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Live blog: Tigers bats silent in loss to White Sox

By Geoff Robinson
Special to The Detroit News

FINAL: WHITE SOX 8, TIGERS 2

In what can only be classified as a massive disappointment, the Tigers fell to former pitcher Mike Pelfrey and the White Sox on Friday night in Chicago.

After having the first game of a doubleheader called off due to rain, the Tigers sat through a rain delay of the second game that lasted 1 hour, 25 minutes.

Pelfrey struck out seven Tigers hitters. And if you were wondering, his highest strikeout total when he was with the Tigers in 2016 was five. On this night, he gave up two runs on four hits, including a solo home run to Alex Avila in the fifth inning that cut the White Sox lead to 3-2.

Matt Boyd didn't even last five innings against the White Sox. He gave up three runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings. Boyd struck out three and walked two.

Chicago broke the game open in the eighth inning on a three-run home run from Melky Cabrera. The White Sox totalled 14 hits, compared to just six for the Tigers, who did next-to-nothing against the Chicago bullpen over four innings. All they could manage was an eighth inning walk and a pair of pointless two-out singles in the ninth.

In the ninth, Nick Castellanos struck out swinging and Tyler Collins did the same against Chicago reliever Gregory Infante. John Hicks was able to notch a two-out single, and Andrew Romine lucked out with an infield base hit before Jose Iglesias lined out to shortstop to end the game.

The Tigers and White Sox will try to play a straight doubleheader tomorrow afternoon. Buck Farmer and Michael Fulmer are the Tigers scheduled starters.

Bottom 8th: White Sox 8, Tigers 2

Yolmer Sanchez drew a one-out walk, and Leury Garcia was "hit" by a pitch and given first base after a lengthy review failed to yield the obvious result that Garcia was never, in fact, hit by the ball. With two men on, Melky Cabrera put a bow on tonight's game with a three-run home run over the left field wall, pushing the Chicago lead to 8-2.

Kevan Smith grounded out to shortstop to leadoff the inning.

Top 8th: White Sox 5, Tigers 2

Dan Jennings got the call from the Chicago bullpen and issued a walk to pinch-hitting Ian Kinsler, which resulted in Jennings' prompt removal from the game after having thrown seven pitches.

Tommy Kahnle entered and got Victor Martinez to ground out on a slow roller, moving Kinsler up to second. Kinsler would again move up a base on a J.D. Martinez ground out, but Justin Upton was unable to get him home as he struck out swinging to end the inning.

Bottom 7th: White Sox 5, Tigers 2

Todd Frazier hit a routine ground ball to third base but was able to reach on a throwing error by Nick Castellanos (his 10th error of the season). Avisail Garcia followed with a single through the left side of the infield. Tim Anderson grounded into a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners with one out. Luckily for the Tigers, Chad Bell was able to get a double play off the bat of Matt Davidson to keep the Tigers in striking distance.

Top 7th: White Sox 5, Tigers 2

Anthony Swarzak entered the game out of the Chicago bullpen and did what a lot of relievers do these days: Set the Tigers down in order.

John Hicks struck out swinging, Andrew Romine flew out to center field and Jose Iglesias grounded out to third to end the frame.

It's been a lifeless effort from the Tigers tonight with Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera resting.

Bottom 6th: White Sox 5, Tigers 2

Blaine Hardy came on in relief and immediately gave up a leadoff home run to Matt Davidson that puts the White Sox up 4-2.

Kevan Smith followed with a double to right field, and after Hardy was able to get the next two outs, Melky Cabrera dropped a bloop single into left field put Chicago up 5-2.

That was enough for Brad Ausmus to remove Hardy in favor of Chad Bell, who struck out Jose Abreu to get out of the inning.

Top 6th: White Sox 3, Tigers 2

Chris Beck got the call from the White Sox bullpen and set the Tigers down in order in the sixth inning.

Justin Upton flew out to center field, Nick Castellanos struck out swinging and Tyler Collins did the same.

Bottom 5th: White Sox 3, Tigers 2

Jose Abreu notched a one-out single to right field, and after Todd Frazier flew out to center field, Avisail Garcia singled through the left side of the infield. With two out and two men on, Matt Boyd (100 pitches) was shown the door by Brad Ausmus.

Insert: Shane Greene, who got Tim Anderson to ground out back to the mound to end the frame.

Melky Cabrera struck out swinging to leadoff the inning.

Top 5th: White Sox 3, Tigers 2

Alex Avila drilled a Mike Pelfrey offering to deep right center for a one-out, solo home run that cuts the Chicago lead to 3-2. The dinger is Avila's sixth of the season.

Victor Martinez made a bid for back-to-back home runs when he flew out to the warning track in right center. J.D. Martinez fouled out to end the frame.

Jose Iglesias struck out swinging to leadoff the inning.

Bottom 4th: White Sox 3, Tigers 1

Matt Davidson led off with a single to left field, and after Kevan Smith flew out to left, Yolmer Sanchez was able to pick up a single of his own to put two men on for Chicago. Matt Boyd was able to get out of the inning by getting Leury Garcia to ground into a double play.

Boyd has thrown 81 pitches.

Top 4th: White Sox 3, Tigers 1

J.D. Martinez was able to reach second base after Tyler Saladino threw a routine ground ball into the stands, putting the first hitter on the inning on base. Justin Upton singled to right field to put runners on the corners, but he gave the Tigers two men in scoring position by stealing second base on the first pitch of the next at-bat. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Castellanos swung at a 3-0 pitch, grounding into a fielder's choice that resulted in Martinez being thrown out at the plate.

Yes, you read the above passage correctly: Castellanos swung at a 3-0 pitch, and with nobody out and runners on second and third, Martinez came home on contact. Simply put: Baffling.

Anyways, Tyler Collins was able to work a walk and load the bases with one out. John Hicks grounded into a fielder's choice of his own and Upton was thrown out at home. Andrew Romine grounded out back to the mound to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd: White Sox 3, Tigers 1

Avisail Garcia cleared the bases with a three-run double to left field that puts Chicago up 3-1.

Melky Cabrera reached on a two-out infield single despite a nice play at third from Nick Castellanos, and Jose Abreu singled through the right side of the infield to put Chicago in business with runners on the corners. Matt Boyd walked Todd Frazier (he of the under .200 average) to load the bases Garcia (White Sox best hitter in 2017). That's the second time Boyd has walked Frazier to get to Garcia. That's, um, not an ideal game plan.

Tyler Saladino grounded out to third when Castellanos made a barehanded grab on a slow roller and Leury Garcia grounded out back to the mound to start the inning.

Top 3rd: Tigers 1, White Sox 0

Jose Iglesias struck out swinging, Alex Avila grounded out to third and Victor Martinez struck out looking as the Tigers went down in order.

Mike Pelfrey, who averages 3.3 strikeouts per game, already has six punch outs through three innings against Tigers hitters.

Bottom 2nd: Tigers 1, White Sox 0

Tim Anderson notched a leadoff single through the left side of the infield, but Matt Boyd came right back and got a double play ball off the bat of Matt Davidson to empty the base paths. Kevan Smith grounded out to third to end the inning.

Top 2nd: Tigers 1, White Sox 0

Justin Upton reached on a throwing error by Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson, and Nick Castellanos followed with a single to right field that put the Tigers in business with runners on the corners. Tyler Collins struck swinging, but the Tigers were able to get on the board when John Hicks hit a soft grounder back to the mound that resulted in a fielder's choice and a 1-0 lead.

With a man on second, Andrew Romine struck out looking to end the frame.

Pelfrey has racked up four strikeouts in the first to innings.

Bottom 1st: Tigers 0, White Sox 0

Jose Abreu hit a rocket off of Nick Castellanos at third base for a two-out single, Todd Frazier drew a walk, but Matt Boyd was able to come back and strike out the hot-hitting Avisail Garcia to get out of the jam.

Leury Garcia flew out to center field and Melky Cabrera lined out to third to start the inning.

Top 1st: Tigers 0, White Sox 0

Victor Martinez singled to left field with two outs against Mike Pelfrey, but the former Tigers pitcher bounced back to strike out J.D. Martinez and get out of the inning.

Jose Iglesias grounded out to second and Alex Avila struck out looking to start the game.

Rain delay

After having the first game of today's doubleheader postponed due to rain, the Tigers and White Sox will have to wait a little longer. Tonight's game, scheduled for 8:10, has had first pitch pushed back to 9:30 pm as the rain continues to fall on the south side of Chicago.

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Tigers' Iglesias hopes worm has turned after 3-hit game

TIGERS LINEUP

1. Jose Iglesias, SS

2. Alex Avila, 1B

3. Victor Martinez, DH

4. J.D. Martinez, RF

5. Justin Upton, LF

6. Nick Castellanos, 3B

7. Tyler Collins, CF

8. John Hicks, C

9. Andrew Romine, 2B

Matthew Boyd, SP

WHITE SOX LINEUP

1. Leury Garcia, CF

2. Melky Cabrera, LF

3. Jose Abreu, 1B

4. Todd Frazier, DH

5. Avisail Garcia, RF

6. Tim Anderson, SS

7. Matt Davidson, 3B

8. Omar Narvaez, C

9. Carlos Sanchez, 2B

Mike Pelfrey, SP