CHICAGO (AP) — Spencer Torkelson hit a three-run homer during a five-run seventh inning, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Monday night to complete a four-game sweep and drop the majors’ worst team to 31-101.
Parker Meadows led off the seventh with a homer off Jared Shuster (1-3) that tied the game at 2-all. Jace Jung hit a go-ahead RBI single before Torkelson greeted Justin Anderson with a 439-foot drive to center field that made it 6-2.
“There’s always that belief,” said Torkelson, who turned 25 on Monday. “When you’ve got a lineup like ours, we’re really gritty and we never take an at-bat for granted. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got on every single pitch, and that’s a really tough thing to face as a pitching staff. When you have nine guys putting together really good at-bats, it’s probably exhausting. We always feel like we’re in the fight, we’re never out of it.”
The White Sox have lost eight of nine and recorded their 31st blown save, the most in the majors. They have four wins in their past 38 games.
Torkelson finished 3 for 5, falling a triple short of the cycle, as the Tigers (66-66) returned to .500 for the first time since June 7. They have won 11 of 14.
“We want to play winning baseball,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Obviously, we’ve had to do a lot to get to this point, but it’s just this point. The season’s not over. It hasn’t been over. There’s been a lot of conversation around this team. It’s changed, and we’re going to continue to show up ready to play, every day.”
Detroit right-hander Ty Madden gave up two runs, one earned, in five innings in his major league debut. The 24-year-old allowed four hits and three walks.
Sean Guenther (1-0) worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his first career win, and Tyler Holton handled the ninth for his fifth save.
Andrew Vaughn drove in runs for the White Sox with a sacrifice fly in the first and a single in the third. Andrew Benintendi homered in the eighth for Chicago.
Davis Martin allowed one run on seven hits in five innings for the White Sox.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: SS Javier Báez will have season-ending surgery on his right hip, Hinch said. Báez was moved to the 60-day injured list. … LHP Bryan Sammons was optioned to Triple-A Toledo. He allowed one earned run in 4 1/3 innings in Sunday’s win over the White Sox. RHP Mason Englert was recalled from Toledo. … RHP Will Vest was placed on the paternity list.
White Sox: Claimed INF Jacob Amaya off waivers from Houston and designated INF Nick Senzel for assignment. … Recalled LHP Sammy Peralta and INF Bryan Ramos from Triple-A Charlotte and optioned LHP Ky Bush to Charlotte.
UP NEXT
LHP Brant Hurter (1-1, 3.57 ERA) is set to start for the Tigers Tuesday as they return home to begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels, while White Sox ace Garrett Crochet (6-9, 3.64) takes the mound as Chicago hosts the Texas Rangers.
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