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Tigers-White Sox Preview

Sep 27, 2009 - 5:20 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Detroit (82-71) at Chicago (74-80), 2:05 p.m. EDT

With their most important series of the season looming, the Detroit Tigers are trying to make sure they have positive momentum heading into it.

Following their most productive night at the plate this season, Detroit closes a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

After being shut out on Friday by the White Sox (74-81), the Tigers (83-71) looked like they were going to have another rough night at the plate Saturday before scoring four runs in the seventh inning and four more in the eighth en route to a 12-5 victory.

Detroit finished with a season-high 20 hits, including four by Miguel Cabrera, who homered and drove in four runs to reach 100 RBIs for a sixth straight season. Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco and Gerald Laird added three hits apiece.

Cabrera is hitting .331 this season, but had come in hitting only .231 against the White Sox. He fell a double shy of the cycle.

With its fifth win in six games, Detroit remained two games ahead of second-place Minnesota, which defeated Kansas City. The Tigers and Twins begin a four-game series at Comerica Park on Monday.

"They're putting good pressure on us," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "If you handle it right, it's good pressure. If you handle it wrong, it's bad pressure. I thought we responded tremendously. It was a hell of a comeback."

Chicago's pitching meltdown, meanwhile, led to another rant by manager Ozzie Guillen, who lashed out after seeing his players watching football following the loss. The White Sox, losers of eight of 10, managed only two hits in the final five innings.

"If you don't have pride to play this game, if you don't care about it, get another job," said Guillen, whose club had taken a five-run lead after Carlos Quentin's three-run homer in the fourth inning.

"I'm not in the pennant race, but at least I have some pride. When you go (into the clubhouse) and turn the TV on and watch the stupid football, when the damn football players don't (care) about you, that's embarrassing."

With another loss, Chicago will be guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the second time in three years.

The Tigers close this series handing the ball to Edwin Jackson (13-7, 3.25 ERA), who is looking to match his career high in wins, set last season with Tampa Bay. He pitched seven scoreless innings against Cleveland on Tuesday, allowing seven hits in a 3-1 victory.

The right-hander has won six of his last eight decisions, but had given up five runs in each of his previous two starts - both Detroit losses.

Jackson is 1-2 with a 5.50 ERA in six starts against the White Sox. He doesn't have a decision in either start against them this season - which Detroit split - giving up five runs in 12 innings.

The White Sox will send Daniel Hudson (0-1, 3.38) to the mound for his second career start.

After three relief appearances, the 22-year-old right-hander allowed three runs - one earned - and four hits in five innings of a 7-0 loss to the Twins on Monday.