White Sox 6, Tigers 3
DETROIT -- Rookie Josh Phegley's grand slam home run in the sixth inning powered Chicago to a 6-3 victory Thursday over Detroit in a game that produced some daytime fireworks when Tigers' reliever Luke Putkonen threw behind Alexei Ramirez of the White Sox one out later.
Anibal Sanchez (7-6), making his second start since coming off the disabled list, struggled with his control after an error by center fielder Austin Jackson. Phegley came to the plate in his fifth Major League game after a walk and one-out single had loaded the bases.
Phegley worked the count full and then jolted a changeup just over the fence in extreme left field for his third home run since coming to the Majors last weekend, shooting Chicago into a 5-3 lead.
Putkonen relieved and got one out before his 0-1 pitch to Ramirez sailed behind the shortstop, belt high, and sending the shouting infielder walking slowly in the direction of the mound. Both benches and bullpens emptied but only scattered pushing, shoving and jawing took place.
Putkonen was ejected, bringing manager Jim Leyland out for a heated, finger-pointing minutes-long tirade aimed at the four umpires. The manager was ejected early in the scrum.
Leyland may have been agitated because White Sox starter Chris Sale had come up and in on Prince Fielder right after Miguel Cabrera hit his 30th home run to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead in the fifth.
Leyland's Wednesday starter had been suspended six games for hitting Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist on June 30, although he had not been thrown out of that game. The suspension came later.
Ramirez came out with a sore right hamstring after completing his at-bat with a soft single over first.
Sale (6-8) gave up 10 hits and two home runs but fanned eight in 6 2/3 innings. Addison Reed earned his 23rd save working through the ninth.
Sanchez, a candidate to be a replacement All-Star, gave up a leadoff single to Alejandro De Aza and an RBI double to Ramirez to open the game but settled down and pitched strongly until the sixth. De Aza hit a solo home run, his 11th, off Phil Coke in the eighth.
Matt Tuiasosopo hit his sixth home run of the season with a man on in the second, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Tuiasosopo's home run came in his 77th at-bat of the season.
NOTES: Porcello had his suspension for hitting Zobrist with a pitch June 30 reduced from six games to five Thursday by Major League Baseball, although he dropped his appeal anyway. Porcello won't miss a start because he isn't scheduled to pitch any of the four games before the All-Star break or the first two afterwards. ... RHP Jake Peavy of the White Sox will make a rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Birmingham in Huntsville, AL. ... AL All-Star manager Leyland has his ducks, and his backup pitchers, all in a row for hurlers who start Sunday and elect not to pitch in the Tuesday game. "Everything's under control," Leyland said. "Some pitchers have their bags already packed." ... Ventura said Dylan Axelrod, who started Tuesday for Chicago, would be available in the White Sox bullpen this weekend in Philadelphia due to the All-Star break.
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