AJ Pollock grounded a go-ahead, pinch-hit single up the middle with two outs in the eighth inning and Eloy Jimenez singled home an insurance run one batter later as the host Chicago White Sox rallied for a 4-2 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
Chicago salvaged a split of the four-game series while winning consecutive home games for the first time since June 20-21.
The White Sox capitalized on a rare gaffe from Tigers left fielder Robbie Grossman in the eighth. Fighting the sun and wind on a Luis Robert fly ball, Grossman committed his first error since June 13, 2018, a span of 440 games that marked the longest errorless streak by a position player in major league history.
Robert advanced to second base, setting the stage for Pollock following an intentional walk to Jose Abreu. Pollock hit the first pitch from Gregory Soto, who followed Michael Fulmer (2-3), who took the loss after allowing two unearned runs in 2/3 of an inning with one walk.
Liam Hendriks notched his 17th save in 20 chances for Chicago, retiring the side in the ninth after winner Kendall Graveman (3-1) struck out one in a perfect eighth.
Trailing for much of the afternoon after Detroit shortstop Javier Baez launched a two-run homer two batters into the game, the White Sox drew closer on Yoan Moncada’s RBI single in the fifth and Gavin
Sheets hit a solo home run (his seventh of the season) one inning later. Both hits came with two outs.
Baez, who played for the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs for the first eight seasons of his career before being traded at midseason in 2021, again endured heavy booing from White Sox faithful. In addition to his ninth homer, he added to his unpopularity by making a dazzling, backhanded play up the middle to rob Reese McGuire of a hit to open the bottom of the third.
Detroit right-hander Drew Hutchison pitched six strong innings, spacing two runs and five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Chicago counterpart Michael Kopech scattered two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts.
Sheets and Leury Garcia had two hits each for Chicago.
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was held out of the starting lineup due to rest.
–Field Level Media
