Spencer Torkelson smacked a go-ahead solo home run in the ninth inning and Chris Paddack and three relievers combined on a four-hitter to boost the visiting Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Monday.
Torkelson went 2-for-4 as Detroit won for the third time in four games. Six White Sox pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, but the team was unable to mount a consistent attack. Chicago has lost seven of eight.
Torkelson connected against Brandon Eisert for his 26th home run, a shot off the left-field foul pole that put him one behind Riley Greene for the club lead. Eisert (2-4) allowed one run and two hits in 2/3 of an inning.
A 63-minute rain delay stalled the game with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Kyle Finnegan (2-4) picked up the victory with a scoreless eighth and Will Vest was perfect in the bottom half of the ninth to earn his 17th save in 22 opportunities.
Kyle Teel collected two hits for Chicago.
White Sox opener Elvis Peguero, claimed off waivers from Milwaukee this month, shined at the start of his club debut.
Peguero struck out the side in the first inning on 11 pitches and retired Torkelson on a popup leading off the second, but Detroit solved the right-hander after that. Greene doubled and scored on Dillon Dingler’s RBI single two batters later to put the Tigers on top. Peguero took a no-decision, scattering one run and three hits in 1 2/3 innings with zero walks and three strikeouts.
Left-hander Tyler Alexander kept Chicago steady after that, spacing two hits, one walk and five strikeouts in 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Detroit loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but Alexander worked out of trouble by striking out Zach McKinstry.
Colson Montgomery tied the game with a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning. The rookie blasted his 10th homer of the season, lining a pitch from Paddack into the stands in right field.
Paddack limited the White Sox to one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
