J.D. Martinez Hits Clutch HR, Tigers Hold On To Beat White Sox, 5-4

DETROIT (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning, and Joakim Soria worked out of a jam in the ninth to lift the Detroit Tigers over the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Friday night.

The Tigers trailed 4-3 in the seventh, but Rajai Davis led off with a homer that inning, and Martinez went deep off Zach Duke (3-3) in the eighth.

Bruce Rondon (1-0) pitched a perfect top of the eighth for Detroit, earning his second major league win and first since 2013. Soria finished for his 17th save in 19 chances.

Soria allowed a leadoff double by Avisail Garcia in the ninth, and pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck hit a one-out single, putting men on first and third. But Carlos Sanchez popped up a bunt for the second out, and Adam Eaton grounded out to end it.

Eaton, Jose Abreu and Tyler Flowers hit solo homers for Chicago off Anibal Sanchez. Flowers' shot gave the White Sox a 4-3 lead in the seventh, but the bullpen couldn't hold on.

Martinez now has 19 homers on the season, including six in the last five games.

Chicago took the opener of this four-game series in 10 innings Thursday, and Eaton led off Friday's game with a homer. Detroit tied it in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Miguel Cabrera, the first of three two-baggers on the night for the Detroit slugger.

Abreu homered in the third to deep left-center, but Jose Iglesias tied it with an RBI single in the fourth. Yoenis Cespedes hit an RBI triple in the fifth for the Tigers.

Sanchez allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

The Detroit right-hander has pitched better of late, but he's now allowed 18 home runs on the season.

Chicago's Jose Quintana allowed three runs and 11 hits in six innings.

Rondon missed all of 2014 because of Tommy John surgery, and he was dealing with biceps tendinitis this season. He made his 2015 debut Thursday, and he looked sharp when the Tigers brought him back in a crucial spot a day later.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: RHP Matt Albers (broken finger) was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Charlotte at Rochester.

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (back) is expected to throw a bullpen session Saturday. He could return Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Chicago LHP John Danks (3-8) faces Detroit LHP Kyle Ryan (1-1) on Saturday.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.