DETROIT -- JaCoby Jones is the latest youngster to give the Detroit Tigers a boost in their push for a postseason spot.
Jones doubled twice in his second major league game, then dashed home for the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Collins in the ninth inning to lift the Tigers over the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday.
After a day after doubling, singling and driving in two runs in his debut, Jones scored twice to help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep.
"He's been a real spark plug for us -- a shot in the arm," teammate Justin Verlander said. "It's a lot of fun to watch, and hopefully it's the beginning of an amazing career."
The Tigers acquired Jones last year when they traded Joakim Soria to Pittsburgh. Around the same time, they also traded David Price and Yoenis Cespedes, receiving pitchers Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Michael Fulmer in those deals.
Fulmer has become a front-runner for rookie of the year this season, and Norris and Boyd have also made contributions. Now Jones is in the majors and off to a fine start.
"It's great, it's amazing. There's so many words I could use to describe it," Jones said. "Just amazing, and I'm just happy."
Jones hit a leadoff double in the ninth against David Robertson (4-3) and advanced to third on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's deep flyball.
Collins came up as a pinch-hitter and was able to lift the ball to left-center. Avisail Garcia made the catch, but his throw bounced before it even reached the mound.
Francisco Rodriguez (2-3) pitched the ninth.
Jose Abreu and Alex Avila homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth for the White Sox.
White Sox ace Chris Sale allowed two runs and eight hits in eight innings against a Detroit lineup that was without Miguel Cabrera. The slugging first baseman sat out because his right ankle had been acting up.
Chicago was without Melky Cabrera, who missed the game because of stomach discomfort.
Verlander allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings for the Tigers, striking out nine.
"I thought both of them, Justin and (Sale), this is the kind of matchup that you expected it to be," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said.
Verlander retired the first eight hitters he faced, striking out six of them. With two outs in the fourth, Abreu connected for his 19th homer of the year. Avila followed with a drive to the bushes beyond the wall in center, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead against his former team.
Verlander did not allow another baserunner after Avila's home run. Detroit scored a run on Andrew Romine's single in the fifth, and J.D. Martinez tied it with a two-out RBI single in the eighth.
The Tigers came into the day one game behind Baltimore for the American League's second wild card.
OLD FRIENDS
Avila spent his entire career in Detroit before this season, and Verlander laughed when asked about giving up the home run to his former teammate.
"I know I'm going to be hearing about it," Verlander said. "I think I'm going to ask him back for one of the watches I gifted him. It's only fair, I think."
NEXT YEAR'S SCHEDULE
Detroit opens against the White Sox in Chicago on April 3 and the Tigers host Boston on April 7 in their home opener, according to a draft of the 2017 preliminary schedule. The preliminary schedule will be announced by Major League Baseball in September.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) pitched four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo at Indianapolis on Wednesday, allowing one unearned run and one hit. He walked one and struck out four.
UP NEXT
White Sox: Chicago plays at Minnesota on Thursday night. LHP Jose Quintana (11-9) starts against Ervin Santana (6-10).
Tigers: Detroit has Thursday off before playing at Kansas City. RHP Anibal Sanchez (7-13) takes the mound against Danny Duffy (11-2) of the Royals on Friday night.
---
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.
Chicago White Sox
Jones doubled twice in his second major league game, then dashed home for the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Collins in the ninth inning to lift the Tigers over the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday.
After a day after doubling, singling and driving in two runs in his debut, Jones scored twice to help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep.
"He's been a real spark plug for us -- a shot in the arm," teammate Justin Verlander said. "It's a lot of fun to watch, and hopefully it's the beginning of an amazing career."
The Tigers acquired Jones last year when they traded Joakim Soria to Pittsburgh. Around the same time, they also traded David Price and Yoenis Cespedes, receiving pitchers Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Michael Fulmer in those deals.
Fulmer has become a front-runner for rookie of the year this season, and Norris and Boyd have also made contributions. Now Jones is in the majors and off to a fine start.
"It's great, it's amazing. There's so many words I could use to describe it," Jones said. "Just amazing, and I'm just happy."
Jones hit a leadoff double in the ninth against David Robertson (4-3) and advanced to third on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's deep flyball.
Collins came up as a pinch-hitter and was able to lift the ball to left-center. Avisail Garcia made the catch, but his throw bounced before it even reached the mound.
Francisco Rodriguez (2-3) pitched the ninth.
Jose Abreu and Alex Avila homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth for the White Sox.
White Sox ace Chris Sale allowed two runs and eight hits in eight innings against a Detroit lineup that was without Miguel Cabrera. The slugging first baseman sat out because his right ankle had been acting up.
Chicago was without Melky Cabrera, who missed the game because of stomach discomfort.
Verlander allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings for the Tigers, striking out nine.
"I thought both of them, Justin and (Sale), this is the kind of matchup that you expected it to be," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said.
Verlander retired the first eight hitters he faced, striking out six of them. With two outs in the fourth, Abreu connected for his 19th homer of the year. Avila followed with a drive to the bushes beyond the wall in center, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead against his former team.
Verlander did not allow another baserunner after Avila's home run. Detroit scored a run on Andrew Romine's single in the fifth, and J.D. Martinez tied it with a two-out RBI single in the eighth.
The Tigers came into the day one game behind Baltimore for the American League's second wild card.
OLD FRIENDS
Avila spent his entire career in Detroit before this season, and Verlander laughed when asked about giving up the home run to his former teammate.
"I know I'm going to be hearing about it," Verlander said. "I think I'm going to ask him back for one of the watches I gifted him. It's only fair, I think."
NEXT YEAR'S SCHEDULE
Detroit opens against the White Sox in Chicago on April 3 and the Tigers host Boston on April 7 in their home opener, according to a draft of the 2017 preliminary schedule. The preliminary schedule will be announced by Major League Baseball in September.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) pitched four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo at Indianapolis on Wednesday, allowing one unearned run and one hit. He walked one and struck out four.
UP NEXT
White Sox: Chicago plays at Minnesota on Thursday night. LHP Jose Quintana (11-9) starts against Ervin Santana (6-10).
Tigers: Detroit has Thursday off before playing at Kansas City. RHP Anibal Sanchez (7-13) takes the mound against Danny Duffy (11-2) of the Royals on Friday night.
---
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.
1:10PM,EDT,August 31,2016
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Chicago - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| Eaton struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Anderson lined out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Morneau struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| Kinsler singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Iglesias grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Kinsler out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| V. Martínez singled to left center. | 0 | 0 |
| J.D. Martinez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, V. Martínez out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| Abreu fouled out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Avila struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Frazier struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| Upton singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| McCann walked, Upton to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Jones flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Saltalamacchia grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, McCann out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| García struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Shuck struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Saladino doubled to deep left. | 0 | 0 |
| Eaton popped out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| Romine fouled out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Kinsler flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Iglesias singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| V. Martínez grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| Anderson flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Morneau lined out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Abreu homered to left (399 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Avila homered to center (436 feet). | 2 | 0 |
| Frazier flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| J.D. Martinez grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 0 |
| Upton walked. | 2 | 0 |
| McCann grounded into double play, third to second to first, Upton out at second. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| García flied out to center. | 2 | 0 |
| Shuck flied out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Saladino flied out to center. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| Jones doubled to right center. | 2 | 0 |
| Saltalamacchia grounded out to first, Jones to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Romine singled to center, Jones scored. | 2 | 1 |
| Kinsler flied out to right. | 2 | 1 |
| Romine stole second. | 2 | 1 |
| Iglesias walked. | 2 | 1 |
| V. Martínez struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| Eaton flied out to center. | 2 | 1 |
| Anderson struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| Morneau struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| J.D. Martinez flied out to center. | 2 | 1 |
| Upton struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| McCann bunt popped out foul to catcher. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| Abreu grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 1 |
| Avila struck out looking. | 2 | 1 |
| Frazier flied out to left. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| Jones struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| Romine struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Kyle Ryan pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| Ryan relieved Verlander. | 2 | 1 |
| García walked. | 2 | 1 |
| Shuck sacrificed to third, García to second. | 2 | 1 |
| Saladino grounded out to second, García to third. | 2 | 1 |
| Eaton grounded out to second. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Chris Sale pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| Kinsler doubled to right center. | 2 | 1 |
| Iglesias sacrificed to pitcher, Kinsler to third. | 2 | 1 |
| V. Martínez struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| J.D. Martinez singled to left center, Kinsler scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Upton walked, J.D. Martinez to second. | 2 | 2 |
| McCann flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Francisco Rodriguez pitching for Detroit | CHW | DET |
| Rodríguez relieved Ryan. | 2 | 2 |
| Anderson fouled out to first. | 2 | 2 |
| Morneau flied out to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Abreu singled to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Abreu to second on wild pitch by Rodríguez. | 2 | 2 |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| David Robertson pitching for Chicago | CHW | DET |
| Robertson relieved Sale. | 2 | 2 |
| Jones doubled to deep right. | 2 | 2 |
| Saltalamacchia flied out to right, Jones to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Collins hit for Romine. | 2 | 2 |
| Collins hit sacrifice fly to left, Jones scored. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Chicago White Sox
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eaton RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | .274 | .358 | .409 |
| Anderson SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .281 | .299 | .428 |
| Morneau DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | .261 | .290 | .457 |
| Abreu 1B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | .288 | .343 | .462 |
| Avila C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 20 | .241 | .366 | .398 |
| Frazier 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .212 | .293 | .450 |
| García LF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .247 | .312 | .391 |
| Shuck CF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .210 | .251 | .308 |
| Saladino 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .266 | .302 | .414 |
| Totals | 30 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 139 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Saladino (11, Verlander) HR: Abreu (19, 4th inning off Verlander 0 on, 2 Out); Avila (5, 4th inning off Verlander 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: Abreu (74), Avila (8) S: Shuck 2-out RBI: Abreu, Avila White Sox RISP: 0-4 (Saladino 0-1, Eaton 0-2, Avila 0-1) Team LOB: 3 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 3 (Saladino-Anderson-Abreu, Anderson-Saladino-Abreu, Frazier-Saladino-Abreu). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Attendance | 32,465 (78.1% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:46 |
| Weather | 78 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Will Little, First Base - Ted Barrett, Second Base - Lance Barksdale, Third Base - Angel Hernandez |
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