Tigers 5, White Sox 4 Snap Recap: Jhonny Peralta wore his walkoff shoes

A Jhonny Peralta walkoff 2 run home run gave the Detroit Tigers a come from behind 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox Friday night at Comerica Park.

Jose Valverde vultured a win, his record rising to 2-0. Once again, Tigers' starting pitcher Drew Smyly pitched well enough (6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 7 K) to receive a no-decision. Matt Thornton took the loss in relief, evening his record at 1-1. White Sox starter Jake Peavy pitched 7 2/3 solid innings, but got nothing for his efforts. Alex Avila added 3 hits, a home run and an RBI for the Tigers, Gordon Beckham homered and had 3 RBI for the White Sox

The Tigers started off the scoring in the 2nd inning. With 1 out, Avila doubled, Peralta singling to him to 3rd. A Ryan Rayburn sac fly plated Avila, giving the Tigers a rare early lead at 1-0.

The White Sox countered in the 3rd to make it 1-1. Dayan Viciedo singled, was sacrificed to 2nd, and scored on Beckham's double.

Avila took matters into his own hands in the 4th, his solo big fly giving the Tigers back the lead at 1-1.

The White Sox counter-punching continued in the 6th. Alexei Ramirez tripled to right center, the ball eluding a diving Austin Jackson. He of the three true outcomes, Adam Dunn, didn't walk, strike out or hit a home run, but his sac fly did send Ramirez home with the tying run.

In the 7th, the wheels surprisingly came off for Octavio Dotel. It looked to be a typical harmless inning for Dotel, easily getting the first 2 outs. But in the blink of an eye, the White Sox had the lead. Brent Morel singled and advanced to 2nd on a passed ball. Beckham then took Dotel deep to left field, as Don Kelly could only stand and watch the ball fly over the wall for a 2 run home run and 4-2 White Sox lead. All with 2 outs.

The Tigers rallied in the 8th, closing the lead to 1 run. Kelly led off with a single, advancing to 2nd on a Brennan Boesch ground out. White Sox manager Robin Ventura wandered out to the mound, and decided to leave Peavy in despite reaching his highest pitch count of the young season. Miguel Cabrera made Ventura and Peavy pay, his single to center scoring Kelly, and putting the Tigers down by only a run, 4-3. Matt Thornton relieved, but snuffed out hopes of a rally by getting Prince Fielder to ground out to, well, Thornton.

After a relatively uneventful Jose Valverde scoreless non-save appearance (rare, I know) In the 9th, Thornton remained in to close out the game. He made a nice play to start the inning on Ramon Santiago, who was trying to bunt his way on base. But Avila kept hope alive by looping a single to left center. There was still a chance.

In an 0-2 hole, Peralta fouled off a pitch to keep his at bat alive. He then took Thornton's next pitch the opposite way to deep right center field, the ball having enough juice to carry over the 365 mark in Comerica's Death Valley.

And just like that...

WALKOFF WIN!