James McCann began the season backing up Alex Avila behind the plate for the Detroit Tigers, beating out Bryan Holaday for that job. With Avila going down with an injury, he has now taken over as the starter and is making the most of his opportunity. McCann hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday to give the Tigers a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.
It is McCann's second walk-off home run in the past six weeks and only his third career homer. His other was an inside-the-park home run in Minnesota for his first career dinger. The game-winner on Sunday helped Detroit rally from a 4-0 deficit and was his first home run since May 21st, when he hit a walk-off in the 11th inning against the Houston Astros.
The Tigers tied the game with a four-run eighth inning that was highlighted by Victor Martinez's game-tying three-run double. Ian Kinsler added the other RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Joakim Soria pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the win, while Zach Putnam surrendered the walk-off to suffer the loss for Chicago.
McCann is the first player to hit two game-winning home runs in the first 61 games of his career since Tim Salmon did it for the California Angels. Salmon hit the second game-winner in his 40th game in 1993.
Jeff Samardzija was dominant through seven innings, allowing only two hits heading into the eighth. He fell apart in the eighth, despite striking out Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded.
Melky Cabrera hit a monster home run in the fourth inning for the White Sox, who scored two runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
David Price allowed four runs on six hits in six innings and struck out five. He left mysteriously in the seventh after miscommunication with manager Brad Ausmus, as he was nowhere to be found to begin the inning. Ausmus had it in mind that his ace was going back out to the mound, but Price assumed his day was done with his pitch count at 99 pitches. The Tigers threw Alex Wilson, who was warming up in the bullpen, to replace the left-hander.
Avisail Garcia drove in two runs on an RBI single and sacrifice fly against his former team.
Detroit will enjoy a day off on Monday before hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates for an interleague showdown beginning Tuesday. The White Sox will also have an off day on Monday before visiting the St. Louis Cardinals.
It is McCann's second walk-off home run in the past six weeks and only his third career homer. His other was an inside-the-park home run in Minnesota for his first career dinger. The game-winner on Sunday helped Detroit rally from a 4-0 deficit and was his first home run since May 21st, when he hit a walk-off in the 11th inning against the Houston Astros.
The Tigers tied the game with a four-run eighth inning that was highlighted by Victor Martinez's game-tying three-run double. Ian Kinsler added the other RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Joakim Soria pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the win, while Zach Putnam surrendered the walk-off to suffer the loss for Chicago.
McCann is the first player to hit two game-winning home runs in the first 61 games of his career since Tim Salmon did it for the California Angels. Salmon hit the second game-winner in his 40th game in 1993.
Jeff Samardzija was dominant through seven innings, allowing only two hits heading into the eighth. He fell apart in the eighth, despite striking out Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded.
Melky Cabrera hit a monster home run in the fourth inning for the White Sox, who scored two runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
David Price allowed four runs on six hits in six innings and struck out five. He left mysteriously in the seventh after miscommunication with manager Brad Ausmus, as he was nowhere to be found to begin the inning. Ausmus had it in mind that his ace was going back out to the mound, but Price assumed his day was done with his pitch count at 99 pitches. The Tigers threw Alex Wilson, who was warming up in the bullpen, to replace the left-hander.
Avisail Garcia drove in two runs on an RBI single and sacrifice fly against his former team.
Detroit will enjoy a day off on Monday before hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates for an interleague showdown beginning Tuesday. The White Sox will also have an off day on Monday before visiting the St. Louis Cardinals.
