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Garland sharp as White Sox down Tigers

Sep 5, 2007 - 3:56 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Despite a terrible season, the Chicago White Sox continue to make life miserable for the Detroit Tigers.

Jon Garland pitched seven superb innings as the White Sox posted a 3-1 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Rookie Josh Fields hit his 18th homer and Alex Cintron drilled his first homer in almost a year for Chicago, which has won two straight after losing 18 of its last 22 games.

The White Sox (59-79), who have never finished last in the American League Central, currently reside there - three games behind the fourth-place Kansas City Royals (62-76).

However, Chicago has had Detroit's number in 2007, winning nine of 13 - including five straight and six of seven.

The Tigers (73-65) have lost two straight and five of seven to fall 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cleveland Indians (79-58), winners of nine of their last 10 games. Cleveland is playing the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

"We just have had bad combo's of late," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Either we give up a bunch of runs and don't score or we don't give up and and can't score. It's a catch-22"

Garland (9-10) was excellent, allowing a run and seven hits while striking out four. It should not come as any surprise for the righthander, who now is 9-1 in his career at Comerica Park, including seven consecutive victories here in his last 10 starts.

"I don't know if I'm comfortable here or it's just a mental thing," Garland said. "But I sure do well here. I wish I could pitch here every night."

The eight-year veteran was cruising through 5 1/3 innings before surrendering three straight base hits to Omar Infante, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen for the Tigers' only run of the game. However, Garland got Ivan Rodriguez to foul out before fanning Marcus Thames to end the threat.

"I felt real good," Garland said. "I was pitching to contact early and getting the guys in the game. Driving the ball into the zone. I was more aggressive than I have been of late."

Overall, Garland is 13-6 in 24 career starts vs. Detroit, including 8-2 over his last 11 outings.

Rookie Ehren Wassermann and Matt Thornton combined to pitch the eighth inning before closer Bobby Jenks worked out of a jam in the ninth, getting Curtis Granderson to strike out with runners on second and third to record his 37th save in 42 opportunities.

With no score in the top of the third, Fields came to the plate with two outs and promptly hammered the first pitch he saw from Jeremy Bonderman over the wall in center to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. It was the fifth homer for the rookie against the Tigers in 2007.

"It's always tough against all Detroit pitchers," Fields said. "You just have to make sure you're swinging at strikes against them."

With the same score in the sixth, Paul Konerko led off with a single. Two batters later, Cintron lined a 3-1 slider off Bonderman just over the wall in right field to give the White Sox a three-run advantage.

It was Cintron's first homer since September 8 vs. the Cleveland Indians and just his sixth in the last two seasons.

"I just wanted to get a good swing," Cintron said. "It was my first home run of the year and it sure came at a good time."

Bonderman (11-8), who was immediately replaced on the mound by Zach Minor, allowed three runs, seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.

"I threw the ball well tonight," Bonderman said. "I only had two bad pitches. I was able to pound the zone and not fall behind the hitters. "We need to find a way to win. If we don't there is no one to blame but ourselves."

After starting 2007, 8-0, the righthander has dropped seven of his last eight decisions.

Guillen had two hits for the Tigers.