Tigers 11, White Sox 8: Tigers score lots of runs, don’t blow it this time

One night after scoring nine runs and losing in heartbreaking fashion, the Detroit Tigers nearly did the same on Tuesday. The Tigers jumped out to a 10-2 lead on the Chicago White Sox, but only gave some of it back this time before capping off a ___ victory.

While this game didn’t get off to quite as fast a start as Monday’s — Ian Kinsler grounded out to open Tuesday’s proceedings — the Tigers scored a run in the top of the first when Miguel Cabrera singled home Jose Iglesias. Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann coughed up the lead by allowing two runs in the bottom of the inning, but the Tigers tagged Miguel Gonzalez for two runs in the second to regain the lead.

Gonzalez gave up a lot of hard contact in the first couple innings, but his command failed him in a three-run third. The former Baltimore Oriole walked four batters in the third inning alone, including two with the bases loaded. By the time Miguel Cabrera doubled with one out in the fourth, Gonzalez had allowed six runs on nine hits, and departed after 91 pitches thrown.

Fortunately for the Tigers, Reliever Matt Purke wasn’t any better. He uncorked a wild pitch to open his outing, and allowed a pair of hits and a walk, scoring four more Tigers runs. By the time Purke induced a weak groundout from Mike Aviles to end the fourth, the Tigers led 10-2.

Unfortunately, Zimmermann would need the extra runs. Coming off one of his worst starts of the season, Zimmermann struggled again, allowing six runs on eight hits in his first five innings of work. He settled down afterward, however, and limited the White Sox to just one more hit over his final two innings.

ROARS:

The offense: Eleven runs on 16 hits and eight walks? Useful.

J.D. Martinez: Deserving of a special shoutout thanks to a 3-for-3 night with three doubles and two walks. Martinez has reached base nine times in the first two games of this series.

Miguel Cabrera: Another four-hit game for Miggy, his third of the season.

HISSES:

Jordan Zimmermann: Zimm was fortunate his offense went bonkers in this game, because he was not sharp for the second start in a row. He allowed a pair of runs in the first inning, and while some would argue the score played a role in his later struggles, he finished the night with a rather ugly line.

The defense: Three errors and a couple of other subtle miscues didn’t help Zimmermann’s cause.

Mark Lowe: Self-explanatory.

Injuries: Both J.D. Martinez and Jose Iglesias appeared to come up limping a bit at points in this game, and Mike Aviles left the game with a wrist injury in the bottom of the eighth inning. For a team that was already without Cameron Maybin and Victor Martinez due to various maladies, they can ill-afford more injuries of any sort.

STREAKS AND STATS:

• This was the fourth time the Tigers have scored 10 or more runs in a game, and the ninth time they have topped the nine-run mark. The Tigers are 7-2 in such games in 2016.
• White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton has six hits in the first two games of this series. He is not to be trusted.
• James McCann has caught 12 of 22 attempted base stealers this season.

WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH: