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Tigers top White Sox, inch closer to division lead

Sep 12, 2012 - 6:12 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Doug Fister pitched seven solid frames and Austin Jackson hit a two-run home run, as Detroit moved closer to Chicago in the American League Central standings with a 5-3 victory over the White Sox at Comerica Park.

Miguel Cabrera also hit a home run for the Tigers, who put an end to a 4-game slide. The victory moved Detroit within two games of the White Sox, who have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games.

Fister (9-8) was a stable influence on the mound, giving up just two solo home runs to DeWayne Wise and Gordon Beckman and two walks with six strikeouts. Jake Peavy (10-11) took the loss, surrendering three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 frames.

"Tonight was a good night," Fister said. "Defense played tremendous back there and that was the name of the game. They stuck with me, stuck behind me, and played well."

Wise's solo home run to right in the first gave the home team an early lead. The White Sox again played long ball in the third as Beckman hooked a fastball just inside the pole in left for a 2-0 edge.

After watching the White Sox hit a pair of home runs, Detroit joined the party with two of its own in the fifth. Jackson followed Omar Infante's single with a two-run homer to left-center field and Cabrera hit his 36th home run to nearly the same place, a deep drive into the left-center field seats.

"I think that one inning he just left a couple in there," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Peavy in the fifth. "For me, that was the mistakes."

The Tigers left the bases loaded in the seventh, but pushed through with a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. Avisail Garcia was plunked by a pitch and Jhonny Peralta singled to center. Alex Avila then laced a long single to right, plating Garcia, and Infante legged out an intended sacrifice for a bunt hit to load the bases. Andy Dirks' single scored Peralta for a 5-2 game, but Jesse Crain got Cabrera to bounce into a double play to limit further damage.

Detroit pitching retired 14 straight until Alexi Ramirez's leadoff single in the eighth, the White Sox's first hit since Beckman's home run leading off the third. Beckman followed Ramirez's single with one of his own and a third straight hit by Alejandro De Aza plated Ramirez for a 5-3 game.

Joaquin Benoit settled down and retired the next three batters to retain the two-run lead.

Chicago put its leadoff batter on base in the ninth, as Alex Rios legged out an infield single against Jose Valverde, but the closer cruised from there to pick up his 29th save of the season.

Game Notes

Jackson raised his batting average to .305 and hit his 14th home run of the season ... White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis is 0-for-7 since returning from a 3-game absence for the birth of his son ... Peavy has lost twice to Detroit since Aug. 31.