Sox loaded the bases in the first on a leadoff single from Alejandro De Aza and walks from Gordon Beckham and Konerko.

Pierzynski then lifted a fly ball into shallow left field to score De Aza, while Beckham crossed the plate as left fielder Don Kelly was unable to corral the ball and the White Sox grabbed a 2-0 edge.

Konerko stretched the lead to 3-0 in the third with a solo blast before Viciedo made it a four-run game with a two-out RBI single to left.

In the fifth, consecutive singles from Adam Dunn and Konerko chased Scherzer from the game before Pierzynski laced Balester's second offering into the gap in left-center field, scoring Dunn and Konerko to extend the lead to 6-0.

Game Notes

Valverde left the game with two outs in the ninth with lower back tightness...Detroit returns home for a five-game homestand with Minnesota and Pittsburgh beginning Wednesday against the Twins...The Tigers improved to 4-4 against their AL Central rivals this season.