• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kotsay's triple in 11th sends Chisox over Tigers

Aug 5, 2010 - 9:51 PM DETROIT(AP) -- Mark Kotsay's ears must have been burning before Thursday's game.

Kotsay hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, then lined a two-run triple in the 11th that sent the Chicago White Sox past the Detroit Tigers 6-4 Thursday.

In his pregame comments, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen talked about how the team needed more from Kotsay and Andruw Jones, who have both struggled this season.

"Those two guys got to start being better," Guilen said while Chicago's chances of acquiring another hitter. "If those two guys produce the way we think the can produce, we don't need another hitter."

Kotsay is hitting .223 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs. Jones, who singled ahead of Kotsay's triple, is at .204 with 15 home runs and 36 RBIs.

"It happened today so I feel good," Kotsay said. "The day felt great because there were actually some results in the at-bats."

The veteran left-handed hitter has been making this season.

"I think Kotsay, for most of the year, hit the ball real well but didn't have much to show for it," Guillen said. "Today, he came through. We needed that."

Detroit's Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth off Bobby Jenks that made it 4-all.

Although he has blown only three of 26 saves, Jenks has struggled since the All-Star Break.

"I keep saying Bobby will be the closer and our bullpen is great,." Guillen said. "But we'll see over the next couple of days."

Jenks said the home run wasn't what upset him most about the ninth inning.

"That's going to happen. You're going to give up home runs," Jenks said. "What I'm mad about is the 1-2 curveball."

That pitch hit pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago and put two on with one out.

"That's the at-bat that ruined my day." Jenks said.

Raburn grounded out with runners on first and second to end it.

"We got the big one there in the last inning to tie it up," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "But we couldn't hold it. We didn't do much offensively the whole game."

Sergio Santos (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for his first major league win. Freddy Garcia pitched 6 2-3 strong innings for the AL Central leaders, who took won of four games in the series.

Kotsay's go-ahead triple came off Jose Valverde (1-3). Brent Lillibridge and Jones hit one-out singles in the 11th before Kotsay's drive into the right-center field gap.

With the White Sox leading 4-1 in the ninth, Don Kelly singled with one out and Jenks hit Santiago. After Austin Jackson struck out, Raburn, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, homered into the left-field stands.

"I was just going up there to try and get a hit," Raburn said. "He left it up. He made a bad pitch and I was able to capitalize on it."

Kelly also homered for Detroit, 5-17 since the All-Star break.

Chicago's Juan Pierre stole his 500th career base, which was also his major league-leading 41st swipe of the season, in the first inning.

Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the fifth. Alexei Ramirez drew a leadoff walk, Ramon Castro doubled and Max Scherzer threw a wild pitch that scored a run. Pierre added an RBI single.

Kelly led off the seventh with his second home run. Garcia allowed a run and five hits, walking four and striking out four.

Kotsay hit his seventh homer in the ninth off Robbie Weinhardt for a 4-1 lead.

NOTES: Pierre was thrown out on his next two steal attempts after his milestone stolen bases. He went 2 for 5 at the plate and stretched his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games. He's 19 for 48 (.396) in that span. ... Detroit 2B Carlos Guillen, on the 15-day disabled list with a right calf strain, will join Single-A West Michigan Friday to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment. ... Raburn also made an outstanding diving catch at second base, going to his right for Castro liner's to end the top of the ninth.