White Sox vs Tigers Recap: Grichuk, Perez pace early; Tigers rally

The Chicago White Sox came into Detroit ready to fight. They were riding a one-game winning streak and hungry for more. The Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal took the mound at home, but the White Sox came out swinging. Randal Grichuk stepped up first and crushed an 89 mph changeup deep to left field. The ball rocketed 420 feet—boom, 1-0 Chicago. Detroit answered right back when Matt Vierling launched one into center field with Dillon Dingler on base. That two-run shot traveled 408 feet and tied it up at 2-2. The early fireworks showed both teams meant business. Chicago wasn't done yet. In the sixth inning, Junior Perez got hold of an 88 mph changeup and drove it 375 feet to left-center. The ball sailed over the wall, giving Chicago a 3-2 lead. Two home runs and a runner knocked in made the White Sox look unstoppable early on.

The White Sox felt in control at 3-2 heading into the sixth inning. But the Tigers had other plans. Detroit's bats woke up when pitcher Erick Fedde took over for Chicago. Kerry Carpenter stepped into the box with runners in scoring position. He ripped a double to left field that brought both Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler home at once. That one swing tied the game at 3-3. The Tigers' defense had been working hard all night, and now their offense was matching it. Carpenter's clutch hit showed Detroit wouldn't back down. The game was now a real battle. Both teams had hit home runs. Both teams had answered back. Nobody was giving an inch. The score stayed tied as the game moved into the late innings. The White Sox and Tigers were locked in a tight contest that would be decided in the final moments.

The game came down to the final outs. Both bullpens threw hard, keeping runners off the board through the seventh and eighth innings. Neither team could break through. But the Tigers found their moment. In the bottom of the ninth, they pushed across the go-ahead run to make it 4-3. The White Sox had one last chance to tie or win it. They couldn't pull it off. Kenley Jansen, the veteran closer, shut the door tight with a strikeout to end the game. Detroit's 4-3 victory gave them their fifth win in their last ten games. Chicago fell to 39-35 on the road trip. The Tigers improved to 31-44 at home. Both teams showed heart tonight. The White Sox struck first with power, but Detroit came back when it mattered most. That's baseball—sometimes the team that answers last wins.