The lead changed hands four times before Kerry Carpenter settled it. His two-run double to left in the sixth inning scored Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler, giving Detroit a 4-3 advantage it would not relinquish in a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night at Comerica Park.
Matt Vierling provided the early spark for the Tigers. His two-run homer to center — 408 feet — in the first inning scored Dingler and gave Detroit a 2-1 lead after Randal Grichuk had put Chicago ahead with a solo shot to left. Vierling finished 1-for-4 with 2 RBI. Dingler was the engine behind the offense, going 3-for-4 and scoring twice. Tarik Skubal worked 5.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk on 94 pitches. He did not factor in the decision, carrying a 3.02 ERA into the night.
The game turned twice in the sixth. Junior Perez opened the inning with a solo homer to left center — 375 feet — to put Chicago back in front, 3-2. Detroit answered immediately. Carpenter's double to left brought Greene and Dingler home, flipping the score to 4-3 and giving the Tigers the lead they would keep. Drew Anderson, who entered in relief, earned the win to improve to 3-3. Kenley Jansen worked a clean ninth for his eighth save of the season.
Erick Fedde took the loss, falling to 2-6. He lasted 4.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk on 78 pitches, with a 4.46 ERA. Chicago had tied the game in the fifth when Tristan Peters grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Sam Antonacci — a call that was overturned after a White Sox challenge.
Detroit improved to 30-44. Chicago, which entered having won its previous game, fell to 39-34 in first place in its division.