Detroit Tigers Fall To Sale, White Sox, As Season Winds Down

facebooktwitterreddit

In 2015, perhaps the only team that had a disappointing year which rivaled the failed expectations of the Detroit Tigers, was the Chicago White Sox. On Friday night, Chicago, behind the efforts of their ace, Chris Sale, came out victorious as two projected contenders inched closer to putting their lackluster campaigns behind them.

Detroit jumped out early on Sale, and the White Sox, when Jefry Marte, who had never faced the dominant left-hander, sent a home-run over the left-field wall for his fourth long ball on the year.

After that, Sale was untouchable.

Facing Alfredo Simon, who was most likely pitching in his last start as a Detroit Tiger, Chicago’s speedy center-fielder Adam Eaton ripped a double to score two.

With their perennial Cy Young candidate on the mound, the White Sox did not need much else.

Over seven-plus innings, Sale allowed one earned run, and struck out seven Tigers, en route to his 13th win of the year, and Chicago’s single season strikeout record.

On the year, Sale finished with a total of 24 games in which he struck out seven more batters.

Despite Sale’s dominance, the Tigers did rally to put men on first and second, after a Josh Wilson double, and a hit-by-pitch. But, the White Sox brought in reliever Matt Albers, who promptly retired Rajai Davis, Andrew Romine, and J.D. Martinez, in order.

Albers then gave way to David Robertson, who was equally as dominant. Chicago’s closer set down Nick Castellanos, and Marte on strikes, and then induced a fly out from James McCann, to notch his 34th save, and the 75th win of the year for the White Sox.

Detroit will try and bounce back behind Justin Verlander in his last start of the year. Verlander is 5-8 with a 3.39 ERA on the year, while his opposition, Erik Johnson, is 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA. The game will take place at 7:10 PM and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit and 97.1 The Ticket.

Next: Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander Ace, Alex Avila Back, Best Photos