Cabrera singles in 9th, White Sox beat Tigers 5-4
CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago White Sox suspended their ace and picked up a pair of wins in their final at-bat.
It was quite a day for a fading team.
Melky Cabrera drove in Adam Eaton with a game-ending single in the ninth inning after closer David Robertson gave up three home runs in the top half to lead the White Sox to a 5-4 victory hours after they suspended All-Star Chris Sale for five days on Sunday afternoon.
"Baseball is funny like that," Eaton said. "It will beat you down, but then it will build you back up. It's a love-hate relationship, for sure."
There hasn't been much love for the White Sox since a 23-10 start. They've been in a tailspin ever since, but they at least got a bit of a break after dropping eight of nine.
They beat the Tigers 4-3 on a single by Eaton in the ninth after play was suspended the previous night because of rain and finished the day with another wild victory.
Robertson got the win in both, though he didn't feel like he deserved it after that rough ninth in the scheduled game.
"It's absurd that I pitched that poorly," he said.
The big news Sunday was Sale getting suspended and fined one day after he was scratched from his scheduled start and sent home. The punishment was handed down after he destroyed collared throwback uniforms the team was scheduled to wear in this game. He is eligible to return Thursday against the crosstown Cubs at Wrigley Field, though general manager Rick Hahn would not say if the left-hander would start that game.
Robertson did his best to help the White Sox get two victories on Sunday.
He came in with a 4-1 lead after Jose Quintana dominated into the seventh and Eaton hit a three-run homer.
Robertson (2-2) gave up a leadoff homer to Nick Castellanos and back-to-back solo drives to pinch hitters Tyler Collins and Jarrod Saltalamacchia with two out.
Eaton led off the bottom half with a walk against Bruce Rondon (3-2), moved up on a sacrifice by Tim Anderson and came around on Cabrera's sharp single to left.
That gave the White Sox a four-game split against the playoff-contending Tigers.
"It was a tough pill to swallow," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said.
Quintana pitched three-hit ball over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, and Eaton made it 4-0 with his three-run homer against Anibal Sanchez in the second.
Detroit's Andrew Romine hit a solo drive off Nate Jones in the eighth.
Sanchez allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings. He settled down after Eaton went deep, but his future in the rotation is uncertain with Daniel Norris (oblique) and Jordan Zimmerman (neck) working their way back from injuries.
Andrew Romine hit a solo homer in the eighth against Nate Jones, but Victor Martinez struck out with runners on first and second to end that rally.
The White Sox were forced to go with their bullpen after Sale got sent home Saturday, and the game was suspended after eight innings when it was interrupted three times by thunderstorms.
ROBBERY, FIREWORKS
There was a funny moment in the third when Detroit's Justin Upton reached high above the left-field wall to rob Abreu. The White Sox, apparently thinking it was a home run, set off fireworks.
TRANSACTIONS
The Tigers recalled right-handed pitcher Buck Farmer from Triple A Toledo and the White Sox brought up infielder Carlos Sanchez from Triple-A Charlotte. Both served as the 26th man.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Manager Brad Ausmus said no decision has been made on whether LHP Norris will rejoin the team Monday in Boston. Norris allowed five runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings during a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Saturday.
White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon (sprained left wrist) is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. ... 2B Brett Lawrie (strained left hamstring) was held out of the lineup for the third straight game, though he was available off the bench.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Detroit opens a three-game series at Boston, with RHP Justin Verlander (9-6, 3.74 ERA) pitching for the Tigers and LHP Drew Pomeranz (8-7, 2.83) for the Red Sox.
White Sox: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (2-5, 4.41) starts for the White Sox as they meet reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta (12-4, 2.60) and the crosstown Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday.