Sloppy conclusion to a lost weekend
DETROIT— Justin Upton’s three- run homer in the ninth inning against David Robertson lifted the Tigers to a 7- 4 victory over the White Sox, completing a threegame sweep and dealing the Sox their fifth consecutive loss.
The Sox ( 24- 31) played a sloppy series in Detroit. On Sunday, second baseman Yolmer Sanchez made an error and misplayed a double- play grounder into a force out in the ninth, and reliever Chris Beck was charged with an error on a checktherunner throw to first that Jose Abreu should have caught. The Tigers easily stole third base twice, and rookie Adam Engel failed to get a safety squeeze down.
“Yeah, we didn’t have a great showing here in Detroit,’’ Robertson said. “It sucks to lose that one. It sucks to give up a walk- off. We pretty much played like crap the last three days, and it showed.’’
Robertson ( 3- 2) hit Nicholas Castellanos on the hand with a curveball leading off the ninth before Miguel Cabrera’s ground ball hit Sanchez in the chest. Sanchez settled to get Cabrera at first.
J. D. Martinez was intentionally walked before Upton drove a hanging 1- 2 curveball for his 11th homer.
“It sat in the middle of the zone, and he hit it I’massuming about 20 rows back,’’ Robertson said. “I didn’t need to look. It was loud off the bat.”
Martinez also homered against Sox starter DavidHolmberg for the Tigers ( 28- 28), who have won four in a row.
Avisail Garcia and Todd Frazier had three hits each, Frazier ripping his eighth homer to give the Sox a 2- 0 lead against Justin Verlander, who would leave in the third with a tight groin. Frazier, TimAnderson and Kevan Smith doubled in a two- run eighth that erased a 4- 2 deficit.
Manager Rick Renteria said his team looked “lethargic,” although he insisted on praising it for “grinding” and “fighting every single inning.”
“All in all, our guys were probably a little tired today,’’ Renteria said. “Nonetheless, that’s not an excuse for some of the mistakes that we made.’’
Rodon to make first rehab start
Left- hander Carlos Rodon, on the disabled list since Opening Day with upper biceps bursitis, will make his first minor- league rehab start Tuesday for Class AWinstonSalem.
Rodon, who was expected to be the Sox’ No. 2 starter behind Jose Quintana, has pitched in simulated games during the last three weeks at extended spring training. He has experienced soreness in what essentially is his shoulder area.
Rodon likely will need four rehab starts before returning, which would line him up for a possible return in late June.
“It’s good news for us,’’ Renteria said. “Everything has been moving very positive.’’
Good step for Shields
Pitching coach Don Cooper talked to James Shields ( right lat strain) after the 35- year- old right- hander threw 53 pitches in four innings in his first rehab start Saturday at Class AAA Charlotte.
“He had a real nice first one,’’ Cooper said.
Cooper said Shields, who allowed one earned run with four strikeouts against Buffalo, commanded his fastball on both sides of the plate and mixed some changeups and curveballs.