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Uribe's game-winning hit propels White Sox past Tigers

Sep 30, 2007 - 4:02 AM By Rob Czajkowskyj PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Juan Uribe put the lid on a controversial ending.

Uribe hit a game-winning single in the ninth inning as the Chicago White Sox edged the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, on Saturday.

Jim Thome hit his 12th homer in the month of September and Gavin Floyd pitched seven excellent innings despite not getting the win for Chicago, which has won four straight and nine of 13.

It was also the seventh win in Chicago's last nine vs. Detroit. Chicago, which is 11-6 vs. Detroit this season, has taken this series eight of the last nine years.

With the score tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the ninth, Darin Erstad led off with a walk against Detroit reliever Fernando Rodney (2-6). Scott Podsednik then attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, which dribbled a few feet in front of home plate.

Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez quickly picked up the ball and fired a high throw to second that took shortstop Omar Infante off the bag according to umpire Doug Eddings. Infante threw his arms up in protest as replays showed the infielder's foot was still on the bag.

Manager Jim Leyland came racing out of the Tigers dugout to argue the call and was promptly ejected by Eddings.

"It's not going to get us anywhere if you win it, but you want to win," Leyland said. "I'm going to take this seriously, obviously. "He was out plain and simple. I'm tired of being nice. Clearly he was out. It was a blown call."

After the uproar, and with runners on first and second, Uribe punched a single to right field to score Erstad. There was no throw on the play as rookie right fielder Ryan Raburn overran the ball, easily giving Chicago the victory.

"I'm working hard and seeing the ball well," Uribe said.

Rookie reliever Ehren Wassermann (1-1) earned his first major league win by pitching to three batters in the top of the ninth. Wassermann had come in with one out in the frame in relief of Boone Logan, who earlier undermined a stellar outing by Floyd.

Logan entered in the eighth inning with the White Sox up, 2-1, but surrendered a one-out, game-tying pinch-hit homer to Marcus Thames to knot the score.

The White Sox had taken an early lead in the first on a two-run homer by Thome off Justin Verlander to right that just cleared the wall.

"One of the strange things, my foot actually slipped a little bit when I threw the pitch," Verlander said. "It was probably not in the best spot to throw a pitch to Jim Thome. He does what he does and hits home runs."

It was Thome's 35th homer of 2007 and the 507th of his 17-year career.

With the lead, Floyd cruised through the first five innings before allowing a solo shot to Carlos Guillen with two outs in the sixth. It was the 20th blast of the season for Guillen and the eighth of his career vs. Chicago.

Floyd, who allowed six hits and matched his career-high with seven innings pitched, was trying for just his second win this season - the other being against the Tigers on August 5.

"Once again this kid gave us a chance," White Sox manger Ozzie Guillen said. "In the last seven or eight outings, he's given us the opportunity to win. I'm pretty impressed. Nobody thought he was going to pitch the way he has the last month and a half."

Verlander was nearly his equal, yielding two runs, four hits and two walks, while striking out seven in six frames.

"Justin did a good job, we just didn't do much offensively," Leyland said.