Abreu unloads on Tigers in Sox's 14-0 romp

The White Sox won another game Saturday night. Did Jose Abreu wrap up American League MVP honors?

There are still over two weeks to go in the season, and the Angels' Mike Trout can never be discounted from best player talk. The Twins' Nelson Cruz is another worthy candidate.

But after unloading in the Sox's 14-0 win over the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field - Abreu became the first player in club history to have 4 hits, 2 home runs, 7 RBI and 5 runs scored in one game - the 33-year-old first baseman is going to be tough to beat.

"He's having an incredible season," starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez said through a translator. "I'm just glad that he's on our team because I can't imagine how difficult it is for the other pitcher to face him.

"I think you guys know what he's been able to do the last couple of years, but now he's in a way better place. He's having a terrific season."

Before hitting a pair of 3-run homers and to go with an RBI single against Detroit, Abreu was the AL Player of the Month for late July/August. He had the longest hitting streak in the majors, 22 games, before going 0-for-4 Friday.

Abreu also homered in four straight appearances against the Cubs last month and hit 6 HR in the three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Now slashing .319/.364/.627 for the season, Abreu leads the major leagues with 47 RBI (in 45 games) and is tied for third with 15 home runs.

AL batting leader Tim Anderson (.358) was 4-for-5, but Lopez was probably the No, 2 star of the White Sox's win with 5 shutout innings.

In yet another attempt to show he deserves a spot in the starting rotation, Lopez bounced back from a demotion to Schaumburg and held the Tigers to 3 hits while earning his first win of the season and lowering his ERA from 8.38 to 5.52.

"He threw great," manager Rick Renteria said. "We needed that start out of him today and he did a fantastic job. He was using his breaking ball, changeup and his fastball, he got it up to 97 at one point, I think. He was doing everything he needed to do in order to keep himself in the game and control it.

"Obviously, he gave us a big boost and then the guys gave him some breathing room."

After the game, the Sox announced Jonathan Stiever is coming up from Schaumburg and making his first major-league start against Detroit Sunday afternoon.

Stiever was a combined 10-10 with a 3.72 ERA in 26 starts for high Class A Winston-Salem and low A Kannapolis last season.