Miggy gives Tigers walk-off win over White Sox
DETROIT -- David Price, a star pitcher, is having a star-crossed launch to his Tigers career. The most disheartening blow yet arrived on Tuesday night, leaving the Tigers needing a walkoff win in order to retain sole possession of first place.
Price took a shutout, a three-hitter and a three-run lead to the ninth against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus stayed with him even as his pitch count climbed, the hits kept coming and Joe Nathan readied in the bullpen.
Former Tiger Avisail Garcia had a two-run single with one out. Consecutive two-out singles by veteran eminence Paul Konerko and rookie Marcus Semien brought around Garcia with the tying run.
With the score tied and runners on first and third, Joe Nathan took over and walked his first hitter to load the bases. He retired rookie Carlos Sanchez on a fly to center to sent the game to the bottom of the ninth tied, 3-3.
But right-hander Jake Petricka, who had the save Monday night, took over for the ninth. Ian Kinsler led off with a single. Torii Hunter walked.
Miguel Cabrera held up on a check swing for ball one. He then grounded the 1-0 pitch sharply into left. Kinsler scored the winning run without a play. It was Cabrera's 105th RBI of the season -- and his biggest.
The Tigers needed the 4-3 walk-off win to keep their one-game lead in the A.L. Central and avoid falling into a first-place tie with Kansas City.
Rajai Davis' speed gave the Tigers their first run in the fifth, and then the Tigers got their first two RBIs in a while on seventh-inning hits by Ian Kinsler and Torii Hunter.
Heading into the seventh inning Tuesday night, the Tigers had gone 21 straight innings without an RBI. In the seventh, the Tigers put hits together for the first time since their winning rally in the seventh inning Saturday in Kansas City.
After Alex Avila's leadoff single and then an error, Kinsler lined an RBI single over third, and Torii Hunter sent an RBI double in the same direction. Suddenly, the Tigers had a three-run lead.
They also had runners at second and third with one out. Right-handed reliever Ronald Belisario, who allowed the Kinsler and Hunter run-scoring hits, allowed no more. He struck out Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez around an intentional walk to Victor Martinez. (Yet another team choosing to pitch to Cabrera instead of Victor Martinez.) As the Chicago ninth inning unfolded, the Tigers could look back at how they didn't add to their lead with the heart of the order at the plate.
With the game scoreless and two out in the fifth, Chicago catcher Josh Phegley pulled a drive to deep left. J.D. Martinez went to the 6 ft. 10 in.-fence and, without leaving his feet, reached above it to pull in Phegley's drive. Price looked relieved.
In the bottom of the inning, Davis showed the speed that prompted the Tigers to sign him as a free agent this past off-season. After he led off with a single, he was going when Kinsler grounded to short. If Davis hadn't been running, it would have been a double play. The Sox had no play on him, and he was at second with one out.
After Torii Hunter missed trying to bunt for a hit, Davis took off on the next pitch. He was going to be safe, and then Phegley's throw went into left, and Davis scampered home. It was the Tigers' first run in two nights against the White Sox, who started a rookie in each game (right-handers Chris Bassitt on Monday and Scott Carroll on Tuesday).
Lowe writes for the Detroit Free Press, a Gannett property