Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Marcus Semien belted his first career grand
slam in the seventh inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 6-4 win over the
Detroit Tigers.
White Sox rookie Jose Abreu hit his seventh homer, a two-run shot in the first
inning, and made a game-ending catch on a line drive down the first base line
with Detroit runners at second and third base in the ninth inning.
The White Sox have won two of the first three games in the four-game series
and three of their last four overall.
Austin Jackson hit a two-run homer to punctuate a four-run fourth inning for
the Tigers.
White Sox right-hander Andre Rienzo (1-0) threw 6 1/3 innings for the win,
giving up four runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Tigers lefty Drew Smyly didn't factor in the decision after striking out seven
in six innings. The former reliever, making his second start of the season,
gave up just six hits and a walk.
One of the hits happened to be Abreu's homer in the first inning, which gave
the White Sox a 2-0 lead just three batters into the game.
"It's tough when they get to you in the first," said Smyly. "But you have to
hang with them. You can't give in."
Semien's two-out grand slam in the seventh came off Ian Krol. Three of the
runs were charged to Evan Reed (0-1), who relieved Smyly and gave up singles
to Paul Konerko and Alejandro De Aza and a walk to Tyler Flowers.
After Krol got Jordan Danks on a pop out, Semien knocked a 3-1 fastball over
the left-field wall for a 6-4 Chicago lead.
Matt Lindstrom pitched the ninth and go his third save but not without a few
loud outs with runners on base. Nick Castellanos flied out to deep right field
and Abreu snared Alex Avila's liner to end the game.
Earlier, Leury Garcia hit a one-out single in the first inning before Abreu
knocked a 2-2 fastball over the wall in center field for a 2-0 White Sox lead.
Rienzo faced just one Detroit batter over the minimum through three innings
but put the first two on in the fourth after Don Kelly walked and Miguel
Cabrera singled.
The runners moved up on a ground out and Kelly scored on J.D. Martinez's
single before Jackson cracked a two-run homer to left field for a 4-2 Tigers
lead.
Game Notes
Rienzo started in place of the injured Felipe Paulino ... Abreu has 21 RBI ...
Semien hit his third homer of the season and Jackson his second.