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Beckham, Teahen lead White Sox past Tigers

Aug 14, 2010 - 5:21 AM CHICAGO(AP) -- When he goes to the plate these days, it's safe for Gordon Beckham to look at the scoreboard again.

"It's a little bit of a relief, especially here, where you've got the batting average right in front of you," Beckham said. "It's tough when you see .198 in June. That was no fun."

The fun is back for Beckham, who hit a three-run homer Friday night to lead the Chicago White Sox to an 8-4 victory over the slumping Detroit Tigers.

Mark Teahen, fresh off the disabled list, added a two-run shot for Chicago (65-51), which is 41-18 since June 9 - a surge that began with a 15-3 victory over the Tigers. Mark Buehrle (11-9) allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings and has won his last five decisions against Detroit.

Beckham also tripled and scored in the seventh. One of baseball's top rookies in 2009, he is batting .379 with five homers and 19 RBIs in his last 28 games after getting off to a slow start.

"Physically, I was doing everything I could to try to get better every day but emotionally, it was a pretty rough ride," Beckham said. "To be in the worst part of my career and get out of it, I think it'll help me down the road."

After losing five of seven to fall out of the AL Central lead, the White Sox received a timely visit from their favorite opponent. They are 7-2 against the Tigers this season and 65-36 against them since the start of 2005.

Ryan Raburn and Brandon Inge homered for the Tigers (55-60), who are 7-23 since a July 11 loss to Minnesota dropped them out of first place. They are now 10 1/2 games behind the Twins, who lead the White Sox by one.

"We're doing enough to lose games, not enough to win," manager Jim Leyland said.

Jeremy Bonderman (6-8) was in control until the fifth inning. Teahen and Alexei Ramirez singled with no outs and moved up on A.J. Pierzynski's sacrifice. Teahen scored ahead of Bonderman's throw after the pitcher fell while fielding Mark Kotsay's infield tap. Beckham then homered to right-center field.

Teahen, who had been out since May 31 with a broken right middle finger, connected in the sixth after Paul Konerko walked, giving Chicago a 6-2 lead.

"That's the left-handed bat we might need," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It gives some flexibility to the ballclub."

In his first season with the White Sox after spending his first five years in Kansas City, Teahen is thrilled to be in a pennant race.

"It's a huge difference," he said. "This time of year on a team that's out of contention, it can be a real grind. But the way it is right now, every day is really important and every day you're excited to come to the park."

Teahen was Chicago's everyday third baseman before his injury but lost his job when Omar Vizquel played superbly during his absence. Saying Teahen is now a utility player, Guillen used him in right field against Detroit.

Bonderman allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked one.

"I really had a good breaking ball. I was locating. When you have that kind of stuff you should win," he said. "I made two bad pitches and got murdered. That's why it's the big leagues. These guys don't miss."

Raburn's homer in the seventh chased Buehrle, and a heavy rain fell as Sergio Santos warmed up. Santos allowed Gerald Laird's bunt single and, after an 82-minute rain delay, walked Austin Jackson. He escaped the jam by striking out Johnny Damon and getting Jhonny Peralta to ground out.

Inge, who came off the DL last week, hit a solo shot off Matt Thornton in the eighth for his first homer since May 30. It also snapped Thornton's string of 22 straight scoreless appearances.

Ramirez homered in the bottom half for the White Sox.

Teahen was Chicago's everyday third baseman before his injury but lost his job when Omar Vizquel played superbly during his absence. Saying Teahen is now a utility player, Guillen used him in right field against Detroit.

NOTES: White Sox closer Bobby Jenks remained out with back spasms and Guillen said the team must decide soon whether to put him on the DL. ... Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera hit a run-scoring single in the sixth and has 50 RBIs in 51 road games. He leads the majors with 94 RBIs overall. ... Raburn, who also doubled and singled, entered with only three hits in 17 career at-bats against Buehrle.