Rios 6-for-6 as Sox ring up 23 hits
DETROIT — Alex Rios became the fifth player in White Sox history to amass six hits in a game, and the Sox banged out a seasonhigh 23 hits against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen in an 11-4 victory Tuesday.
No one saw this coming. Rios entered the game hitting .170 in his last 47 atbats, and the Sox went into it having lost four in a row and 10 of their last 12 and facing a pitcher who was 12-1 in his last 13 decisions against them. The Sox also had lost their last seven games at Comerica Park.
Rios had a triple and five singles, the last one aided by a favorable call by the official scorer on a ground ball past first baseman Prince Fielder. Rios became the first player to get four hits against Verlander and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, was the third player in major-league history to go 6-for-6 with two stolen bases in a game.
‘‘[Rios] is as good as anyone in the league,’’ Sox manager Robin Ventura said. ‘‘Tonight was indicative of that. He was hitting, running the bases great.’’
Rios did nothing to lower his stock should the Sox try to trade him before the non-waiver deadline July 31. Ventura suggested the trade talk might have had something to do with Rios’ recent slump.
‘‘I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s fun to get six hits,’’ Rios said. ‘‘And if you feel like you’re making progress, it’s even better.
‘‘It is fun. It’s been the most fun we’ve had in quite a while. We’ve had some tough times, but it shows we haven’t quit.’’
Before the Sox scored seven runs in the eighth, Jose Quintana (4-2) had matched Verlander pitch-for-pitch in a 1-1 game. Adam Dunn broke the tie with a two-run home run against Verlander (9-6), and Dayan Viciedo hit his second homer of the night — a three-run shot against Al Alburquerque — three batters later. Dunn (24 homers, 60 RBI) added an RBI single his second time up in the inning.
The last Sox player to get six hits in a nine-inning game was Lance Johnson in 1995. Rios raised his average from .267 to .281.