Tigers Win Wild Series Finale in Chicago

Tigers 13, White Sox 8 (box)

The Tigers got on the board first with a two-run single in the third from Carlos Guillen that had just enough to get by Gordan Beckham. Guillen got the two-out chance because the White Sox chose to intentionally walk Miguel Cabrera for the second time in the game.

The Sox got a run back in the bottom half of the frame when Beckham scored on a sacrifice fly from Alexei Ramirez.

The long ball helped extend the Tigers lead starting with the solo shot from Ryan Raburn in the fourth inning and Jhonny Peralta‘s deep blast to left field that also scored Cabrera. (It gets wild after the jump)

Armando Galarraga couldn’t leave well enough alone and let Chicago make it a one run game. He hit Juan Pierre, who moved got to third by way of a groundout and wild pitch, walked Paul Konerko, gave up an RBI groundout to Carlos Quentin, served up a double over Austin Jackson‘s head to Mark Teahen, and a single to Ramon Castro. Just like that a 5-1 lead stood at 5-4.

Robbie Weinhardt made sure to complete Armando Galarraga‘s choke job. Alexei Ramirez took a two-out two-strike pitch that was off the plate the other way to drive in the tying run. Paul Konerko stepped into the box amid the chants of “Paulie! Paulie!” and sent the first pitch he saw into the seats in left-center to give the Sox a 7-5 lead.

Miguel Cabrera sent a line drive the opposite field that had enough to clear the right field fence in the seventh to bring the Tigers within a run.

The offense bailed out the pitching with three runs in the eighth as the Tigers got to J.J. Putz for the second consecutive night. Austin Jackson drew a walk to extend the inning and allow Johnny Damon to send his two RBI triple to center field. Damon would score following an error by Andruw Jones to put the Tigers up 9-7.

Ryan Perry kept the pitching theme going by giving up a first pitch home run to Andruw Jones. A walk to Beckham and subsequent sacrifice from Pierre put the tying run in scoring position with just one out. Perry got a big strikeout of Alexei Ramirez and a fly ball from Paul Konerko to escape the bottom of the eighth with a 9-8 lead.

Jhonny Peralta hasn’t always come through as a Tiger but he has managed to pick some nice spots when he has produced. Peralta hit his second homer of the game in the ninth inning to bump the lead back up to two. A couple hits later and the Tigers were threatening to break this one wide open. An intentional walk to Austin Jackson gave Don Kelly a bases loaded chance. Kelly’s broken bat single got over Konerko’s head to score two runs. An RBI on Brandon Inge‘s fielder’s choice scored the inning’s final run and put the Tigers up 13-8.

Phil Coke was wild early in the bottom of the ninth but a pop-up and double play secured the victory for the Tigers. A road series win!