Final
Fielder helps Tigers inch closer to White Sox
Sep 13, 2012 - 6:52 AMVideo
Fielder's three-run homer snapped a prolonged 0-for-18 slump and helped the Detroit Tigers down the Chicago White Sox, 8-6, in the third installment of a crucial four-game set.
The Tigers have won the last two games of the series after dropping the opener. They're just a game back of the White Sox for the top spot in the AL Central.
"If we focus on playing good baseball, it should work out," Fielder said.
Max Scherzer (16-6), who extended his winning streak to six games, fanned seven and allowed a run on four hits over six frames. The American League- strikeout leader had struck out at least eight batters in each of his last 10 starts.
Kevin Youkilis hit a pair of blasts, a three-run and solo shot, for Chicago, which has dropped four of its last six contests.
"We're not quitting at any point," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said, whose team has lost nine of their last 10 games against Detroit. "That's the one great thing about the team, they're not going to get down where they're giving up."
Sidelined since Aug. 27 due to a right elbow strain, Gavin Floyd (9-10) struck out seven, but gave up three runs on four hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Already holding a 3-1 advantage, the Tigers padded their lead in the seventh.
Back-to-back two-out singles by Andy Dirks and Miguel Cabrera preceded Fielder's 26th homer, which made it 6-1.
A pair of RBI doubles by Alex Avila and Austin Jackson in the eighth increased the margin to 8-1, but Chicago made it interesting over the final two frames.
Joaquin Benoit relieved Brayan Villarreal in the eighth after he issued consecutive one-out walks to Dan Johnson and Orlando Hudson. Alejandro De Aza followed with a single, which brought home Johnson, before Youkilis lined a three-run blast over the wall in left field and cut the deficit to 8-5.
Alex Rios started the ninth off Jose Valverde with a single to left field and stole second before he crossed the plate two batters later on a groundout from Alexei Ramirez.
Johnson hit a two-out single to right field, but Valverde struck out Hudson to end the game and notch his 30th save of the season.
Earlier, Youkilis smacked a one-out solo homer into the seats in left, which opened the scoring, but the Tigers pushed three across in the fifth.
Floyd, who had retired 11 in a row heading into that frame, surrendered a leadoff single to Brennan Boesch. He came home three batters later on Omar Infante's groundout, then Austin Jackson and Cabrera added RBI base hits for a 3-1 Detroit advantage.
Game Notes
Floyd took over for scheduled starter Francisco Liriano ... Scherzer has 220 strikeouts this season. His teammate, Justin Verlander, is second in the AL with 212 punchouts ... Detroit was 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position, while Chicago finished 2-for-4.
- DETROIT: 8
CHICAGO: 6
Final
Sep 12 11:36 PM - Alexei Ramirez grounded out short to first scoring Alex Rios with two outs. None on and Dan Johnson due up.
Tigers 8, White Sox 6 Bot 9, 2 OutsSep 12 11:30 PM - DeWayne Wise struck out swinging. None on with two outs and Paul Konerko due up.
Tigers 8, White Sox 5 Bot 8, 2 OutsSep 12 11:18 PM - Alejandro De Aza singled to right scoring Dan Johnson with one out. On the play, Orlando Hudson advances to third. Runners on first and third and Kevin Youkilis due up.
Tigers 8, White Sox 2 Bot 8, 1 OutSep 12 11:10 PM - Austin Jackson doubled to left scoring Alex Avila with one out. Runner on second and Andy Dirks due up.
Tigers 8, White Sox 1 Top 8, 1 OutSep 12 10:52 PM - Prince Fielder two-out, three-run Home Run (26) to right scored Andy Dirks and Miguel Cabrera. Delmon Young due up.
Tigers 6, White Sox 1 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 12 10:32 PM - Miguel Cabrera singled to right scoring Austin Jackson with two outs. On the play, Andy Dirks advances to second. Runners on first and second and Prince Fielder due up.
Tigers 3, White Sox 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 12 9:41 PM - Austin Jackson singled to left scoring Jhonny Peralta with two outs. Runner on first and Andy Dirks due up.
Tigers 2, White Sox 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 12 9:34 PM - Omar Infante grounded out short to first scoring Brennan Boesch with two outs. On the play, Jhonny Peralta advances to third. Runner on third and Austin Jackson due up.
Tigers 1, White Sox 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 12 9:33 PM - Paul Konerko singled to left. Runner on first with two outs and Alex Rios due up.
Tigers 0, White Sox 1 Bot 4, 2 OutsSep 12 9:20 PM - DETROIT: 0
CHICAGO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 12 8:11 PM
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