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 The Detroit Tigers left-hander understands that if he makes the
pitches he needs and allows the defense to do the rest, things
should work out fine.
That was certainly the case on Thursday when Lobstein allowed only
five hits in 7 2/3 innings in a 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox
at U.S. Cellular Field.
Lobstein, who worked at least seven innings for the third straight
outing, got 13 White Sox hitters to hit the ball on the ground. But
the ground-ball outs didn't come any bigger than they did in the
fourth inning when the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out in a
tie game.
Lobstein got White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez to ground out to
third baseman Nick Castellanos, who tagged the bag at third and then
fired the ball home to complete the double play to keep the score
tied.
"That obviously can change the course of a game right there," said
Lobstein, who improved to 3-2. "Momentum swings back to our side."
The Tigers (18-11) wasted little time taking advantage, scoring what
proved to be the winning run in the top of the fifth when center
fielder Rajai Davis scored on a groundout by first baseman Miguel
Cabrera that White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham failed to field
cleanly.
The double play the inning before proved to be an important moment.
"That's the way the game goes sometimes," White Sox manager Robin
Ventura said. "You'd like (the ground ball) a little more up the
middle there and get something more out of that, but we had some
opportunities off (Lobstein) in that inning."
Designated hitter Victor Martinez paced the Tigers' offense with
three hits. His third hit -- an eighth-inning single -- provided the
Tigers (18-11) with a two-run lead. Detroit blew a three-run,
eighth-inning lead in a 7-6 loss on Wednesday, giving the White Sox
their second straight in the series.
Chicago (10-15) was looking for its first series sweep over Detroit
since 2008 and its first sweep of its American League Central rivals
at home since 2006.
Instead, the Tigers used only seven hits to do just enough to leave
town with a victory.
"It's a pretty good lineup," White Sox starter Jose Quintana said.
"(The) last two years, they (won) the division. (They) have power
and contact, too. But no matter what, you try to get quick outs and
get longer in the game."
The Tigers struck early when Cabrera scored on a Quintana wild pitch
after being hit by a pitch with two outs in the first inning.
The White Sox didn't pick up their first hit until the fourth inning
when right fielder Avisail Garcia's single scored left fielder Melky
Cabrera, who reached on an error to lead off the inning.
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Castellanos pushed Detroit's lead to three runs in the eighth,
scoring first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who had been intentionally
walked after second baseman Ian Kinsler led off the inning with a
double and scored on Martinez's single.
Quintana (1-3) took the loss for the White Sox, giving up the two
runs, four hits and two walks in five innings while striking out
six.
Lobstein, who yielded two hits in eighth, avoided trouble by getting
center fielder Adam Eaton to ground into a double play before being
relieved by reliever Joakim Soria with two outs. Soria struck out
Abreu to end the inning before striking out the side in the ninth.
The Tigers finished their six-game road trip at .500, which would
have been easier for manager Brad Ausmus to live with had it not
been for Wednesday night's meltdown.
"If we hold on (Wednesday night), it's a good road trip," he said.
"Now it's just an OK road trip."
NOTES: White Sox LHP Chris Sale dropped his appeal of his five-game
suspension Thursday stemming from his involvement the bench-clearing
brawl against Kansas City involving Royals RHP Yordano Ventura and
White Sox CF Adam Eaton. Sale, who picked up a no-decision Wednesday
against the Tigers, will be eligible to rejoin the White Sox on
Tuesday in Milwaukee and will pitch on five day's rest against the
Brewers. ... The White Sox have committed seven errors in their last
three games and were tied for 26th in the majors with a .977
fielding percentage (20 errors) entering Thursday's game. ... Tigers
SS Jose Iglesias (left groin strain) did not play after aggravating
the injury he sustained Sunday. Iglesias played on Wednesday but
experienced groin tightness overnight after scoring from second base
in a 7-6 loss to the White Sox. Manager Brad Ausmus said the injury
could keep Iglesias out a couple of days. Hernan Perez started in
Iglesias' place.
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