Monday, Sept. 12, 2011
Posted: 10:23 a.m.
Associated Press
PHOTO GALLERY: Sept. 11 White Sox vs. Indians
BEEARLEAGUER: Peavy's season comes to an end
SOX DRAWER: The White Sox on 911
The Detroit Tigers began their nine-game win streak with a sweep of the Chicago White Sox to build a commanding AL Central lead. Now even bigger goals are within their reach.
The Tigers will try for their first 10-game streak in 43 years on Monday night when they open a three-game road series against the White Sox.
Detroit (84-62) led Chicago (73-72) and Cleveland by 5 12 games in the Central race before beginning a three-game home set Sept. 2 against the White Sox. The Tigers outscored Chicago 35-11 in sweeping that series and have not lost since.
The nine-game win streak matches Detroit's longest since the 1984 World Series champions won that many. The last time the Tigers won 10 in a row was an 11-game run Sept. 9-21, 1968 - the previous time they won the World Series before 1984.
Detroit's magic number to win the division is seven, and Chicago is merely looking to fare better than it did the last time these teams met.
"We have to go strong," manager Ozzie Guillen told MLB.com. "I hope they don't approach us the same way they did out there. Guys have to go out there and play. We have to go there and finish strong, but I don't see anything different. I hope we pitch better."
MLB
Detroit owns the second-best record among AL division leaders in the race for home-field advantage. The Tigers are also within striking distance of the East-leading Yankees for the league's best record.
Leadoff hitter Austin Jackson is batting .403 during a 15-game hitting streak against Chicago. Jackson went 9 for 15 with seven runs scored in the last series between these teams.
Catcher Alex Avila could be back in the lineup after he got a day off Sunday during a 2-1 win over Minnesota. Avila is a .382 hitter with eight RBIs against the White Sox this year.
Jose Valverde set a team record with his 43rd save Sunday after Doug Fister pitched seven scoreless innings.
"I'm happy," Valverde said. "My team is in first place, and that's what I want."
The Tigers have won 10 of the last 12 games started by Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.87 ERA), who will try to reverse his poor history against the White Sox. Porcello is 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA in six starts against Chicago.
The right-hander improved to 8-3 with a 4.01 ERA in 15 road starts after yielding one run over 6 1-3 innings last Tuesday in a 10-1 rout of Cleveland.
Chicago slugger Paul Konerko is 7 for 15 with a homer against Porcello. Konerko is one homer shy of his seventh season with at least 30 and two RBIs shy of reaching 100 for the sixth time.
White Sox left-hander John Danks (6-11, 4.09) has allowed 13 runs over 10 2-3 innings in losing his last two starts. He's 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in three outings against Detroit this year.
Magglio Ordonez is 16 for 32 with two homers against Danks. The former White Sox outfielder is batting .395 during an 11-game hitting streak.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.