Miguel Vargas homered twice, collected four hits, scored three runs and drove in three more as the visiting Chicago White Sox topped the Detroit Tigers 9-5 on Friday night.
Braden Montgomery had three hits and three RBIs for the White Sox, who pushed their lead in the American League Central to 3 1/2 games over second-place Detroit. Tristan Peters supplied a two-run homer for the White Sox, and Munetaka Murakami hit a solo shot.
Ben Malgeri had two homers and drove in three runs for the Tigers. Eduardo Valencia and Gleyber Torres each added two hits and an RBI.
Tigers starter Jackson Jobe (1-1) gave up six runs on nine hits and one walk in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four.
The game got off to a wild start as Jobe hit the first two batters in the foot with pitches. With two outs, Montgomery singled to left to knock in Sam Antonacci.
Detroit took a 2-1 lead in the second. Spencer Torkelson singled and Malgeri drove a changeup from Jose Urquidy (1-1) over the left field wall.
The Tigers made it 3-1 in the third. Kevin McGonigle singled with two outs, and Valencia knocked him in with a double to left.
Chicago then erupted for five runs in the fourth. Chase Meidroth led off with a single, and Peters slammed a first-pitch fastball over the right-center-field wall.
Jobe set down the next two batters, but Murakami took advantage of a 3-0 fastball and crushed it over the right field wall. Vargas followed with a double and Andrew Benintendi walked before Montgomery blasted a triple to center to plate both runners.
With Enmanuel De Jesus on the mound, Chicago increased its lead to 8-3 in the sixth. Murakami drew a one-out walk and Vargas clobbered a changeup over the left field wall.
The Tigers pulled within 8-5 in the seventh. Malgeri led off with a homer, and Max Clark followed with a triple before scoring on Torres’ groundout.
Vargas ripped a Ty Madden fastball over the left field wall in the eighth for a solo shot.
Urquidy threw 3 2/3 innings of relief, permitting three runs on five hits. He struck out three without issuing a walk.
–Field Level Media
