Inge’s 9th-inning single sends Tigers past slumping White Sox 5-4 in opener of day-night DH

Inge singles in 9th, Tigers beat Chisox in opener

CHICAGO — Brandon Inge singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Chicago White Sox 5-4 Monday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

Miguel Cabrera opened the ninth by reaching on third baseman Josh Fields’ error. Marcus Thames followed with an infield single off shortstop Alexei Ramirez’s glove.

Inge then grounded a single into left field off Scott Linebrink (2-3), scoring pinch-runner Josh Anderson from second base. The White Sox have lost six of seven.

Fernando Rodney worked the ninth for his 11th save in as many chances for the AL Central leaders.

Paul Konerko led off the bottom of the eighth against Joel Zumaya (3-0) with his eighth homer, a line shot over the fence in left that tied it at 4.

Detroit starter Armando Galarraga, looking to snap a six-game losing streak, went 6 2-3 innings. He allowed seven hits, including a two-run homer by Jermaine Dye, and left with a 4-3 lead.

Curtis Granderson’s RBI single off Chicago reliever D.J. Carrasco in the sixth put the Tigers ahead 4-3. Dye’s 15th homer made it 3-all.

Chicago starter Clayton Richard lost his control in the fifth with two outs. Magglio Ordonez singled before Richard walked three straight batters, including Inge to force in a run, and put Detroit ahead 3-1.

Konerko’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the first following two walks and a leadoff single by Scott Podsednik gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead.

But the Tigers got it back quickly in the second against Richard. After Dye leaped high against the fence in right-center field to take a potential home run away from Thames, Inge doubled. A walk and wild pitch put runners at the corners before Adam Everett hit an RBI single and Dane Sardinha had a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead.