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 Abreu blasted his major-league-leading 31st home run and took
over the major league lead in RBIs as the Chicago White Sox
overpowered the Detroit Tigers 11-4 Tuesday night at Comerica Park.
Abreu hit a two-run shot during a seven-run, seventh-inning
outburst, and added a two-run double to lift his RBI total to 83.
Earlier, the Chicago first baseman extended his hitting streak to 18
games with a fourth-inning single. He had another 18-game streak
from June 15-July 4.
Abreu's hits came against three different pitchers.
"He's one of the best players in the game," said White Sox manager
Robin Ventura, who notched his 200th career victory. "That's a fact.
Whether people put him in (the MVP conversation), I don't know. But
I know he's up there with anybody that's running for it."
What makes the Cuban import's accomplishments all the more
impressive is that he missed 15 games with an ankle injury.
"He's not (the Detroit Tigers' and reigning two-time AL MVP) Miguel
Cabrera but he's got a chance to be something like that," said White
Sox catcher Tyler Flowers, who had two hits and scored twice. "Every
at-bat, every day, the way he works -- that's how I imagine Miguel
works. And it seems like he's got just as much power and a similar
kind of swing, too. He can drive the ball to right center like
Cabrera and doesn't seem to get fooled too often. He's a complete
hitter."
Shortstop Alexei Ramirez hit a three-run double and third baseman
Conor Gillaspie supplied three hits, including two singles during
the seventh when the White Sox (52-55) sent 12 men to the plate.
Designated hitter Adam Dunn added a solo home run.
Chicago left-hander Jose Quintana (6-7) survived six shaky innings,
giving up nine hits and walking two en route to the victory.
Quintana received two or fewer runs of support in his last five
starts.
"It's nice to get Quintana a couple of runs once in a while,"
Flowers said. "Hopefully, we didn't waste them all."
First baseman Victor Martinez had three hits and right fielder J.D.
Martinez contributed an RBI triple for the Tigers (57-46), who lost
their fourth game in a row.
Detroit right-hander Anibal Sanchez (7-5) was knocked out of the
game and recently acquired reliever Joakim Soria was clobbered
during Chicago's big inning, which began with the score knotted at
2.
Gillaspie scored the go-ahead run on an error by left fielder Rajai
Davis before Soria entered the game. Soria promptly gave up four
consecutive hits, beginning with center fielder Adam Eaton's single
that loaded the bases before Ramirez cleared them with his double.
Abreu and Dunn followed with back-to-back home runs.
Soria surrendered four runs and six hits and only got one out.
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"We certainly haven't seen the real Joakim Soria, especially this outing,"
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He was missing out over the middle of
the plate and they took advantage."
Abreu made it 11-2 with a double off reliever Ian Krol in the eighth.
Sanchez allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
"I don't know what happened in that inning," Sanchez said. "I thought I
threw some pretty good pitches."
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the second. Designated hitter Torii Hunter
led off the inning with a single, and he scored on J.D. Martinez's
triple into the right field corner. A sacrifice fly by catcher Bryan
Holaday brought home Martinez.
The White Sox tied it in the fourth. The rally featured three singles,
including Gillaspie's run-scoring hit, and second baseman Gordon
Beckham's sacrifice fly.
Detroit shortstop Eugenio Suarez left the game in the bottom of the
fourth due to lower-back tightness.
NOTES: Tigers 3B Nick Castellanos was a late scratch because of a right
index finger contusion. Manager Brad Ausmus adjusted his lineup by
inserting J.D. Martinez in right field and moving Miguel Cabrera from
first base to third, Victor Martinez from designated hitter to first and
Torii Hunter from right field to DH. ... White Sox RHP Matt Lindstrom
threw a simulated game Tuesday as he works his way back from left ankle
surgery. Lindstrom was the team's closer before he was injured May 19.
... The Tigers, who have played four fewer games than the White Sox, do
not have another day off until Aug. 18. Detroit has just four off days
the remainder of the season. ... The White Sox began the night 5-15 in
their past 20 games at Detroit. ... Rock star Jack White threw out the
first pitch.
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reserved.]
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