In a memorable month filled with exhilarating moments, Wednesday’s comeback victory stood out for the Detroit Tigers. Carlos Guillen singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and Detroit extended its longest winning streak in 77 years, rallying past the White Sox 6-5 for its 12th consecutive victory.Guillen also hit a solo home run for Detroit, which hadn’t won 12 in a row since 1934 — when Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer and the Tigers lost a seven-game World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals’ famous Gas House Gang. Jose Valverde struck out the side in the 10th to remain perfect in 44 save opportunities this year.Closing in on an AL Central title, the surging Tigers rallied for three runs in the ninth to prevent rookie Dylan Axelrod from earning his first career victory. Ryan Raburn’s pinch-hit home run with one out off Chris Sale brought the Tigers within two. Magglio Ordonez walked, chasing Sale. Alex Avila pinch-hit for Andy Dirks and hit Sergio Santos’ second pitch into the seats in right-center to tie it.The Tigers have won 22 of their past 26 games overall and 21 of 27 against the White Sox. Guillen hit the ball hard in all five plate appearances. Axelrod struck out eight and threw six strong innings in his first career start only two years after pitching for the independent Windy City ThunderBolts. Santos (4-5) blew his sixth save of the season.
“It’s a shame,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “[Axelrod is] pitching very well and all of a sudden we just blew it for him. Very nice day, you see this kid having success in his first time in the big leagues and all of a sudden, poof, another bad day for the White Sox.”
Miguel Cabrera singled, doubled and scored a run for Detroit. Alexei Ramirez laced a two-run double and Paul Konerko added a two-run single during a four-run second. Konerko reached 100 RBI for the sixth time in his career. Tigers starter Brad Penny allowed five runs — one earned — and eight hits over six innings. Phil Coke (3-9) threw a scoreless ninth for the victory. Ramirez doubled, singled, walked and scored a run. Alejandro De Aza doubled, reached base four times, scored two runs and stole a base.The 26-year-old Axelrod was starting in place of Jake Peavy, who was shut down for the remainder of the season. He appeared to be in line for the victory until the ninth, when Leyland’s parade of pinch-hitters pulled out another victory.
“You’re starting with a kid that just came from, what’s the league, the independent league and he shut them down and all of a sudden these big league pitchers couldn’t stop them,” Ozzie Guillen said. “Look at yourself in the mirror and see how big league you are. If they’re happy the season’s over, good. But every time you lose a game like that and you have a little bit of pride, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
The mood couldn’t have been more different in the other clubhouse.
NOTES—Thw White Sox tragic number for elimination is down to one on a day Guillen hinted that the “fight” in the team was gone “a few days ago”…..The Tigers can clinch the AL Central during their four-game series at Oakland this weekend. In Thursday’s opener, Detroit will send Max Scherzer to the mound to face Brandon McCarthy. Scherzer has allowed only two runs in 14 innings this month….The White Sox travel to Kansas City for a four-games series. On Thursday, Mark Buehrle will square off against fellow lefty Jeff Francis. Buehrle has allowed 14 runs in nine innings over his past two starts.