Lynn, Abreu lift White Sox over Tigers for 5th straight win
CHICAGO (AP) ā Lance Lynn pitched one-run ball over five innings, JoseĢ Abreu homered and drove in four runs, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 8-1 Friday night for their fifth straight win.
Tim Anderson added four hits for the AL Central champions as they prepare for next weekās Division Series against the Houston Astros. Chicago pulled within a game of the Astros for home-field advantage after Houston lost to Oakland.
Lynn (11-6) earned his first win since July 25, giving up four hits and one walk while striking out four. The right-hander had lost three of his previous four starts but afterward was more focused on his readiness for the playoffs than on snapping his recent skid.
āThe only thing that really matters is Iām feeling as healthy as I possibly can,ā Lynn said. āItās an A. Weāre ready to rock.ā
Abreuās solo drive opened the scoring for Chicago in the third. It was his first home run since Sept. 10 and earned him his fifth season with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, a moment that was celebrated within the Chicago dugout.
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āHeās the most consistent first baseman thatāll give it to you every year,ā Anderson said. āIāve watched him since I got here. For him to just continue to do what heās been doing, Iām so excited for him. Iāve learned so much from him, from hitting to just competing. I couldnāt be more proud.ā
Detroit helped the White Sox break a 1-1 tie in the fourth. While attempting a routine double play, first baseman Jonathan Schoop threw the ball off runner Gavin Sheetsā back. Anderson followed the error with a go-ahead RBI single, and Luis Robert added another run with a sacrifice fly.
Abreu drove in his second run on a fielderās choice and plated another in the sixth with an RBI double.
Sheets singled home two and Abreu drew a bases-loaded walk to pad Chicagoās lead in the seventh.
The White Sox have outscored opponents 34-12 during their five-game streak.
Garrett Crochet, Ryan Tepera, Craig Kimbrel and Liam Hendriks combined for four innings of shutout relief to secure Chicagoās victory.
Wily Peralta (4-5) lost his second straight start, allowing two earned runs and nine hits on six innings pitched.
Robbie Grossmanās fourth-inning RBI double represented Detroitās only scoring for the night. The third-place Tigers have lost six of eight after going on a four-game winning streak.
āWhen youāre playing these guys, youāve got to chip away if they take the lead,ā Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. āYouāve got to execute against a team like this. They played like a playoff team. We did not tonight.ā
ANDERSON PUSHES BACK
Anderson spoke before the game about his suspension for making contact with umpire Tim Timmons during an on-field incident in Mondayās game against Detroit. Though Anderson confirmed he pushed Timmons, he insisted the ump pushed him first.
āI didnāt realize it was the umpire,ā Anderson said. āWhatās your reaction when somebody pushes you? I pushed him up off of me, and I realized it was him. But at that point, itās too late. Yeah, I pushed him, but he initiated it.ā
Anderson, who was out of the lineup Monday, ran onto the field after Abreu slid hard into Detroit shortstop Niko Goodrum at second, causing both benches to clear. He was ejected after pushing Timmons and ultimately suspended three regular-season games for the incident.
Anderson is appealing the suspension and said he doesnāt know how long the appeal process will take.
TRAINERāS ROOM
Tigers: Hinch says heās hoping to have an update by Saturday on whether OF Derek Hill will need surgery after spraining his left knee on Sept. 18. ... RHP Rony GarciĢa (sprained knee) has been throwing bullpen sessions with Low-A Lakeland to prepare for winter ball this offseason.
White Sox: Chicago will determine this weekend if RHP Evan Marshall (strained flexor) is healthy enough to include on its playoff roster.
UP NEXT
Matt Manning (4-7, 6.16 ERA) takes the mound for Detroit to face Chicagoās Lucas Giolito (11-9, 3.58) on Saturday night.
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