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Pierzynski drives in five as White Sox top Tigers

Apr 4, 2008 - 9:43 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- A.J. Pierzynski belted a three-run homer in the seventh inning and finished with five RBI as the Chicago White Sox handed the Detroit Tigers their fourth straight loss Friday with an 8-5 victory.

Pierzynski, who also delivered a two-run double in the third frame, snapped a 5-5 tie when he blasted a first-pitch offering from Jason Grilli (0-1) into the right field stands.

Paul Konerko led off the seventh with a double to left-center field and Jermaine Dye followed with a base hit to right, setting the stage for Pierzynski's second homer of the season.

"I'm off to a good start," Pierzynski said. "I'm at my best when I can place the ball from center to right. That's what's happening right now."

"He's swinging the bat very good," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Pierzynski. "He's at his best when he is not giving bats away. That's what happening now. We are a lot better team when he is hitting."

Ivan Rodriguez and rookie Clete Thomas each had two hits for the Tigers (0-4), who remain the only winless team in the majors.

"We just have some bad combinations going where you get in those streaks like this, that's what happens," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "No matter when these streaks are, you've got bad combinations going."

White Sox starter Jose Contreras yielded five runs - four earned - and 10 hits with four walks and two strikeouts over five innings. Reliever Boone Logan (1-0) registered the win after tossing a perfect sixth.

"I'm a little disappointed in (Contreras), he pitched better in spring trainng," Guillen said. "He needs to be more aggressive and throw strikes."

"I was disappointed that I couldn't keep us in the game," Contreras added through an interpreter. "I was throwing well in the bullpen but lost all my pitches during the game."

Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink bridged the gap to closer Bobby Jenks, who pitched around a pair of walks in a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Detroit had a chance to break open the game in the first inning. After loading the bases with no outs, the Tigers managed just one run after Magglio Ordonez grounded into a double play.

Carlos Quentin gave Chicago a 2-1 edge in the second with a two-run shot to left off Detroit starter Nate Robertson. Thomas even the score at 2-2 with an RBI single in the bottom half the frame, but the White Sox rallied for three runs in the third inning.

"(Thomas) gave us a little energy, I thought," Leyland said. "He had some good at-bats, got a big two-out RBI the one time, got on to lead off the game. I think that picked us up a little bit."

Dye had an RBI double to left-center field and Pierzynski followed with his double, which plated Paul Konerko and Dye.

Rodriguez belted a two-run double and later scored on Jacque Jones' base hit in the third as the Tigers tied it 5-5.

Robertson lasted five frames, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

"There's not a sense of panic," Robertson said. "We know it's about results, putting it together. Just turn the page and get that first win. I think as soon as we get that one off our back, we're going to start winning a little bit."