Tigers 7, White Sox 1: David Price snaps Detroit's losing skid

Detroit's longest losing streak in a decade was ended tonight by the left arm of David Price, who pitched a complete game to lead Detroit to a 7-1 victory. Price gave up just one run on an Alexei Ramirez double, while striking out 11 and walking two. Price struck out seven in a row from the final out of the fourth to the end of the sixth, but an Adam LaRoche ground ball ended any threat of Price reaching the American League record for consecutive strikeouts.

Mired in a long slump, the Detroit offense busted out tonight against John Danks, putting up a five-spot in the fifth. Miguel Cabrera got the scoring started with a dinger, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead by sending a rocket over the center field fence to score Ian Kinsler. After a singles by Yoenis Cespedes and Nick Castellanos, Detroit picked up three consecutive RBI two-out hits. James McCann sent a missile just fair inside the third base bag to score Cespedes, then Josh Wilson cued an infield single to bring in Castellanos. Jose Iglesias finished off the scoring for the inning by sending a laser into right field that plated McCann.

The scoring was well-needed for a Detroit team that had been scuffling with runners in scoring position during the losing streak. The first few innings were more of the same tonight, with the Tigers stranding runners on first and second in the first, third, and fourth innings against Danks. It appeared the veteran lefthander would be able to dance in an out of trouble long enough to give his team a chance to win, but the Tigers got to him in the fifth. Danks was charged with five runs on 11 hits while striking out three over four and two thirds innings.

Hector Noesi pitched three innings in relief to finish off the game and save Chicago's bullpen, but the Tigers dinged him up for two runs on six hits as well. Iglesias chipped in his second RBI of the night on another opposite field hit, this one a double to score Josh Wilson. J.D. Martinez capped off the scoring with a long double that just missed out on clearing the right center fence in the eighth to score Cespedes. All in all, the offense busted out for 18 hits against White Sox pitching, with every hitter having at least one.

However, the big story of the night was Price's dominant pitching. He needed 110 pitches to dispatch the White Sox and after the first three innings was rarely in trouble. He gave up doubles to Emilio Bonifacio and Alexei Ramirez in the third, but that was all the White Sox would get. A lead-off single for Adam LaRoche in the fourth was the last base hit Chicago would get on the night. He was immediately cut down by a double play, one of three Detroit would turn on the night.

ROARS:

David Price: When Detroit needed a stopper, he was a stopper. The eleven strikeouts were his second double-digit strikeout game on the season. He improved to 5-2 on the year.

Josh Wilson: The 34-year-old journeyman collected four hits and an RBI on the night, sparking a resurgent bottom of the order.

Miguel Cabrera: He only had one hit, but it was a mammoth shot to center field that opened up the scoring for Detroit in the fifth.

Jose Iglesias: The athletic young shortstop had three more hits, including a double, and picked up two RBI while playing sparkling defense at shortstop.

HISSES:

Not tonight!

STREAKS AND STATS:

The night was dominated by two obvious streaks: the Tigers' eight-game losing snap and David Price's pursuit of strikeout history. The last time Detroit had lost eight in a row was 2005. This one had them plummeting in the standings. With the first-place Twins and struggling Royals losing, it was a productive day for the Tigers. They are four games out of the division lead.

Meanwhile, the FOX broadcast crew was on the edge of their seats while Price racked up strikeouts in the middle innings. He reached seven by ringing up Avisail Garcia to end the sixth. Just two strikeouts away from matching Doug Fister's 2012 AL record-tying mark, he was unable to strike out an overmatched LaRoche. Price stayed focused, however, and did not allow a hit the rest of the way.

WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:

Source: FanGraphs