The Detroit Tigers rode Max Scherzer's pitching and timely hitting to a crucial 8-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox Wednesday night. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when a Kevin Youkilis home run gave Chicago a 1-0 lead. A fielders choice and two RBI singles gave Detroit a 3-1 lead in the fifth, and a three-run Prince Fielder home run in the seventh extended the lead to 6-1. Detroit added two insurance runs in the eighth inning on a pair of doubles by Alex Avila and Austin Jackson, runs that proved to be critical. Chicago attempted a comeback in the eighth, with Youkilis' second home run bringing in three runs and cutting Detroit's margin to 8-5. A ninth-inning Alexi Ramirez groundout brought home Alex Rios, before Orlando Hudson struck out looking to end the game.
Max Scherzer was excellent, earning the win after giving up just one run and 4 hits in 6 innings. Scherzer added 7 strikeouts without a walk. Jose Valverde got the save despite allowing a run in the ninth. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd took the loss.
The win took the Tigers to 75-67 on the season and cut the White Sox lead in the AL Central to one game.
The teams return to action in the fourth and final game of the series tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 ET.
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