CHICAGO — For the first time in the series, the Detroit Tigers collected a hit with a runner in scoring position when Spencer Torkelson launched a slider for a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
But Torkelson’s fifth homer of the year wasn’t enough.
The Tigers lost, 6-2, and were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Tigers (26-31) scored three runs and finished 1-for-21 with runners in scoring position over the weekend.
DOMINANT DEBUT: Calm, in control and nasty: How Reese Olson pitched a game in MLB debut with Tigers
TALKING TO EXPERTS: Doctors explain when Tigers’ Eduardo Rodriguez, Riley Greene could return from injuries
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the White Sox broke the 2-2 tie and won the game with Jake Burger’s walk-off grand slam against right-handed reliever Alex Lange, the American League Reliever of the Month in May.
Andrew Benintendi — pinch-hitting for Clint Frazier — opened the inning with a leadoff single. He advanced to second base on an uncontested stolen base, as Lange’s curveball to Gavin Sheets got past catcher Jake Rogers.
Sheets struck out swinging for the first out.
With a runner on second base, Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson regained momentum by drawing back-to-back six-pitch walks to load the bases.
Then, Burger ended the game with a walk-off grand slam. He deposited Lange’s second-pitch curveball — which stayed inside the strike zone — into the seats in left-center field to clear the bases.
The White Sox scored their first two runs in the fourth and sixth innings against left-hander Matthew Boyd and right-hander Will Vest, respectively. In his 11th start, Boyd tossed five innings of one-run ball and struck out a season-high nine batters.
A pair of relievers — left-hander Tyler Holton and right-hander Jason Foley — kept the White Sox from scoring in the seventh and eighth innings. Foley worked out of a two-out jam in the seventh and retired all three batters in the eighth.
Cooking with Kopech
Before Torkelson’s homer, Akil Baddoo applied pressure to right-hander Michael Kopech.
Baddoo — who has been batting third in the lineup in Riley Greene’s absence — hit an elevated slider for a two-out single, then stole second base. He came around to score on Torkelson’s big fly.
Torkelson fell behind 0-2 in the count but smashed a down-and-in slider for a 400-foot homer to left field, putting the Tigers ahead 2-0. It was Torkelson’s first homer since May 20 and his first extra-base hit in June.
RISING STAR TO THE: Tigers’ Riley Greene sent to 10-day injured list with stress fracture in left fibula
ACE TO THE: Tigers place Eduardo Rodriguez on 15-day injured list with hurt left index finger
The Tigers stranded Javier Báez in scoring position in the sixth inning after he drew a walk for the 10th time this season, then stole second base and third base in the span of three pitches.
Baddoo struck out swinging, and Torkelson grounded out.
Báez nearly hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, but the ball to left-center traveled 383 feet for a flyout.
Battling with Boyd
Historically, Boyd struggles when facing a lineup for the third time through the batting order. He didn’t get the opportunity — despite throwing 82 pitches and racking up nine strikeouts — in the series finale against the White Sox.
The Tigers chose not to test Boyd, but when he was on the mound for his five innings, he was electric. The 32-year-old allowed one run on three hits without conceding a walk, throwing 56 of 82 pitches for strikes.
STARTING SUNDAY: Tigers’ Tarik Skubal to pitch Sunday in High-A; Riley Greene has a ‘stress reaction’
HE’S BACK: Outfielder Akil Baddoo returns to 2021 form — only better — to help Tigers
He used 40% four-seam fastballs, 22% sliders, 18% changeups, 11% curveballs and 9% sinkers. He generated 15 whiffs with eight fastballs, two sliders, four changeups and one curveball.
The effectiveness of his fastball helped his slider and changeup baffle the opposing hitters.
The White Sox scored, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 2-1, on back-to-back hits by Luis Robert (double) and Eloy Jimenez (single) with one out in the fourth inning. Boyd responded by striking out Andrew Vaughn and getting Yasmani Grandal to hit into an inning-ending forceout.
Boyd struck out two batters in every inning besides the second inning.
The Tigers lost the lead in the sixth inning after Vest replaced Boyd. Although Vest retired the first two batters, the next four batters reached safely: Robert (single), Jimenez (single), Vaughn (walk) and Grandal (single).
Grandal tied the game, 2-2, by driving in Robert when he drilled Vest’s elevated two-strike fastball into left field.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers slammed by Chicago White Sox, 6-2