Cesar Hernandez and Zack Collins drove in two runs apiece during a six-run, fourth-inning outburst and the visiting Chicago White Sox edged the Detroit Tigers after a benches-clearing incident, 8-7, on Monday.
The ninth-inning altercation occurred after Chicago’s Jose Abreu and Detroit shortstop Niko Goodrum exchanged words following a failed advancement on a low pitch by Abreu. Abreu had been hit earlier by an Alex Lange pitch one inning after the Tigers’ Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch.
Eloy Jimenez had three hits, including a two-run homer, for the White Sox (89-68). Yasmani Grandal added a solo shot in the makeup of a game postponed last Wednesday.
Dallas Keuchel (9-9) lasted five innings and gave up two runs on seven hits. Liam Hendriks recorded his 37th save.
Jonathan Schoop had two hits, including a solo homer, and drove in two runs for Detroit. Goodrum and Eric Haase drove in two runs apiece during the Tigers’ five-run, eighth-inning rally.
Starting pitcher Matt Manning (4-7) allowed six runs on four hits and a career-high five walks in 3 1/3 innings for the Tigers (75-81) in their home finale. Detroit had defeated American League Central Division champion Chicago in its last four meetings.
The Tigers broke through in the second inning with two outs when Goodrum walked, advanced on Willi Castro’s infield hit and scored on Akil Baddoo’s single.
Grandal’s 23rd homer, which cleared the left-center wall, sparked Chicago’s six-run fourth. Manning then issued three walks to load the bases before Hernandez’s double, which plated two runs. Collins smacked a single through the drawn-in infield to bring home two more runs.
Bryan Garcia then entered in relief and promptly gave up a Luis Robert RBI double.
Schoop made it 6-2 in the fifth with his two-out solo shot, his 21st homer.
The White Sox increased their lead to six in the seventh inning when Grandal drew a two-out walk against Ian Krol and Jimenez blasted his 10th homer.
Haase’s bases-loaded single and Goodrum’s triple made it 8-6 in the eighth. Schoop’s sacrifice fly cut Chicago’s lead to one but Zack Short struck out against Garrett Crochet with runners on the corners to end the inning.
–Field Level Media