• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Verlander shines again as Tigers dominate White Sox

Sep 3, 2011 - 3:51 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Austin Jackson's two-run homer and Jhonny Peralta's three-run double backed another gem from Justin Verlander, as the Tigers downed the White Sox, 8-1, in the opener of a critical three-game series.

Verlander (21-5) allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings to earn his ninth straight win. He walked one and struck out six.

"Another stellar performance," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Verlander. "It was kind of a neat night because Justin picked the guys up and the guys picked Justin up."

Delmon Young added an RBI triple for the Tigers, who have won three of four.

John Danks (6-10) was knocked around for eight runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 frames to suffer the loss.

Tyler Flowers hit a home run for the White Sox, who fell 6 1/2 games behind the AL Central-leading Tigers.

"We've put ourselves in a pretty bad position here but we're not out of it," said Danks.

The Tigers needed just two explosive innings to hand Verlander a comfortable lead.

They pushed three across in the home first. Jackson led off with a single and scored on Young's triple, which grazed the glove of the backtracking Alejandro De Aza in center. Miguel Cabrera singled home Young, then stole second and scored on Alex Avila's bloop base hit to shallow left.

"The game plan against [Danks] was to try to get him early," said Jackson. "He's capable of going deep into the game."

Brandon Inge began the fifth with a single and Jackson followed with a homer to left-center, his ninth of the season.

Later in the inning, the Tigers loaded the bases with two down, marking the end of Danks' night. Josh Kinney entered and allowed a bases-clearing double to Peralta, as the Tigers took an 8-0 lead.

Through seven innings, Verlander allowed just two runners to reach second base. The White Sox finally broke though with a Flowers leadoff homer in the eighth. Brent Morel followed with a double and singles by Juan Pierre and Eduardo Escobar, who was making his major league debut, loaded the bases with one down. Verlander left to a standing ovation before Joaquin Benoit retired Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski to end the inning.

Game Notes

Verlander became the first Tigers pitcher to win 21-or-more games since Jack Morris finished 21-8 in 1986...Jackson has a 13-game hit streak against the White Sox...Cabrera has reached base safely in 29 straight games and Avila has reached safely in 28 straight games...Tigers manager Jim Leyland moved to 500-451 in five-plus seasons at the helm in Detroit...Verlander's last loss came on July 15 against the White Sox...Danks was 6-1 over his previous 11 starts. He began the season 0-8...Prior to tonight's game, the White Sox activated Pierzynski from the 15-day disabled list and recalled Escobar, as well as pitchers Shane Lindsay and Addison Reed.