Fielder homers, Tigers beat White Sox 3-1

[May 07, 2012]  DETROIT (AP) -- Prince Fielder homered and Rick Porcello pitched impressively into the seventh inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Fielder's 432-foot shot to right-center -- his fourth of the year -- broke a 1-all tie in the third. Austin Jackson homered for the Tigers in the first after Adam Dunn gave Chicago an early lead with a solo shot in the top half.

Andy Dirks added a home run for Detroit in the eighth.

Porcello (3-2) allowed a run and four hits in 6 1-3 innings. Four relievers finished for the Tigers, with Jose Valverde pitching the ninth for his fifth save.

Dylan Axelrod (0-1) allowed two runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings.

The first two games of this series were won on two-run homers in the ninth inning -- by Detroit's Jhonny Peralta on Friday night and Dunn on Saturday. All the runs in the finale came via the long ball, but Valverde held onto the lead this time after allowing Dunn's homer a day earlier.

Valverde gave up a hit and a walk Sunday but struck out Gordon Beckham to end it.

Dunn's solo shot in the first was his ninth homer of the season, but that was all the scoring for the White Sox. Porcello struck out five and walked two.

Jackson led off the bottom of the first with his fourth homer of the year.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland altered his lineup a bit to try to boost the offense. Dirks batted second and fellow outfielder Brennan Boesch was dropped to eighth.

The Tigers had 10 hits but left 12 runners on base. Alex Avila hit into a double play with runners on first and third to end the fifth. Dirks popped out to end the sixth with runners on second and third.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, Boesch hit a routine fly.

Dirks finally added an insurance run with his homer to right.

The 26-year-old Axelrod made his first start of the season for the White Sox, part of a pitching shuffle that moved Chris Sale from starter to closer. Axelrod struck out four and walked two.

Chicago outfielder Dayan Viciedo left in the seventh after being hit in the right elbow with a pitch.

NOTES: Chicago manager Robin Ventura said the White Sox will bring up LHP Eric Stults from the minors to start the second game of Monday's doubleheader at Cleveland. Stults (0-0) will face Josh Tomlin (1-2). Chicago RHP Phil Humber (1-1) faces Zach McAllister (0-0) in the opener. ... Detroit RHP Doug Fister (0-0) returns from a left side strain to make his second start of the season Monday night at Seattle. Blake Beavan (1-3) takes the mound for the Mariners. ... Dunn's homer was his 374th, tying Rocky Colavito for 69th on the career list. ... Leyland earned his 1,602nd win, tying Fred Clarke for 16th on the career list.

[Associated Press; By NOAH TRISTER]

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