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Perez lifts Tigers over White Sox in 11 innings

Sep 6, 2007 - 4:19 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Kenny Rogers returned from the disabled list, but it took some extra-inning heroics from an unexpected source to help the Detroit Tigers from fading further out of the American League playoff picture.

Timo Perez lined a game-winning RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Tigers to a much-needed 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Detroit (74-65) remained seven games back of the Cleveland Indians (81-58) in the AL Central and 3 1/2 games back of the New York Yankees (78-62) in the wild card race.

With the score tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the 11th, Brandon Inge lined a two-out double into left-center field off White Sox reliever Heath Phillips (0-1), who was making his major league debut. After an intentional walk to Ivan Rodriguez, Perez followed with a first-pitch line drive over Darin Erstad's head in right to win the game.

"It was a slider in the middle of the plate to Timo," Phillips said. "You can't get away with that to these guys."

Perez, who spent two of eight seasons as a member of the White Sox, was just called up from Class AAA Toledo on August 27.

"It's kind of ironic that a lefthanded hitter beat a lefthanded pitcher," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Timo hits lefties well and that was the game."

Detroit reliever Bobby Seay (2-0) pitched a scoreless 11th inning out of the bullpen for the the win.

Detroit also got a boost to their starting rotation from Rogers, who went five strong innings and allowed one run and two hits. The 42-year-old lefthander was making his first start since July 25, after spending time on the disabled list with inflammation in his left elbow, and struck out a season-high six.

"I felt more comfortable on the mound than I expected to," Rogers said. "Tonight was a step in the right direction for us. We need every one we can get.

"Just keep giving me the ball. I expect to go out there and contribute in any way possible. I'll invent whatever it takes. If I find a hitter, who can hit what I'm good at throwing, I'll invent something else."

The Tigers, who had lost five of their last seven games, left 16 men on base and were hitless in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position before the 11th inning.

"I think we're fighting our (butts) off," Leyland said. "We know what's at stake. I didn't see anybody loafing, not caring. They looked pretty excited to win to me.

"Obviously there's some people in better positions than we are, but we're legitimate."

The loss was the 19th in the last 24 games for Chicago, which had won two games in a row and five straight against the Tigers.

The teams had exchanged solo home runs to amount for the only runs of the game before the 11th inning. Danny Richar hit his fourth of the season for Chicago in the top of the third inning, and Mike Hessman hit his second blast of the season for Detroit in the fifth.

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd went six innings and gave up just one run and six hits. The righthander also tied a career high with six strikeouts.

"He pitched really well," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He has a great arm and big league stuff. Right now his only enemy is himself."