Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Adam Eaton finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, as the Chicago White Sox downed the Detroit Tigers, 7-4, in Thursday's rubber match of a three-game series.
Jose Abreu doubled twice among his three hits, Moises Sierra added four hits and drove in a run, while Alexei Ramirez, Gordon Beckham and Tyler Flowers contributed an RBI each for the White Sox, who took the set and have won five of their last seven.
"We've been playing pretty decent ball since the break," Eaton said. "If we can get a good month, I think we're just crazy enough to try and make a push."
Paul Konerko was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in for Chicago, while Ronald Belisario (4-7) allowed one hit over 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings. John Danks worked the first five, giving up four runs on seven hits with four walks for Chicago, which is seven games out of first place.
Torii Hunter and J.D. Martinez hit back-to-back homers for the AL Central leaders, who slid to their fifth loss in their last six.
Joakim Soria (1-4) took the loss, charged with the go-ahead run over his one relief frame. Drew Smyly gave up 11 hits and four runs over his five-inning stint, then was swapped to the Rays in a three-team deal which saw David Price traded from Tampa Bay to Detroit and Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson dealt to Seattle.
"I don't know if we're going to win by any means, there's other good clubs," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "But getting the opportunity to add a long guy like David Price doesn't come along very often. He's that good."
The White Sox moved ahead in the seventh against Soria. Eaton was fanned to start the frame but reached on a wild pitch, Ramirez singled to put runners on the corners ahead of an intentional walk to Abreu, then Soria hit Konerko to force in the go-ahead run.
It was 7-4 in the eighth for Chicago, as Eaton singled home Sierra and Ramirez doubled home Eaton off Joba Chamberlain.
Javy Guerra subbed for Belisario and retired the final batter of the seventh, then worked around a walk in a scoreless eighth. Jake Petricka allowed a one- out single to Miguel Cabrera, who was erased on a Victor Martinez grounder to short which appeared to be a game-ending double play. However, replay determined he beat the throw to first. Hunter then grounded out to end the contest.
Chicago struck for three runs in the second off Smyly thanks to Beckham's RBI double, a run-scoring hit by Flowers and Eaton's fielder's choice grounder.
Detroit countered with two in the home half. With the bases loaded and one out, a Eugenio Suarez sacrifice fly plated one and Jackson followed with an RBI single.
Hunter's two-out solo shot to left center just cleared the wall and tied the game in the third and Martinez followed with a ball that just cleared the wall in right center for a 4-3 Tigers lead.
Konerko's leadoff double turned into the fourth run for the ChiSox in the fourth, as he came home on a two-out base hit from Sierra.
The Tigers then wasted successive first-and-third situations in the home fourth and fifth.
Game Notes
Abreu extended his hitting streak to 20 games ... Jackson was pulled from his position, in the seventh inning to a rousing ovation from the Comerica Park fandom, then replaced by Rajai Davis. To complete the transaction, the Mariners sent infielder Nick Franklin to the Rays, and the Tigers shipped infielder prospect Willy Adames to Tampa ... Without any interruptions by weather, the game lasted 4:01 -- only the third-longest nine-inning contest in which the White Sox have participated this season. Chicago needed 4:04 to post a 9-6 home win against Tampa Bay on April 25, then took 4:07 to drop a 12-5 decision to the Cubs on May 8.
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