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Jordan Zimmermann was shelled for nine runs as the Detroit Tigers dropped their fourth straight game to the Chicago White Sox, this one by a score of 10-1. Some of the 15,000 fans on hand were treated to a 1984 commemorative vinyl record entitled Bless You Boys, and it was also Irish Heritage Night at Comerica Park. Those turned out to be the highlights of the evening for the hometown fans.
Zimmermann, sporting a record of 1-11 and a 6.37 ERA for the season, took the mound for Detroit, looking for his second win of the season and his first since July 29. The Pale Hose countered with Dylan Cease, who entered the game with a record of 3-7 and a 6.18 ERA.
Chicago opened the scoring in the second inning when Eloy Jimenez tripled and scored on a double by Zach Collins. James McCann singled Collins over to third, and Yolmer Sanchez drove in Collins with a single to left field. McCann moved to third on a fielding error by Christin Stewart. 2-0 Chicago.
The White Sox added a pair of runs in the third inning when Jose Abreu singled and moved to second on a throwing error by Ronnie Rodriguez at third base, then Yoan Moncada drilled a 411-foot two-run homer to make it 4-0 Chicago.
Miguel Cabrera put the Tigers on the board in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single, scoring Travis Demeritte. That made it White Sox 4, Tigers 1.
Chicago kept piling on the the runs in fourth frame when David Palka singled and scored on a double by Sanchez. Tim Anderson singled, pushing Sanchez to third. After Zimmermann struck out Abreu, Moncada was intentionally walked. Jimenez then hit a grand slam into the right field seats to make it 9-1 for Chicago.
Zimmermann was done after 3 2⁄3 innings, yielding nine earned runs on 11 hits, while striking out six batters with just the one intentional walk. Nick Ramirez was summoned in relief.
Meanwhile, Cease worked six innings for Chicago, allowing one run on five hits and striking out eight Tigers.
Ramirez and John Schreiber teamed up to shut down the White Sox for 2 1⁄3 innings but the Sox got to Gregory Soto to expand their lead in the seventh inning. McCann walked, moved to second on a single by Palka, and scored on a double down the third base line by Adam Engel to make it 10-1 for Chicago.
Bullpen tryouts continued as Zac Reininger and Jose Cisnero each threw a scoreless frame, but the Tigers’ offense remained dormant as the scoring for the evening was done.
Final lines
Chicago: 10 runs, 19 hits, no errors
Detroit: 1 run, 6 hits, 3 errors
The loss drops the Tigers to 45-108 for the season with nine games remaining before the 2019 season comes to a merciful end. Coupled with the Baltimore Orioles’ win over Seattle, Detroit’s “magic number” to clinch the worst record in the major leagues, and the first overall selection in the amateur draft next June, is now five. The Tigers’ 108 losses are third-most in franchise history, and just one ‘L’ behind the 1996 Tigers, who lost 109 games.
The two teams will square off two more times at Comerica Park, starting with Margaritaville Night on Saturday night. The Tigers will also finish the season with a three-game series in Chicago next weekend.