Podsednik singles in ninth, White Sox prevail 4-3 after Tigers rally against Jenks

Podsednik single in 9th lifts Chisox over Tigers

CHICAGO — Scott Podsednik hit an RBI single off Joel Zumaya with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, giving the Chicago White Sox a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on a rainy Thursday.

The start of the game was delayed nearly three hours by showers. The Tigers almost made it an even longer day when Curtis Granderson hit a tying, two-run homer off closer Bobby Jenks with two outs in the top of the ninth.

But the White Sox took advantage of Zumaya’s throwing error — he slipped and threw wildly on a bunt — and loaded the bases with no outs. Podsednik singled past a diving second baseman Placido Polanco to win it.

It was a dramatic finish to a poor homestand for the White Sox, who won only four of 12. They nearly wasted a superb start by Gavin Floyd, not to mention home runs by Jim Thome and A.J. Pierzynski.

Leading 3-1 and with Jenks (1-2) going for his 14th save in 15 chances, the White Sox appeared to be in good shape. Ryan Raburn led off with a single and stole second before Jenks struck out Clete Thomas and retired Miguel Cabrera on a fly. Granderson then drove the first pitch over the right-field wall for his 14th homer, tying it at 3.

Brian Anderson led off the bottom half with a single against Zumaya (3-1). Chris Getz bunted and Zumaya made a wild throw to first, sending Anderson to third. After Getz stole second, Josh Fields walked on a full count to bring up Podsednik.

Thome gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead by leading off the second with his 553rd homer and hitting a bases-loaded infield single in the third against Edwin Jackson.

After Ramon Santiago homered off Floyd in the top of the eighth, Pierzynski made it 3-1 with a solo shot off Nate Robertson in the bottom half.

The Tigers never mounted a serious threat against Floyd, who allowed one run in eight innings, until Santiago homered. Pinch-hitter Marcus Thames then singled, but Josh Anderson grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Jackson simply struggled after going 5-1 in his previous six starts.

Second in the AL with a 2.16 ERA entering the game, he allowed two runs and five hits while walking four over five innings, matching his shortest outing.

NOTES: White Sox slugger Paul Konerko was out of the lineup because of a nagging thumb injury that could cost him a few games. Konerko, who has a loose ligament in his right thumb, left Wednesday’s game after seven innings when the condition flared up. He was to get an injection and expected to be back Saturday “at the latest,” although he wouldn’t rule out playing Friday in Milwaukee. … With Konerko out, Fields started at first.