Fiers' strong effort helps Tigers blank White Sox

[April 09, 2018]  Mike Fiers tossed six scoreless innings in his Detroit debut and the Tigers completed a three-game road sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Fiers, who signed a one-year, $6 million free agent contract during the offseason, allowed three hits and a walk while striking out six. A quartet of relievers followed, including Shane Greene, who recorded his second save.

Leadoff hitter Leonys Martin reached base three times, including the only two hits the Tigers managed during the afternoon, and scored the only run. Miguel Cabrera drove in his fourth run in two games.

Detroit has been involved in three 1-0 games over the last eight days. It lost to Pittsburgh and Kansas City by the same score.

Reynaldo Lopez (0-1) was the hard-luck loser. He allowed only an unearned run in seven innings while walking five and striking out five. Ex-Tiger Bruce Rondon struck out all four batters he faced in his first outing against his former team. Avisail Garcia had two of the White Sox's three hits.

The Tigers manufactured a run in the first. Martin blooped a single, stole second, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Cabrera's sacrifice fly.

Chicago squandered a bases-full opportunity with one out in the bottom of the inning. Nicky Delmonico lined out to short and Welington Castillo grounded out to short.

Tigers starting pitcher Mike Fiers (50) delivers against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers had two on and two out in the fourth but Lopez escaped that jam by striking out John Hicks.

Detroit setup man Joe Jimenez struck out two of the three batters he faced in the eighth.

Rondon mowed down Nicholas Castellanos, Niko Goodrum and Mikie Mahtook in the top of the ninth.

Garcia led off the bottom of the ninth against Greene and reached on an error by third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Greene then induced Jose Abreu to hit into a 6-4-3 double play on a 2-2 pitch. Greene struck out Matt Davidson looking to end the game.

--Field Level Media

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