• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hessman's two-run singles sparks Tigers

Jul 24, 2007 - 4:47 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- It didn't take long for Mike Hessman to make an impact.

Recalled from Class AAA Toledo just prior to the game, Hessman hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning to help the Detroit Tigers to a 9-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the first game of a rare five-game series.

Curtis Granderson was a triple shy of a cycle and drove in four runs for the Tigers, who lost two out of three to the Royals this weekend.

"It wasn't the most beautiful contest in the world obviously, but we came out on the right end of it," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We didn't scorch the ball, but you have to battle against good pitchers, and these are good pitchers."

After blowing a 5-2 lead, Detroit entered the seventh trailing, 6-5, but loaded the bases on one-out singles by Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Ivan Rodriguez.

Sidearming rookie Ehren Wasserman replaced Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (7-6) and got pinch-hitter Sean Casey to pop out before Hessman blooped a two-run single down the right field line for a 7-6 edge.

"It's nice to do my part, and get a couple of hits for the team, especially with two outs," Hessman said. "I'm going to enjoy my time up here."

The 29-year-old Hessman, batting .256 with International League-leading totals of 27 homers and 86 RBI in 97 games, was playing in his first game in three years. In 48 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2003-04 seasons, Hessman batted .167 with four homers in 90 at-bats.

Detroit added some insurance in the eighth with a sacrifice fly by Gary Sheffield and an RBI single by Ordonez.

Buehrle, who signed a four-year contract extension for $56 million on July 8, was tagged for seven runs and 14 hits in 6 1/3 innings. The lefthander hadn't allowed more than four runs in any of his last eight starts and allowed just three runs in his last three starts.

"This was not (Buehrle's) night tonight," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He gave up a lot of hits, he had heavy counts at times, but he kept us in the game."

Jason Grilli (4-2), who hit pinch hitter Rob Mackowiak in the back of the right shoulder with a 1-2 high and inside fastball in the sixth that gave Chicago a 6-5 lead, picked up the win.

Bobby Seay and Zach Miner combined for a scoreless eighth and and Todd Jones logged the ninth for his 27th save in 32 appearances.

Granderson led off the game with his 14th homer, singled in a run in the third to tie the game at 2-2 and delivered a ground-rule two-run double in fourth that provided Detroit a 4-2 edge. He also walked and was hit-by-pitch.

"I tried to go ahead and get (Buehrle), especially before he went and got one strike, two strikes, and (I can) hopefully get in the drivers seat," Granderson said. "I try my best to go ahead and set the tone for the guys behind me."

Detroit starter Andrew Miller was tagged for 10 hits and five runs and struck out a season-high seven in 4 2/3 innings. Miller departed after issuing his season-high fifth walk to Tadahito Iguchi with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth that tied the game at 5-5.

"I've got to mix my pitches," Miller said. "There's plenty I can take away from this game and learn."

Josh Fields got the Sox on the board with a two-run homer in the second inning - his sixth of the season - for a 2-1 lead. Thome drove in a run with a groundout in the fourth and Jermaine Dye doubled in a run in the fifth to cut Chicago's deficit to 5-4.

The White Sox have now lost four straight and eight of 11 and are the only team in the majors to not have won at least 20 games at home this season. The 2005 World Champions have gone 6-15 in their last 21 home games.