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Detroit Tigers too wild in 2-1 loss to Chicago White Sox

CHICAGO — The Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox traded runs on wild pitches.

Another wild pitch ended the game.

Weak offensive performances and strong starting pitching performances highlighted the second of three games in the series at Guaranteed Rate Field. The two teams combined for three runs, seven hits and six walks across 10 innings.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen allowed one run across seven innings Saturday in another dominant start, but in extra innings, the White Sox snapped the tie in the bottom of the 10th inning with a walk-off wild pitch from right-handed reliever José Cisnero that got past catcher Eric Haase and bounced off home plate umpire Cory Blaser.

The Tigers lost, 2-1.

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Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn beats Detroit Tigers left fielder Akil Baddoo to first base for an out during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field, June 3, 2023 in Chicago.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn beats Detroit Tigers left fielder Akil Baddoo to first base for an out during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field, June 3, 2023 in Chicago.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Tigers (26-30) put Cisnero on the mound, while the White Sox sent Yoan Moncada to second base as the free extra-innings runner.

Romy Gonzalez dropped a perfectly executed bunt down the third-base line to advance Moncada to third base. With two outs, the Tigers intentionally walked Gavin Sheets, and then Jake Burger was hit by a pitch in the hand to load the bases.

A wild pitch on Cisnero’s first delivery to Tim Anderson allowed Moncada to score, ending the game.

The Tigers, also starting with a free runner on second base, failed to score in the top of the 10th off right-hander Reynaldo Lopez despite a leadoff walk from Nick Maton. Zack Short flew out to shallow right field, Jonathan Schoop popped out to the middle of the infield and Jake Marisnick grounded out.

Detroit finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Before extra innings

In the top of the eighth inning, Javier Báez struck out swinging on three pitches from White Sox right-handed reliever Gregory Santos. The third-pitch slider, combined with Báez’s whiff, stranded Marisnick on second base.

Meanwhile, Tigers right-handed reliever Jason Foley escaped trouble by stranding two runners in the bottom of the eighth inning when he retired Burger (strikeout) and Anderson (lineout).

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Before Burger stepped to the plate, Tigers manager AJ Hinch went to the mound to plan with his team. The meeting occurred after Foley allowed a leadoff single, struck out Yasmani Grandal and intentionally walked Sheets to put two runners on base with one out.

The Tigers were sent down in order in the top of the ninth inning.

Right-handed reliever Alex Lange on the mound with the game tied at one run apiece in the bottom of the ninth. Lange, who serves as the closer without the official title, had to face the heart of Chicago’s batting order.

Andrew Benintendi opened the inning with a leadoff single, but Lange bounced back with consecutive strikeouts of Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez. Moncada then grounded out to send the game to extra innings.

Superb start No. 1

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen looked sharp from start to finish.

He allowed two hits — a leadoff single from Tim Anderson in the first inning and a leadoff single from Benintendi in the fourth inning — and didn’t concede a walk. He racked up six strikeouts and induced a multitude of groundouts.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field, June 3, 2023 in Chicago.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field, June 3, 2023 in Chicago.

The White Sox scored in the fourth inning, taking a 1-0 lead, on Benintendi’s single and three consecutive strikeouts from Robert, Jimenez and Moncada. An uncontested stolen base and two wild pitches from Lorenzen (with Haase behind the plate) allowed Benintendi to score from first base without a ball in play.

Other than those singles, Lorenzen was perfect for the Tigers in his ninth start of the season. The 31-year-old owns a 1.83 ERA (eight earned runs) with seven walks and 26 strikeouts in 39⅓ innings over his past six starts, dating back to May 3.

Lorenzen relied heavily on his slider, which the White Sox failed to put into play with hard contact, and mixed five different pitches: 31% sliders, 21% four-seam fastballs, 21% sinkers, 14% sweepers and 13% changeups.

He generated nine whiffs and 15 called strikes.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, June 3, 2023.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, June 3, 2023.

Superb start No. 2

As Lorenzen worked his magic, White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease bounced back from a rough start against the Tigers at Comerica Park. This time, he allowed one run on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts.

Cease pitched into the sixth inning.

He recorded one out in the sixth before he was replaced by right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton. Zach McKinstry opened the inning with a leadoff triple on Cease’s third-pitch slider.

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McKinstry scored to tie the game, 1-1, on Cease’s wild pitch before Báez struck out swinging to conclude his 13th start.

The Tigers had an opportunity to score in the fourth inning when Akil Baddoo drew a one-out walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. But Spencer Torkelson grounded out, and despite Haase’s two-out walk, Maton struck out swinging on three consecutive pitches.

Maton swung through two changeups and a slider to strand the runners.

Cease registered a whopping 23 whiffs with 10 sliders, seven fastballs, two curveballs and four changeups.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers’ wildness costly in 2-1 loss to Chicago White Sox