Max Scherzer strikes out 11, Tigers beat White Sox 9-2

Scherzer strikes out 11, Tigers beat White Sox

CHICAGO — Max Scherzer struck out 11 in eight innings and Alex Avila hit a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.

Austin Jackson had a two-run homer and Jhonny Peralta had an RBI single in a six-run seventh inning for the Tigers, who won for the second time in six games. Peralta finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Scherzer (11-10) allowed two hits — solo homers to Manny Ramirez and Brent Morel. After giving up Morel’s in the fifth, Scherzer settled down to retire 10 of the last 11 batters he faced.

After a devastating three-game sweep to Minnesota, the White Sox continued to fade in the AL Central by losing its fourth straight game and eighth of 10.

Ramirez snapped an 84 at-bat homerless streak in the fourth inning with his first homer since June 19 at Boston while a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was Ramirez’s first extra base hit since the White Sox acquired him off waivers Aug. 30.

The Tigers didn’t get their first hit off Edwin Jackson (3-2) until there were two outs in the sixth inning. But it quickly unraveled for Jackson an inning later.

Pitching with a 2-0 lead in the seventh, Jackson allowed a single to Miguel Cabrera with one out. Cabrera advanced to third on Don Kelly’s single. During Ryan Raburn’s at-bat, Cabrera scored on Jackson’s wild pitch and Kelly went to second. After walking Raburn, Jackson’s night ended after giving up an RBI single to Peralta to tie the game.

Scott Linebrink relieved Jackson and struck out Brandon Inge, but Avila tagged Linebrink for a double to score Raburn and Peralta, giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead. Jackson ended Linebrink’s night with his fourth home run of the season to make it 6-2.

Before the seventh inning, Jackson was visited by team trainer Herm Schneider during warm-up pitches. It was not clear what was bothering Jackson at the time but he stayed in the game.

Jackson pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing four runs and four hits.

Peralta and Inge hit consecutive RBI doubles in the ninth and Will Rhymes added a sacrifice fly.

Morel gave Jackson and the White Sox an insurance run in the fifth inning with his second home run of the season.

With two outs in the sixth, Austin Jackson hit a slow bouncer to shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Ramirez slightly bobbled the ball allowing Jackson to just beat Ramirez’s throw at first for the Tigers’ first hit of the game.

With two outs in the fourth, Ramirez ended his home run drought, hitting Scherzer’s 1-1 changeup into the left-field stands. It was ninth home run of the season and 555th of his career.

NOTES: One night after getting hit in the face by a pitch from Twins starter Carl Pavano, White Sox 1B Paul Konerko had the night off. Konerko was sporting a fat lip on Friday. White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski and INF Omar Vizquel also had the night off. … White Sox RHP Lucas Harrell will start in place of Freddy Garcia (back) on Saturday.