Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Gordon Beckham clubbed a three-run homer and Mark Teahen added a two-run blast in his return from the disabled list, as the Chicago White Sox doubled up Detroit, 8-4, in the rainy opener of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.
Juan Pierre hit a run-scoring triple for the White Sox, while Mark Buehrle (11-9) earned the win after giving up three runs on five hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
Chicago, which has won 22 of its last 26 home games, remains one game back of AL Central-leading Minnesota. The Twins beat Oakland on Friday.
Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn both homered for the Tigers, who have dropped seven of nine. Jeremy Bonderman (6-8) allowed six runs on seven hits over six full frames to take the loss.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Teahen, who hadn't played since May 30 because of a fractured middle finger on his right hand, and Alexei Ramirez hit back-to-back singles to begin the inning. After a sacrifice by A.J. Pierzynski, Mark Kotsay hit a chopper to the mound. Bonderman fielded the ball but his throw home wasn't in time to get Teahen. Beckham followed by crushing an 1-0 pitch to right-center field for his seventh home run of the season.
The Tigers trailed 4-2 in the sixth after consecutive RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen, but Teahen followed a one-out walk to Paul Konerko in the home half of the inning with a blast to right field.
Buehrle was replaced on the mound by Sergio Santos after the veteran left- hander surrendered a home run to Raburn. Gerald Laird then reached on an infield single before the rain came.
Santos returned to pitch following a 1-hour, 22-minute delay and walked Austin Jackson, but fanned Johnny Damon and got Jhonny Peralta to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Eddie Bonine succeeded Bonderman to start the bottom of the seventh and gave up back-to-back triples to Beckham and Pierre.
Inge and Ramirez exchanged home runs in the eighth inning.
Buehrle has won eight of his last 11 decisions. He improved to 16-8 lifetime against the Tigers...Chicago is 7-2 against Detroit this season...The White Sox optioned infielder Dayan Viciedo to Triple-A Charlotte following Thursday's loss to Minnesota to make room for Teahen.