Detroit Tigers beat Chicago White Sox early

DETROIT (AP) — Colt Keith and Akil Baddoo scored five runs in the first inning and Riley Greene crossed the fences with four runs in the second inning, helping the Detroit Tigers to an 11-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

The Tigers scored more runs in two at-bats than in any of the previous six games, thanks to Matt Vierling’s leadoff triple and Keith’s two-run homer, and they were just beginning their warm-up for the series-deciding loss.

Baddoo’s two-run homer capped a five-run first inning, and Greene followed up with a three-run shot in the second to give Detroit a 9-0 lead.

“It was a really good offensive day for us and continues to show us how capable we are,” said Tigers manager AJ Hinch.

The Tigers chased Jonathan Cannon (1-2) after opening the second inning with three consecutive singles, including Keith’s scoring line drive to opposite field. The rookie right-hander allowed eight runs — five earned — on seven hits in 42 pitches in over one inning.

“It was just bad all around,” Cannon said. “I missed my shots in the first inning and that cost me dearly. Then I just went out in the second inning and couldn’t make the shots and that cost me dearly.”

Cannon was given a tough time by a team that had scored five runs in their last six games, teaching the promising young player another lesson.

“Baseball is a cruel game and sometimes things don’t go the way you imagine,” he said.

The former Georgia standout, a third-round pick in 2022, has had strong starts.

In his previous two appearances, Cannon pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings against Houston, earning his first win, and allowed just one run in seven innings against Seattle.

“The young guy was coming off the best night of his career and we wanted to attack his fastball and changeup,” Hinch said.

Cannon was replaced by Jared Shuster, whose third pitch Greene hit into the opposite field for his 15th home run.

Reese Olson (2-8) struck out two players in the first inning before Detroit’s bats gave him a big lead. The White Sox had just two hits from the right-hander until Eloy Jimenez opened the seventh inning with a single and Gavin Sheets followed with a double.

Olson allowed two runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings, while allowing three strikeouts and no walks.

The Tigers restored their nine-run lead with Zach McKinstry’s solo home run in the seventh inning and an RBI double by Wenceel Perez in the eighth inning.

Keith, a 22-year-old rookie with more than $28 million guaranteed, had four hits for the third time since May 17.

“I know veterans who don’t have four-hit games,” Hinch said.

Trainer room

Jimenez, who had missed two months with a hamstring injury, was activated from the injured list and outfielder Oscar Colas was sent to Triple-A Charlotte.

Next

White Sox LHP Garrett Crochet (6-6) and Los Angeles Dodgers LHP James Paxton (7-1) are the likely starting pitchers Monday night in Chicago.

Tigers RHP Casey Mize (1-5) and Philadelphia Phillies Aaron Nola (8-3) are scheduled to start Monday night in Detroit.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb