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Error allows White Sox to slip past Tigers

Jul 26, 2007 - 10:34 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox didn't want their long series with the Detroit Tigers to go any longer.

A throwing error by Detroit reliever Zach Miner in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed Scott Podsednik to score the winning run from first base and handed the White Sox a 4-3 win on Thursday.

With the win, the White Sox took three games of their five-game series with the Tigers and avoided a potential extra-inning affair in the process.

"They have a great ballclub." White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "They have one of the best ballclubs in the league. (Beating them) is nice. It shows what kind of quality people we have in the clubhouse."

Podsednik led off the ninth with a single off Miner (1-3), which brought Josh Fields to the plate in a bunting situation.

Fields got the job done with a roller to the first base side and Miner was quick to reach the ball. However the pitcher bobbled the transfer and then threw over the head of first baseman Mike Hessman.

While the ball was retrieved in foul territory, the speedy Podsednik raced around the bases and beat a strong throw home by right fielder Ryan Raburn.

"It's exciting, it's intense," Podsednik said. "It's the type of ball that I'm going to play, that running game, it's fun to get out there and open it up a little bit."

Chicago closer Bobby Jenks (3-4) earned the win after tossing a perfect ninth inning.

The White Sox had trailed 3-2 but knotted the game in the eighth.

Tadahito Iguchi led off the inning with a single, which ended the day for Detroit starter Justin Verlander, who was replaced by Bobby Seay.

Seay promptly walked Jim Thome and was replaced by Miner, who walked Paul Konerko to load the bases. However, the Tigers caught a break as A.J. Pierzynski grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Iguchi came home with the tying run on the play. Jermaine Dye grounded out to end the inning.

Verlander allowed three runs, three hits and three walks while striking out five in seven-plus innings.

"(Verlander) was good. We hoped to get one more (inning) out of him but he couldn't do it," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Chicago starter John Danks allowed three runs, six hits and two walks while striking out five in 6 2/3 innings.

"It feels good to keep us in the ballgame, and to win. Especially against a team like Detroit, who we are chasing." Danks said.

The lefthander got into trouble in the seventh but worked out of it with the help of his bullpen. Danks walked Craig Monroe and allowed a single to Brandon Inge to open the seventh.

After a sacrifice by Omar Infante moved both runners into scoring position, Danks struck out Curtis Granderson in a seven-pitch at-bat. Righthanded reliever Ehren Wassermann was called upon to face righthanded-hitting Placido Polanco and induced an inning-ending groundout.

Wassermann also pitched a perfect eighth inning to keep the game within reach and allow the White Sox to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.

Infante hit his second home run of the season in the loss.

Detroit slugger Gary Sheffield was scratched from the lineup for the second straight game due to a sore right shoulder. He is batting .298 with 23 homers, 87 runs scored and 67 RBI.

"He's day to day and I'd like to see him in the line up tomorrow." Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.