Tigers 3 - 6 White Sox
Final
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Tigers, White Sox set for doubleheader in Chicago

Aug 30, 2014 - 12:55 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Tigers try to continue their climb back to the top of the AL Central when they play a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Tigers have pulled within a half-game of Kansas City in the division standings and handed the White Sox a 7-1 defeat in Friday's series opener. Justin Verlander was dominant through seven innings on the mound, as he limited the White Sox to just a run and struck out eight batters.

"Just trying to execute better pitches, not walk so many guys, get ahead in the count, those types of things," Verlander said.

Ian Kinsler and Torii Hunter had two RBI apiece and J.D. Martinez recorded three hits and a run scored for the Tigers, who occupy the second wild card spot in the AL and have won five of the last six games.

Detroit will visit Cleveland for four games on this eight-game trip and are 38-30 away from Comerica Park.

Max Scherzer tries for his 16th win of the season when he leads Detroit into the opener of this doubleheader today. Scherzer is 15-4 with a 3.13 ERA and the Tigers have won each of his last three starts, including Sunday's 13-4 blowout of the Minnesota Twins.

Scherzer permitted three runs in five innings and is 7-1 in his last eight decisions. The right-hander and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is 6-3 in 15 road starts this season and 12-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 22 career starts against the White Sox. He is 4-0 with a sparkling 0.96 ERA in four starts against Chicago this season.

The White Sox are coming off their ninth defeat in 10 tries on Friday and starting pitcher Scott Carroll was dealt the loss for allowing seven runs -- three earned -- and 10 hits in five innings. The Tigers used a five-run fourth inning to pull away.

"I feel like I'm so close, but I have to keep working and keep improving," Carroll said.

Adam Dunn gave the White Sox a short-lived 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the fourth inning extended Detroit's lead to 7-1. Adam Eaton and Jose Abreu both finished with three hits for Chicago. Abreu is riding a nine-game hitting streak and needs three RBI to become the fourth rookie in White Sox history to record 100 in one season.

Chris Sale starts for the White Sox this afternoon and is 10-3 with an AL-best 2.03 earned run average. The left-hander is winless (0-2) in his last five starts and did not receive a decision in last Sunday's 7-4 loss to the New York Yankees in the Bronx, charged with four unearned runs in six innings.

Sale struck out seven batters and has fanned at least that many in each of the past seven trips to the mound. He is 7-3 in 13 home starts and 4-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 19 career games (9 starts) against the Tigers. Sale suffered a hard- luck loss to the Tigers back on June 12 in a 4-0 defeat and gave up only a run in seven innings with 10 K's and no walks.

Kyle Ryan will make his major league debut for the Tigers in the nightcap, as will Chris Bassitt for the White Sox. Ryan compiled a 3-0 mark and a 1.64 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Toledo. Bassitt went 3-1 with a 1.56 ERA in six starts at the Double-A level.

The Tigers and White Sox are playing this twinbill to make up a June 10 postponement.






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