The Detroit Tigers dropped a 5-4 decision to the Chicago White Sox on Monday afternoon, preventing them from winning a four-game series that started a week ago. The game was a makeup for last Thursday's series finale, which was postponed due to rain. With the loss, the Detroit fell three games behind the first-place White Sox in the AL Central.
In a game that had a bit of a playoff atmosphere, the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, thanks to run-scoring hits from Austin Jackson and Delmon Young. Doug Fister was unable to capitalize on the early run support, though, as he allowed the White Sox to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Fister had a chance to get out of a bases-loaded jam, but hit Gordon Beckham with a pitch instead. Dewayne Wise would single in the next at-bat, scoring two runs and knotting the game at three apiece.
Young would provide another RBI hit in the fifth, scoring Miguel Cabrera, who doubled to lead off the inning. That gave the Tigers a one-run lead, but an errant throw by Omar Infante on a double-play attempt in the bottom half of the inning allowed two runs to score, which gave the White Sox a lead that wouldn't be relinquished. Chicago's bullpen was a big reason for that, as five relievers combined to throw five innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit in the process.
Young and Prince Fielder each had two hits for the Tigers. Meanwhile, Fister was not at his best, as he gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in four innings.
The Tigers will play host to the Oakland Athletics beginning on Tuesday, in another series with big postseason implications.
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