Detroit Tigers Fall to Chicago White Sox 5-2

May 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher

(61) walks in Chicago White Sox second baseman

(7) for a run during the third inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers fell to the Chicago White Sox 5-2 to open their three game series. Jeff Samardzija got the start for the White Sox and pitched well after struggling a little early. He finished the game with a final line of 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K with 71 strikes on 105 pitches. Shane Greene got the start for the Tigers, and he made his third consecutive poor start. He only threw 26 strikes on 57 pitches and ended the night with a line of 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K.

The Tigers got on the board first in this game. On the first pitch of the game, Anthony Gose hit a single into left field. On the second pitch, he stole second and advanced to third on an error by Geovany Soto. On the fourth pitch, Gose scored after a single by Ian Kinsler.

The White Sox answered back in the bottom half of the first. Adam Eaton hit a leadoff double that was nothing more than a ground ball that found its way over first base. Melky Cabrera then walked followed by a single up the middle from Jose Abreu to tie the game at 1-1.

The Tigers re-took the lead in the top of the 2^nd as the White Sox struggled on defense. With two outs, Alex Avila hit his second home run of the season with an assist by Melky Cabrera. Cabrera tried to make a jumping catch at the wall, but the ball ricocheted off of his glove and over the wall. It probably would have made its way out, but there is a chance it could have just hit the top of the wall. Alexi Ramirez then booted a ground ball followed by an attempted throwing error by Micah Johnson, but Ramirez barely kept his foot on second to end the inning with the Tigers leading 2-1.

The wheels came off for Greene in the third. Johnson led off the inning with an infield single when Greene did not make it to the bag in time. Eaton then hit a ground ball up the middle that advanced Johnson who was moving on the pitch. Greene then walked Melky, Abreu, and Adam LaRoche consecutively to bring home a run. Avisail Garcia then hit a first pitch, broken bat ground ball where the Tigers could not turn two plating a run. Conor Gillaspie then brought home two on a triple, ending Greene’s night.

What should not be missed is the bullpen performance tonight. Alex Wilson went 3.1 innings of 1 hit ball with only 1 walk. Blaine Hardy and Angel Nesbitt pitched perfect innings in the 7^th and 8^th. All three threw strikes. If Tigers’ pitchers throw strikes the rest of the series, they should be alright.

The Tigers and White Sox will face off again Wednesday night at 8:10 as Alfredo Simon (4-1, 3.13 ERA) and Chris Sale (2-1, 5.32 ERA) take the mound for their respective teams.