Cespedes, Greene Lift Tigers To 9-1 Rout Of White Sox
By NOAH TRISTER/AP Baseball Writer
DETROIT (AP) - Yoenis Cespedes hit a grand slam and a two-run homer and Shane Greene pitched seven impressive innings in another fine start to begin the season, helping the Detroit Tigers rout the Chicago White Sox 9-1 on Sunday.
It was the first major league grand slam for Cespedes, and both his home runs came off Jose Quintana. Cespedes is now 6 for 8 with four home runs against Quintana (1-1) for his career.
Greene (3-0) allowed his first earned run of the season Sunday when an RBI triple by Jose Abreu skipped past J.D. Martinez in right field. Greene gave up five hits and four walks, but the White Sox hit into four double plays.
Greene, who was traded in the offseason from the New York Yankees to Detroit, struck out three.
Cespedes came up with two out and the bases loaded in the first. As a wind-whipped rain began to fall, the Detroit slugger sent a drive over the fence in left to make it 4-0.
The weather cleared up nicely after that, but Quintana's problems were only beginning. James McCann led off the bottom of the second with a triple and scored on a single by Rajai Davis.
Cespedes hit his second homer of the game in the third to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. It was the third homer of the season and 74th career shot for Cespedes, who has won the All-Star Home Run Derby the last two years.
Victor Martinez added an RBI double in the fifth to chase Quintana, and Nick Castellanos hit a run-scoring double of his own later that inning.
Quintana allowed nine runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings.
The Tigers (10-2) are off to the best start of any team in baseball, and the defending AL Central champions rebounded from a 12-3 loss to the White Sox on Saturday.
Greene has been a strong addition so far in a starting rotation that lost Max Scherzer to free agency and Rick Porcello via a trade.
Victor Martinez had three hits and three runs for the Tigers before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Jake Petricka (right forearm) is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. He pitched a scoreless inning Saturday night against Gwinnett.
Tigers: Manager Brad Ausmus said reliever Joe Nathan (right elbow) will need to pitch on a rehab assignment or in a simulated game before returning for the Tigers. He is eligible to come back Wednesday from the DL.
UP NEXT
White Sox: Chicago LHP John Danks (0-2) takes on Cleveland in the opener of a three-game series on Monday night.
Tigers: Detroit sends RHP Alfredo Simon (2-0) to the mound Monday night against New York Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (0-2). New York is at Detroit for a four-game set.
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