Following a season-opening six-game Western road trip in which they went 2-4, the Detroit Tigers returned home and defeated the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park, 7-4, on Friday afternoon.
Kerry Carpenter hit two home runs to lead the Tigers’ 10-hit barrage against three White Sox pitchers. His first homer was initially in doubt as it wasn’t clear whether the drive down the right-field line landed foul or fair. But reviews showed the fly ball went into the seats just inside the foul pole to give Detroit a 1-0 lead over Chicago starter Jonathan Cannon.
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Carpenter followed that up in the fourth inning with an opposite-field shot off reliever Brandon Eisert that left no doubt and boosted the Tigers’ lead to 4-1. And the Tigers got another homer from Riley Greene in the sixth, who crushed his third of the season.
That was more than enough offense for Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, who struck out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings while allowing one run on three hits and two walks. In his first two starts of the 2025 season, Flaherty has allowed three runs and six hits over 11 1/3 innings with 12 strikeouts.
The veteran right-hander presumably had an easier time against the White Sox lineup than the Los Angeles Dodgers’ formidable batting order, though he did get his World Series ring from his former team in that first start.
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Kenta Maeda was roughed up in his second outing of the season, demonstrating why he’s pitching out of Detroit’s bullpen rather than in the starting rotation. He escaped trouble in the eighth with two runners on and one out, striking out Andrew Benintendi and getting Andrew Vaughn to ground out.
However, Maeda gave up three consecutive hits to begin the ninth, including two doubles, which led to two runs for Chicago. In his two outings this season, Maeda — who signed a two-year, $24 million deal with Detroit before last season — has allowed five runs and six hits in just three innings.
The Tigers and White Sox came into Friday’s game in an early season AL Central logjam with four teams having 2-4 records. Detroit creates at least some temporary separation with the win, pending the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians playing on Friday night.
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