DETROIT — When Jeff Samardzija finally broke out of his slump, he dominated.
Samardzija pitched a one-hitter, allowing a leadoff single to Victor Martinez in the fifth inning, and led the Chicago White Sox over the Detroit Tigers 2-0 Monday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
Martinez blooped an opposite-field hit over shortstop Alexei Ramirez and in front of left fielder Trayce Thompson on a 2-0 pitch, then was erased when Jefry Marte grounded into a one-out forceout.
No other batter reached base against Samardzija (10-13), who struck out six in his second shutout this season and the third of his big league career. He threw just 88 pitches in a game that took 2 hour, 12 minutes.
“I felt real good and, obviously, we had some great plays on defense,” Samardzija said.
Samardzija had been 1-8 with a 9.24 ERA in his previous nine starts. Before his lates outing, he watched video of recent starts to try to determine why he wasn’t effective.
“I try to be an in-game guy and adjust to how I’m throwing,” he said. “I needed to go back to my last couple of starts and see why good pitches were getting tattooed.”
Samardzija won at Detroit for the first time in four starts with the White Sox.
He also earned his first career win at Comerica Park in four tries since joining the White Sox.
“It’s nice to see him go out and pitch like this. It’s a big boost for him,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
In the makeup of a May 27 rainout, Adam Eaton singled in Carlos Sanchez in the third, and Sanchez homered in the sixth against Kyle Ryan (2-4).
“I didn’t think they lacked intensity or focus,” Detroit manager Brad Ausmu said of his team. “Samardzija was just better.”
AFTER REVIEW
Chicago had to wait for a video review to score its first run. Sanchez was ruled out at home in the third but a replay showed his hand brushing the tip of the plate before catcher Bryan Holaday applied the tag.
Sanchez asked Ventura to call for the replay as soon as he saw plate umpire Mark Carlson make the initial call.
“I was sure I was safe,” Sanchez said through an interpreter.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: LHP Chris Sale likely won’t start until Thursday at the New York Yankees. Manager Robin Ventura said the bullpen’s workload Monday was a concern after he decided to move Sale’s next scheduled start back a day.
Tigers: Martinez made his ninth start of the year at first base as Detroit’s regular designated hitter played the field and allowed Miguel Cabrera to take the afternoon off. Ausmus said Cabrera, who began the day 16 points ahead of Boston’s Xander Bogaerts for the AL batting title, was available to pinch hit.
