Detroit, MI – Jhonny Peralta belted a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.
"This is the best moment that you can feel," Peralta said of the game-winner. "First home run this year, not bad, huh."
Alex Avila smacked a solo shot among his three hits and scored twice for Detroit, which has won 10 of its last 12 games against Chicago at Comerica Park.
Paul Konerko had two singles, the first of which moved him past Eddie Collins (2,007) into sole possession of fourth place on the White Sox' hits list.
Gordon Beckham added three hits, including a two-run homer, and three runs batted in for the White Sox, who have dropped eight of their last 10.
Jake Peavy fanned six and allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk in 7 2/3 innings for Chicago.
"Tonight was a battle, didn't have great stuff. Location wise was a tad bit off at times," Peavy said.
With the game tied 2-2 after six innings, the White Sox went ahead with two runs in the seventh. Brent Morel reached with a two-out single and Beckham smashed a two-run shot to left field, which gave Chicago a 4-2 edge.
But the Tigers plated one in the eighth and two in the ninth to take the win.
In the eighth, Don Kelly began the frame with a single. He moved to second on Brennan Boesch's groundout two batters later and scored on Miguel Cabrera's single up the middle to make it 4-3.
Jose Valverde (2-0) tossed a scoreless ninth for Detroit.
Matt Thornton (1-1), who came on to relieve Peavy in the eighth, gave up a one-out single to Avila before Peralta launched an 0-2 fastball into the right-center field seats for the game-winner.
The Tigers struck first in the back-and-forth tussle with a run in the second. Avila led off with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on Peralta's base hit up the middle and came home on Ryan Raburn's sacrifice fly.
Beckham tugged an RBI double down the third-base line to tie the score in the third.
Avila cracked a towering opposite-field shot over the wall in left as Detroit regained a 2-1 lead in the fourth.
But the White Sox tied the score in the sixth. Alexei Ramirez began the frame with a triple to left field and Adam Dunn plated him with a sacrifice fly to right.
Game Notes
Detroit was 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position...Detroit starter Drew Smyly allowed two run on seven hits in six innings...Cabrera's RBI was his 22nd of the season.
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