DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera put a few powerful swings on the ball, and it was no use.
Detroit’s slugger is still struggling to get going this year, and he went 0 for 4 in the Tigers’ 3-1 loss
to the Chicago White Sox on Monday night. Cabrera hit three balls to the spacious outfield at Comerica
Park, where they were caught without too much trouble. He also hit a grounder up the middle that became
an out because of a shifted infield.
“His first two at-bats were 800 feet of outs. In a lot of ballparks, those are both homers, and then he
hit the ball hard up the middle right into the shift,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “I know how he
feels — when you are struggling, it is like there are 18 guys on defense and there’s not a patch of
grass for the ball to land on, no matter how hard you hit it.”
Cabrera is now hitting .206.
Jose Abreu and Dayan Viciedo hit RBI doubles in the seventh for the White Sox. Chicago scored three runs
that inning off Anibal Sanchez (0-2) after managing only one hit through the first six.
John Danks (2-0) allowed six hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings, but the Tigers could score only one
run off him. Ronald Belisario got five outs in relief for the White Sox, and Matt Lindstrom pitched the
ninth for his second save.
The White Sox scored three runs on four hits in a top of the seventh that took about 25 minutes. Abreu’s
tying double was upheld after a replay review, and Chicago scored another run when a call at the plate
was overturned following a review.
Sanchez allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Danks appeared to be in trouble in the second, when the Tigers had the bases loaded with nobody out after
two straight walks. Alex Avila brought a run home with a groundout, but Danks got out of the jam thanks
to two consecutive popups.
“I dodged a big bullet there,” Danks said. “Obviously, two walks in that inning are not good, but to get
out of that one with just one run, where we were at, I guess you’ve got to take that.”
The Chicago left-hander went on to post his fourth consecutive quality start to begin the season.
Sanchez looked even better until the game slowed to a crawl in the seventh. After a leadoff double by
Conor Gillaspie, Abreu lifted a drive down the line in right that a sliding Torii Hunter was unable to
come up with. The ball bounced into the seats for a double, and although the Tigers challenged whether
it was fair or foul, the call was upheld and the game was tied.
One out later, Viciedo put the White Sox ahead with a double to deep center, and Alexei Ramirez followed
with a single to left. Viciedo initially held up at third, but left fielder Rajai Davis’ throw missed
everybody, and the ball ended up near the Chicago dugout.
Sanchez retrieved it and threw back to the plate, where a sliding Viciedo was at first called out. The
White Sox had lost their challenge earlier in the game, but umpires chose to review the play, and the
call was changed, putting Chicago up 3-1. Davis was charged with an error.
“I felt great, and then everything happened in a hurry,” Sanchez said. “I made a couple mistakes and they
have a very aggressive team, so they were swinging at first pitches and hurt me. I’ve made a lot of
adjustments, and I was throwing my pitches well, and I wasn’t tired. Just too many mistakes.”
The Tigers put men on first and third with one out in the seventh, but Ian Kinsler hit into a double
play. The Tigers had men on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Davis lined out to left and
Kinsler hit a grounder to end it as rain began to fall over the field.
NOTES: Chicago’s Adam Dunn struck out three times. … Justin Verlander (2-1) takes the mound for Detroit
on Tuesday night. Charlie Leesman will start for Chicago in place of injured left-hander Chris Sale.