Bottom of lineup key as Tigers end Sox streak

Bottom of lineup key as Tigers end Sox streak

April 30th, 2017

DETROIT -- The Tigers ended the White Sox six-game winning streak on a cloudy, damp Sunday at Comerica Park. A quartet of fourth-inning runs broke open an early pitching duel for before ' two-run double added insurance for a 7-3 win, denying Chicago what would've been its first series sweep here since 2008.
's third home run of the year cut into Detroit's lead, but the Tigers offense held on, earning Zimmermann (3-1) his second consecutive win. 's unbeaten record ended with 14 hits over six innings, the most hits off a White Sox since Mark Buehrle gave up 15 on Sept. 15, 2011.
"That was a tough one today," Gonzalez said. "They were barreling a lot of balls. And finding holes. Nothing you can do about it. Flush this one and come back tomorrow and keep it going."
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"It was a good offensive day," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We've been a little quiet with the bats. Scored a few in the ninth [Saturday], so maybe that was the turning point. Much better today. Pitching held on."
's first-inning RBI triple off the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field and 's fifth home run, a second-inning solo shot, set the tone early before the Tigers batted around on Gonzalez (3-1) in the fourth. doubled in a run, while and added RBI singles.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Iggy pop: A day after Iglesias tried a two-out bunt with the winning run on first base in the ninth inning, he was swinging away with two on and two out in the fifth. He produced a line-drive double to right-center off Gonzalez to clear the bases and pad the Tigers' lead.
"Just play the game. Sometimes results will be there, sometimes not," Iglesias said. "You just have to compete."

Tigers jump on Gonzalez: One inning after Gonzalez and battled for 10 pitches before a check-swing strikeout ended a third-inning threat, the Tigers needed just 14 pitches from Gonzalez to bat around in the fourth. All nine batters put the first or second pitch in play. Five ended up with hits, including Upton's leadoff single, an Alex Avila single and Adduci's RBI double on consecutive pitches to put Detroit in front for good. A bobble and error, also on consecutive plays, led to an unearned run.
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"It wasn't like we said, 'Let's try to attack early in the count.' It just happened to be that way," Avila said. "Hitting is contagious, like anything else in this game. It was a good inning. We hadn't swung the bats like that since the first game against Seattle. We needed to score some runs to get a cushion for Zimm."

"Gonzo today, the outcome wasn't the best, but he sure did eat up some innings, saved our 'pen," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He did a very nice job continuing to grind. We were still in the ballgame. We never really were out of it. We were in striking distance."
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QUOTABLE
"I have a zone where I want the ball to be in, and if it's not there, I'm going to take it." -- Avila, now 15-for-37 with four home runs and a .511 on-base percentage, on his approach at the plate. Avila went 3-for-4 Sunday
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"I was up with every pitch. My cutter, my curveball, my fastball. They were up more than usual. Just need to work on that and we will be fine."-- Gonzalez, on falling to 1-2 with a 9.57 ERA over three starts at Comerica. 

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Avila was credited with a double when he lined a ball off the right-field wall with one out in the second. Renteria used his manager's challenge and after video review, the call was overturned and Avila was ruled out. Avila seemed to beat the initial throw from but appeared to slide off the base and shortstop Tim Anderson maintained his tag.

WHAT'S NEXT
White Sox: (0-1, 6.91 ERA) makes his fourth attempt at his first career victory in Monday night's series opener at Kansas City with a scheduled first pitch of 7:15 p.m. CT. Covey set a career high with four strikeouts in his last start, which was at home against the Royals.
Tigers: The Indians visit Comerica Park for a four-game series, beginning with a 7:10 p.m. ET game Monday night. (1-2, 4.71 ERA) will start opposite for the third time since last September.
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