DETROIT (AP) - Mike Pelfrey put his emotions aside and helped his new team, the Chicago White Sox, beat his old team, the Detroit Tigers.
Pelfrey, who was released by the Tigers near the end of spring training, started Friday’s game at Detroit and left after 4 2/3 innings with the game tied. Geovany Soto then had a two-run single in the eighth, helping the White Sox beat the Tigers 7-3 at Comerica Park.
“There’s no bitterness,” Pelfrey said of facing Detroit. “Those guys were good to me. Obviously, spring training didn’t end the way I wanted, but that’s on me. I don’t think I lived up to my end of the bargain.”
Pelfrey, who gave up two first-inning runs, settled down after the rough start. He allowed three earned runs on six hits, walked four and struck out two.
“I try to turn the page, and I was here to help the White Sox tonight,” he said. “I try not to make too much eye contact with them because it’s hard with guys you played with and cared about. I’m just glad these boys picked me up and it was a good team win.”
Anthony Swarzak (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the White Sox, who won their fifth straight.
“It was a complete team victory,” Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. “Pelfrey tried to give us as much as he could. We have some timely hitting and take advantage of a couple miscues on their side.”
Tigers reliever Alex Wilson (0-1) allowed two hits and two unearned runs in the eighth. Detroit third baseman Nick Castellanos committed two errors in the inning, and three in the game, leading to Soto’s go-ahead hit.
“You can’t do that at the major league level,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “You can’t give guys extra outs, extra at-bats, and that’s what hurt us.”
Detroit got to Pelfrey early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead on Justin Upton’s bases loaded, two-run single. The Tigers loaded the bases again that inning, but Jim Adduci grounded into a double play to end the threat.
“That’s not the way you draw up the first inning, but we got the double play and it was huge,” Pelfrey said.
The White Sox answered in the top of the second, getting back-to-back home runs from Todd Frazier and Avisail Garcia off Detroit starter Matt Boyd to tie the score at 2-2.
Chicago took a 3-2 advantage in the third on Garcia’s RBI single, and the Tigers tied it on Victor Martinez’s RBI single in the fifth.
Melky Cabrera began the top of the eighth with a single, and Frazier reached base on Castellanos’ first error of the inning. Garcia followed with a hard hit ball to third, which Castellanos could not handle, loading the bases.
“Of course, it’s disappointing,” Castellanos said. “But what are you going to do about it? It happens. If you dwell on it and think about it, it’s just going to continue to affect you.”
After Wilson induced a double play, with the runner being forced out at home, Yolmer Sanchez received an intention walk to reload the bases. Soto then delivered the big hit.
Tim Anderson added a two-run homer in the ninth to extend Chicago’s lead to 7-3.
Boyd pitched seven innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. He stuck out five and walked two.
“I thought he pitched terrific,” Tigers catcher Alex Avila said. “He was able to limit the damage and really settled down after that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Jake Petricka (strained right lat) continues his rehab in Chicago but has yet to begin throwing. … RHP Zach Putnam (right elbow inflammation) was placed on the disable list on Tuesday. … LHP Carlos Rodon (left biceps) continues his throwing program in Arizona.
Tigers: 1B Miguel Cabrera (right groin), who was placed in the 10-day DL on April 22, took batting practice before Friday’s game and did some light jogging. Manager Brad Ausmus said Cabrera is on schedule to return on time.
MAJOR RELIEF
The White Sox bullpen continued its strong season, holding the Tigers scoreless for 4 1/3 innings. Dan Jennings, Swarzak, Nate Jones and Tommy Kahnle combined to allow just one hit.
“They’ve been really dominant,” Pelfrey said.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Derek Holland (2-2, 1.99 ERA) will pitch against the Tigers in Saturday’s 1:10 p.m. start.
Tigers: RHP Michael Fulmer (2-1, 2.88) will take the mound against the White Sox on Saturday.
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