Tigers avoid sweep (for the thousandth time this season)

BOX

KEY STAT

0: The number of runs Brad Penny allowed after the three-run second inning. It looked like Penny was going to get chased early but he stuck around long enough to earn a quality start.

KEY PLAY

Victor Martinez's two-run single to tie the game in the sixth. Even though Brennan Boesch finally broke up the White Sox run of 17 innings without allowing a run, Martinez actually drove runners in scoring position home.

KEY THOUGHTS

The sky took a temporary break from falling. So that's good. Much needed, really. Of course when Penny couldn't stop giving up hard hits in the second inning, things looked a bit bleaker. He settled in, fortunately. And the Tigers bats finally remembered how to drive in runs.

One of the key differences this game was the play of Martinez. He hit into a double play on Friday and also left runners in scoring position. On Saturday, he ground into two double plays. But Sunday, runners on second and third, he delivered.

Carlos Guillen, too, has made himself useful since returning. If healthy -- always key words -- he'll really help solidify things. He drove in the go-ahead (and eventual gamewinning) run with two outs in the sixth. He also made a few plays in the field you couldn't picture Ryan Raburn making. Not that's he a gold glove candidate or anything like that. But it's refreshing to have him back.

Brandon Inge went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He's 0-for-20 now, I believe. Sadly, this is just not going to end well for Brandon.

OTHER NEWS

The Tigers will continue figuring out who will start for them on Wednesday. Charlie Furbush, the favorite for the job, pitched in relief for the Mud Hens today. Andy Oliver started. Toledo Blade reporter John Wagner speculates this is the equivalent of a side session for Furbush, who threw 19 pitches in one inning of work, as a Wednesday start would be on an extra day's rest. But it could also signal the debut of Britton native Duane Below. I guess either reason makes sense to me at this point.

Detroit is in first place again, tied with the Indians.