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 Sometimes, though, something positive is needed to confirm the
faith.
That moment may have come Wednesday night as the White Sox scored
four runs in the bottom of the eighth to turn an almost certain
defeat into a dramatic 7-6 comeback win over the Detroit Tigers.
Left fielder Melky Cabrera drove in four runs -- three of them on a
game-tying, eighth-inning home run -- and right fielder Avisail
Garcia knocked in the winning run later in the eighth as Chicago
beat first-place Detroit for the second straight time.
"I mean, we needed that," Garcia said. "We needed to come back like
that late in the game. If we keep doing that, it's going to be good
for us.
"Let's see what happens and continue to play hard."
The White Sox were just four outs from a 6-3 defeat before they
rallied.
Second baseman Micah Johnson, who had three hits, started things
with a two-out single off the glove of third baseman Nick
Castellanos, and center fielder Adam Eaton followed with a walk.
Cabrera then launched a long homer over the right field fence
against reliever Joba Chamberlain (0-1) to tie the score at 6.
It was Cabrera's first homer of the season. Before Wednesday, he had
just six RBIs on the season.
"I feel very good because I ... hit the home run to tie the game in
that situation," Cabrera said. "And because we can make up four runs
in the inning and get the win, which is most important to us."
That's right, Chicago wasn't through. After Cabrera rounded the
bases, first baseman Jose Abreu singled and went to third on a base
hit by designated hitter Adam LaRoche. Garcia then stroked a single
to center to give the White Sox the lead.
Closer David Robertson pitched the ninth inning to earn his fifth
save of the season. Zach Putnam (1-1) got the win despite giving up
a run in his lone inning.
Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez snapped out of an
early-season funk with a home run and four RBIs. He provided the
Tigers with the 6-3 lead in the top of the eighth with a run-scoring
single.
"I felt really good," Chamberlain said. "Everything felt like it
came out really well. These ones are the frustrating ones, where you
feel good and they just did a good job of hitting it. You can't take
anything away from them."
Detroit manager Brad Ausmus was asked what he saw from Chamberlain.
"I saw six straight hits," Ausmus said. "I'm not going to dissect it
at this point, but obviously that was the key to the game."
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The comeback bailed out Chicago starter Chris Sale, who allowed five
runs on seven hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings. It was the
second consecutive subpar outing for the left-hander, who was
roughed up for eight runs on nine hits in three innings at Minnesota
on April 30.
"It's a great win," Sale said. "I just wish I was a part of it."
Tigers starter Alfredo Simon limited to Chicago to three runs on
five hits and four walks in five innings and was in line for the
win.
White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie hit a solo homer in the
second inning.
Chamberlain took the loss, but Castellanos took the blame.
"We battled off of Sale and got the runs we needed," the third
baseman said. "Joba went out and did a great job. If I catch that
line drive, we're out of there with a three-run lead and (closer
Joakim) Soria coming in to close the game."
NOTES: Tigers RHP Justin Verlander had an MRI exam Wednesday that
showed the inflammation around his right triceps has subsided. He
was cleared to start throwing and played catch for about 50 tosses
before the game. "He was more than just lobbing it," manager Brad
Ausmus said. "He was actually throwing it and said he felt fine."
... White Sox RHP Jeff Samardzija, who won the series opener
Tuesday, dropped the appeal of his five-game suspension stemming
from the brawl with the Royals last month and began serving it the
penalty Wednesday. He's eligible to return Monday at Milwaukee. ...
Because Samardzija's next start was pushed back a day, rookie LHP
Carlos Rodon will make his first major league start Saturday against
the Cincinnati Reds. ... Chicago designated RHP Javy Guerra for
assignment. He spent the past three weeks on the disabled list after
pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings early this season.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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