Clutch hitting leads to Tigers victory

Two-out runs, Jim Leyland likes to say, are golden.

Get enough of them, and they also translate into wins.

The Tigers had a knack of scoring with two outs last season, especially when they surged to the top of

the AL Central around the All-Star break.

They are doing it again.

Detroit entered Friday night's 4-2 victory over the first-place Chicago White Sox tied with the division

leaders in two-out hitting with runners in scoring position at .295.

The Tigers took the lead from the White Sox by scoring all four runs with two out.

Since the All-Star break, Detroit is 6-2 and has scored 39 runs -- 28 with two out.

The turnaround goes back statistically to June 23, after which the Tigers were 34-37.

Since that date, Detroit has gone 16-7 and hit .350 (as compared to .236) with two out and runners in

scoring position. It drove in 69 runs with two out as of June 23 and 47 since.

"It's always good," said Prince Fielder, who had one of them Friday night, "because those are the runs

that are the hardest."

The Friday night win drew Detroit within a half-game of first place with two games remaining in the

weekend series.

"I'm not going to get all giddy over a win on Friday night and being a half-game out," Leyland said.

"Because I wouldn't have been all down in the dumps had we not won the game. I think you just enjoy the

moment and accept it for what it is."