The Tigers overcame another rough outing from starter Max Scherzer to split a brief two-game series with Chicago on Tuesday, but not after a wild sixth inning that included three Detroit home runs flipped the game on its head.
With the White Sox ahead 6-0 on the scoreboard after Scherzer was sent to the showers after just four innings, it looked like yet another underwhelming performance by Jim Leyland's team on their stand away from Comerica Park. But in the sixth inning with Chicago starter Jake Peavy laboring, a two-run Miguel Cabrera homer kickstarted a Detroit offensive explosion that would eventually tally eight Tigers' runs against White Sox pitchers in the frame alone.
Light-hitting Ryan Raburn broke out of his slump at the plate a bit with a 2-for-5, 4-RBI performance that included his first home run of the season, while leadoff hitter Austin Jackson belted arguably his longest hit in a Tigers' uniform with a straightaway center field home run of his own later in the same inning.
Unfortunately for Detroit, closer Jose Valverde left the game after recording just two outs in his bid to shut the door in the ninth inning. Valverde grimaced in pain after his final throw and was taken into the locker room after it became clear he could not finish the inning. Reliever Octavio Dotel allowed two Chicago runs before recording the final out to seal Detroit's win, but clearly the repercussions of this injury could be rather disastrous for the Tigers' bullpen going forward, so stay with SB Nation Detroit for complete coverage of his injury.
Now back to 18-18 and .500 on the year though, the Tigers will return home for a very manageable five-game stretch with Minnesota and Pittsburgh that starts on Wednesday.
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