Peavy, Viciedo lead White Sox over Tigers 5-2

[April 14, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Jake Peavy pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Dayan Viciedo homered and made a key catch Friday as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in their home opener.

Peavy (1-0) took a one-hitter and a 3-0 lead into the seventh. He walked Miguel Cabrera and Delmon Young's two-out, two-run homer finished him.

Alex Avila singled off reliever Will Ohman and Jhonny Peralta followed with a double against Addison Reed before Viciedo made a diving catch of Andy Dirks' sinking liner to left field to end the inning.

In the eighth, Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez made a nice stop and shovel to second, starting an inning-ending double play after the Tigers had runners at first and third.

Viciedo hit his first homer with two outs in the fifth to break up a scoreless duel between Peavy and Max Scherzer (0-1). Paul Konerko had an RBI single with two outs in the sixth and then just barely beat the throw home to score on A.J. Pierzynski's triple into the right-field corner, making it 3-0.

Brent Morel hit an RBI single for Chicago in the eighth after Young misplayed Alejandro De Aza's fly ball into triple. Morel eventually scored on a wild pitch by Brayan Villarreal.

Hector Santiago pitched the ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Peavy, whose stint with Chicago has been since slowed by injuries since coming to the White Sox in a trade with San Diego late in the 2009 season, allowed only two hits. He struck out eight and walked one in 6 2-3 innings.

Peavy retired the first 10 batters before Brennan Boesch singled sharply to right with one in the fourth.

Scherzer (0-1), who gave up eight hits and seven runs in just 2 2-3 innings in his first start this season against the Red Sox, was much more effective in his second outing.

Scherzer struck out 11, walked one and allowed five hits and three runs in six innings.

NOTES: The teams combined to strike out 25 times -- 15 by White Sox batters, including four by Adam Dunn. ... Robin Ventura became the sixth straight White Sox manager to win his debut at U.S. Cellular Field. He and Konerko got loud ovations during introductions. "You feel like you grew up here, so in a lot of ways, it's coming home," said the low-key Ventura, who spent a decade as Chicago's third baseman. Konerko said the communication from Ventura has been good early in the season. "Robin doesn't say a whole bunch so when he does you know he means it and you pay attention to it." ... The game was delayed nearly 10 minutes in the top of the first when Tigers star Miguel Cabrera pointed out that the batter's box wasn't the right size. The grounds crew wiped out the original and created another box with a frame that had to be brought in from center field. ... The announced sellout crowd was 38,676. ... Tigers INF Brandon Inge could rejoin the club Saturday after an injury rehab (groin) rehab for Triple-A Toledo. ... Adam Wilk (0-0) goes for Detroit on Saturday against Gavin Floyd (0-1). ...... Former major league pitcher Kevin Hickey, who was a batting practice pitcher and pregame instructor with the White Sox, remains hospitalized in Texas undergoing tests. He was taken to the hospital the day before the White Sox's season opener against the Rangers on April 6.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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