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White Sox hope to extend win streak against Tigers

Apr 13, 2012 - 2:57 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox eye a third straight win this afternoon in the opener of a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers in manager Robin Ventura's debut at U.S. Cellular Field.

Ventura's club looked ugly in dropping two of three to the Texas Rangers to open the season, but the White Sox bounced back by taking both games in a rain-shortened set in Cleveland, culminating with a 10-6 win on Wednesday.

A.J. Pierzynski smacked a three-run homer, registered three hits and drove in four runs, while Alejandro De Aza added a two-run homer. Paul Konerko also had two hits and a pair of RBI in the win.

"That's the one thing I don't want us to do, to get a few early and then sit on it the rest of the game," Ventura said. "Guys were battling every inning, and you just keep doing that over and over again and you are able to put pressure on them."

John Danks (1-1) allowed four runs on seven hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

"It was a good win, it was good to go 3-2 on the road trip," Pierzynski said.

Getting the call for the ChiSox this afternoon will be righty Jake Peavy, who pitched well against the Rangers on Saturday, but did not get a decision. Peavy surrendered three runs and eight hits in six innings of that one and also struck out five and walked a batter.

Peavy is 2-2 in five starts versus the Tigers with a 3.77 ERA.

"I'm excited to throw the home opener," Peavy said earlier in the week. "To be in front of our fans against a Detroit team -- who knows -- coming in, might not even have a loss yet."

The Tigers do have a loss, but just one, and Detroit bounced back from that setback to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, as Brennan Boesch celebrated his 27th birthday by going 2-for-4 with four RBI in a 7-2 win in the finale of a three-game set at Comerica Park.

Andy Dirks and Alex Avila each had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI for the Tigers, who are off to a 5-1 start.

"You've got to be very satisfied with five out of six on the first homestand," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Drew Smyly gave up one run on four hits over four-plus innings in his MLB debut. He struck out four and walked three. Collin Balester (1-0) allowed one run in two-plus innings of relief to pick up the win.

Heading to the hill tonight will be righty Max Scherzer, who couldn't get out of the third inning in his season debut. Scherzer was pounded by the Boston Red Sox on Sunday for seven runs and eight hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Luckily he escaped without a decision, as the Tigers eventually rallied for a win.

Scherzer, who's been sick the past week, has faced the White Sox eight times and is 3-3 with a 2.30 ERA.

"If something could hurt my arm, I would be smart about it," he said. "But I didn't work hard all my life to get here and then miss a start because I was sick."

This will be the seventh of nine straight day games to open the season for the Tigers, the longest streak by an AL club since the White Sox in 2004.

Detroit was 13-5 against the White Sox a year ago with six of those wins coming in the Windy City.






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