Miguel Gonzalez pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, Jose Abreu stayed hot with his 23rd homer and fifth in the last seven games, and the White Sox bullpen held off the Detroit Tigers for a 2-0 victory Tuesday before a paid crowd of 15,155 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Nate Jones retired all four batters he faced before David Robertson worked in and out of trouble to record his 34th save in 41 opportunities. Robertson struck out pinch hitter Tyler Collins to end the game with J.D. Martinez (single) and Erick Aybar (walk) on base.
The Tigers (75-63), who fell one game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild card, left nine runners on base and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Sox (66-72) were swept by the Tigers in Detroit last week and lost the first game of this series 5-3 in 11 innings Monday. The Sox are 6-12 against the Tigers this season.
In his first start since Aug. 11 due to a groin strain, Gonzalez (3-6) struck out four and walked none while allowing six hits. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 2.38 ERA and eight quality starts over his last nine outings.
“I was pretty anxious, pretty happy about coming back,” he said. “It was fun to be around the guys again, be able to perform, help them out, give them a chance.”
Jason Coats, called up from AAA Charlotte Tuesday, started at designated hitter and doubled in the fifth and scored on catcher Omar Narvaez’s single. Narvaez, a rookie who has a good chance of making the roster out of spring training next season, continues to receive high marks from Sox pitchers.
“Facing a team like this, Detroit has a good offensive team, just pounding the zone,” Gonzalez said. “Narvaez did a great job calling the game. It was great all around.”
The win for Gonzalez was his first since he beat the Yankees on July 6. This was his sixth outing in which he did not allow a walk.
“Gonzo was great,” manager Robin Ventura said. “I don’t know if you could expect much more out of him. Coming off the DL and against a lineup like this, he was sharp and breaking stuff getting enough of the plate to get guys swinging.
“He pitches to contact, moves it around the plate. I thought his poise and everything was outstanding.”
NOTES
With 34 saves, Robertson is five shy of his career high 39 set in 2014 with the Yankees.
*The Tigers were shut out for the 10th time while the Sox recorded their eighth shutout and first since July 26 against the Cubs.
*Abreu has reached base safely in 32 of his last 33 games, hitting .370 with 12 homers and 31 RBI during that span.
*Tim Anderson has reached base safely in 26 of his last 28 games, hitting .330 with two homers, eight doubles and 11 RBI in that stretch.
*Narvaez is batting .340 in his last 19 games.
*Adam Eaton had the day off with call-up Leury Garcia playing center field. The only other game Eaton did not start was in early April when he went on paternity leave.
