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Verlander sharp as Tigers top White Sox

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:00 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Justin Verlander finally got the best of the Chicago White Sox.

Verlander hurled a complete game Wednesday, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 victory over the White Sox.

Marcus Thames hit a three-run homer and Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen each drove in a run for Detroit, which has won two straight and four of five.

"It's a good feeling winning two, but we want three in a row," Verlander said. "Obviously, tomorrow is a huge game for us. It's a difference-maker, really. We've got to go out there and battle and not give in."

A.J. Pierzynski drove in the only run for Chicago, which has dropped five straight on the road.

"We play good in Chicago and try to hang in there on the road, something that we just haven't done lately," White Sox starter Javier Vazquez said.

Verlander's complete game was the first by a Detroit pitcher since the righthander tossed a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers in June 2007.

"Justin was tremendous," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He mixed in his changeup as the game went on and still had something in the tank at the end. Just a very, very good performance."

The 2006 American League Rookie of the Year yielded only a run and four hits while striking out three for his first win in four outings.

"The last four or five starts, I thought I was throwing the ball well," Verlander said. "I knew I was close to putting it all together and went out there and threw a good one."

The performance was even more impressive for Verlander as he had entered this contest with a 1-6 career record and 6.14 ERA against Chicago and had been rocked for 11 runs in two losses to the AL Central rival earlier this year.

"The White Sox really have had my number for two years, so it's nice to be able to go out and give us a lift when we needed it," Verlander said.

"Justin was great," Thames said. "I think the White Sox had his number a little bit, but he's been pitching great as of late."

Thames gave Verlander all the run support he needed when, with two on in the bottom of the second, he sent a pitch from Vazquez (6-5) over the left field wall for a 3-0 lead.

"It was a breaking ball," Thames said. "I thought he would throw me something soft since runners were in scoring position. He threw me a slider and left it out over the plate. I put a good swing on it and hit it out."

"Vazquez was really good," Leyland said. "He made a couple mistakes, and we were able to jump on them. Of course, Marcus had a big one."

With Detroit ahead, 3-1 in the fourth, Ordonez singled in another run to restore the three-run bulge. An RBI triple by Guillen in the sixth made it 5-1.

Vazquez gave up five runs, 10 hits and three walks while striking out nine in suffering his first loss in five decisions against the Tigers.

"I felt pretty good tonight and I had all my pitches going," Vazquez said. "I put us in a big hole with that three-run homer to Thames. When you do that, it's a killer."