FINALLY! Tigers clinch AL wild card and end playoff drought with 4-1 win over record-setting White Sox

DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene hit an RBI double and the Detroit Tigers scored two runs on wild pitches in a 4-1 victory over the record-setting Chicago White Sox on Friday night, clinching a playoff berth for the first time in a decade .

“Faith is a big thing,” Greene said. “We never stopped believing, and this is what it did for us.”

Detroit managed a late-season surge to secure a wild card into the American League, and the White Sox secured an unwanted place in baseball history by setting a new major league record with 121 losses that season set up.

“They were still playing for something,” Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson said.

The Tigers will play Baltimore or AL Central champion Houston next week in a best-of-three wild-card series, most likely on the road. They were on a roll, winning six straight and 10 of 11 in an impressive run to the playoffs.

The White Sox broke the post-1900 record of 120 losses in their first season, set by the New York Mets in 1962. The overall record was set by the Cleveland Spiders in 1899 with a record of 20-134.

“I think the frustration started long before the numbers were there,” Chicago interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “It was one of those things: You’re not happy, but I don’t know if it would feel any different at 115 or 110.”

Taking advantage of playing against a historically bad team, Detroit broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning on Jake Rogers’ run when Jared Shuster was attacked with a wild pitch, although the ball hit the ground just under the catcher’s glove Korey Lee didn’t touch it. Matt Vierling followed with a sacrifice fly.

White Sox rookie Zach DeLoach hit his first home run in the sixth, pulling his weak team within one run.

Members of the Detroit Tigers celebrate after the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Greene restored Detroit’s two-run lead with a double in the seventh, and Chicago helped the home team again later in the inning when Fraser Ellard threw his club’s third wild pitch of the night.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch relied on his bullpen throughout the game, as he often did late in the season, and it worked again.

“I am overwhelmed with joy because I get to watch a team grow right before my eyes and now I get to watch this team play in October,” Hinch said.

Brenan Hanifee held the White Sox scoreless through the first two innings, and Brant Hurter (6-1) allowed one run over four innings.

Will Vest and Tyler Holton combined to keep Chicago scoreless for 2 2/3 innings. To the delight of the ecstatic fans who stood and cheered for much of the evening, Jason Foley scored his 28th save goal.

Shuster (2-5) allowed two runs in two innings. Ellard gave up as many runs (two) as he got outs.

After the finale, the White Sox quietly walked into their clubhouse while the Tigers streamed across the field, hugging and posing for photos.

“It’s hard to watch them celebrate,” Chicago starting pitcher Garrett Crochet said after throwing four scoreless innings. “That was us just a few years ago.”

Detroit had not announced a pitching plan for Saturday’s game. RHP Sean Burke (1-0, 1.93 ERA) is scheduled to start for Chicago.

Originally published: September 27, 2024 at 10:19 p.m

FINALLY! Tigers clinch AL wild card and end playoff drought with 4-1 win over record-setting White Sox – Macomb Daily

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