White Sox beat Tigers 8-7 in 10 innings
DETROIT - Up a run in the 10th, Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura didn't think twice about walking Miguel Cabrera to load the bases.
"It's always risky because you put the winning run at second, but you don't tug on Superman's cape too often," Ventura said of the two-time AL MVP. "We're going to take our chances with the next guy."
David Robertson struck out Josh Wilson to end the game, finishing an 8-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
With the score 5-all, Joba Chamberlain (0-2) walked Melky Cabrera with one out in the 10th, hit Avisail Garcia with a pitch and then allowed pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck's two-out infield single to shortstop. Carlos Sanchez tripled past Miguel Cabrera at first and all the way to the right-field wall on a 1-2 pitch, putting Chicago ahead 8-5.
Robertson gave up a two-run single to Bryan Holaday with one out in the bottom half, then retired Ian Kinsler on a flyout. With runners at first and second, Ventura decided to give Miguel Cabrera the free pass
"I want to win the game, so I think I take the bat away from the best hitter in the game," Robertson said.
Wilson took a ball, then swung and missed at three straight pitches, giving Robertson his 15th save in 19 chances.
"I've seen enough of Miggy to realize he's the best hitter in the game," Ventura said. "He's going to get me at some point, but he didn't get me today."
Zach Duke (3-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Adam Eaton homered for Chicago.
Kinsler and J.D. Martinez hit two-run homers for Detroit. Martinez has five home runs and 10 RBIs in his last four games.
Ventura let Eaton know he was displeased after Eaton failed to run out an at-bat in Wednesday's loss to Minnesota. Eaton then sent Alfredo Simon's second pitch of Thursday's game into the right-field stands for his second career leadoff homer.
Sanchez began the day hitting .159 with six RBI in 37 games but then got his first big league triple and three-RBI game.
"He did his job. I didn't do mine," Chamberlain said. "The greatest thing about this is I get a chance to go out there tomorrow and do it again."
White Sox rookie Carlos Rodon allowed four run, eight hits and three walks in five innings, and struck out seven.
Ventura benched shortstop Alexei Ramirez on Thursday after a 9-for-57 (.158) slump over 15 games. Ramirez pinch hit in the eighth and had an RBI double off Blaine Hardy. He was stranded when Tyler Flowers flied out. Joquin Soria struck him out in the 10th.