Sox’ loss aside, Fulmer looking fine
DETROIT— Rookie righthander Carson Fulmer is 2- for- 2 in strong starts this week, backing up Sunday’s nine- strikeout performance against the Giants with six innings of one- run ball in the White Sox’ 3- 2 loss to the Tigers on Friday night at Comerica Park.
Fulmer, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 draft who’s auditioning for a spot in the 2018 rotation, gave up four hits and one walk while striking out five. Since getting shelled for six runs in 1⅓ innings in his firstmajor- league start against the Twins on Aug. 21, he has allowed three earned runs and nine hits over 16‰ innings in four appearances, the latter two as a starter. He has allowed one run in each of the last two starts.
“We walk away fromhis outing very encouraged about the direction he’s going as a starter,” manager Rick Renteria said.
Mikie Mahtook’s RBI single against Juan Minaya in the ninth ended a six- game losing streak for the Tigers, who avoided falling into a fourth- place tie with the Sox.
Tigers right- hander Anibal Sanchez struck out 11 over six innings and allowed one run— Yoan Moncada’s homer to right in the third. The Tigers tied it on Nick Castellanos’ RBI single in the fourth and took a 2- 1 lead on Tyler Collins’ homer against right- hander Gregory Infante in the seventh.
Matt Davidson collected his 63rd RBI with a game- tying single to right in the eighth.
Prospects Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Fulmer have combined for eight quality starts over their last nine outings. The trio is a combined 4- 3 with a 2.26 ERA and 46 strikeouts in the nine start span.
“I’m trying to carry over every outing into the next, and today I was able to stay in the groove,” Fulmer said. “I’m working really hard on keeping things simple, and I think I’m doing a really good job of controlling the game.
“I’m just comfortable. Trusting my stuff and trusting the fact I can execute it is really big for me.”
Moncada adjusts
Moncada’s homer was his sixth of the season and second in two games in Detroit. He also struck out twice Friday and grounded out to third, but he’s 13- for- 32 during a seven- game hitting streak.
He was 4- for- 4 and reached base six times in the Sox’ 17- 7 win Thursday. His average is up to .229 after a sluggish start.
“Over the last couple of weeks, he’s putting together at- bats where he’s not just flailing at off- speed pitches in the zone or out of the zone,” Renteria said.
No discipline for Tigers in ump hit- by- pitch
Major League Baseball ruled that the Tigers did not intend to throw a pitch that struck umpire Quinn Wolcott in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground. Wolcott was hit by a fastball from the Tigers’ Buck Farmer on Wednesday in Cleveland. Rookie backup catcher John Hicks never touched the ball as it sailed past his mitt.
Chief baseball officer Joe Torre reviewed the play and found no cause for disciplinary action.
This and that
Outfielder Willy Garcia ( jaw fracture and concussion) was activated from the disabled list.
† Outfielder Rymer Liriano was away for the first of three days to be with his wife for the birth of their son.