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Robertson solid as Tigers top White Sox

Jun 11, 2008 - 3:39 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Nate Robertson put the brakes on the Chicago White Sox's streak.

Robertson pitched 6 1/3 quality innings Tuesday as the Detroit Tigers posted a 6-3 victory over the White Sox.

Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 and drove in two and rookies Jeff Larish and Brent Clevlen each had RBI singles for Detroit, which has won three of four following a four-game losing streak.

Just as important, the Tigers (27-37) halted Chicago's seven-game winning streak to stay within 10 games of the first-place White Sox (37-27) in the American League Central Division.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was philosophical about the loss.

"We were just one hit away from winning this game," Guillen said. "We're swinging the bats really well and when you're doing that, you going to win a lot of games."

Robertson (4-6), who is 6-6 in 18 career starts vs. Chicago, allowed three runs, eight hits and two walks en route to his third win in his last four starts.

"It always comes down to one or two at-bats in my outings," Robertson said. "Tonight, in critical situations, I got a couple of outs."

"Robertson's a very good pitcher with great stuff," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He made his pitches, got us behind in the counts and made us swing."

The lefthander, who struck out four, bounced back after giving up five runs and eight hits in a 10-2 loss at Oakland last Wednesday.

Detroit trailed, 2-0, after the first three innings, but an RBI hit by Larish in the fourth halved the home team's deficit.

"I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and battling when it got to two strikes," Larish said.

After Clevlen scored on center fielder Nick Swisher's error, Cabrera hit a two-run single to give the Tigers a 4-2 advantage.

"Miguel's a very important part of this team," Robertson said. "To see him swinging the bat they way he is is a good sign."

Robertson ran into trouble in the seventh, loading the bases with one out before he was lifted for rookie Freddy Dolsi, who gave up an RBI groundout to Alexei Ramirez before getting Orlando Cabrera to fly out to end the inning.

Run-scoring singles by Clevlen in the sixth and Magglio Ordonez in the seventh gave Detroit a 6-3 cushion.

Dolsi balked in a run in the eighth before closer Todd Jones worked around a hit and a walk in the ninth to record his 11th save.

White Sox starter Jose Contreras (6-4) was charged with six runs, 13 hits and a walk in losing for the first time in five decisions.

"I couldn't get my slider to work and my pitches were high," Contreras said through an interpreter. "They were able to hit them."

"Jose struggled, but kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win," Guillen said. "His breaking ball was flat and he had one bad inning that cost us the game."

Jim Thome homered and Pierzynski added an RBI single for Chicago.