DETROIT — Rajai Davis’ two-out triple in the 10th gave Detroit a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, one inning after the Tigers lost a combined no-hitter.
Anthony Gose drew a two-out walk from Zach Duke (3-6) in the 10th. Davis sliced a 3-1 fastball into the corner in right field and Gose easily beat Trayce Thompson’s throw to the plate.
Blaine Hardy (5-3) got the win with a scoreless 10th.
The Tigers were two outs away from the first combined no-hitter in franchise history, but Neftali Feliz, making his debut as the Tigers’ closer after Bruce Rondon was sent home earlier in the day, couldn’t finish it.
With one out, Tyler Saladino tripled to break up the no-hitter and Adam Eaton, who had broken up Detroit’s attempt at a perfect game by being hit with a pitch in the seventh, tied the game with a single.
Daniel Norris, who was on a limit of 60-65 pitches in his second start back from an oblique injury, threw five perfect innings before being lifted. Norris was the second Tigers starter this year to be pulled before allowing a hit — Alex Wilson threw three hitless innings in a bullpen start on May 27.
Buck Farmer replaced Norris and kept the perfect game going through six innings, then turned the game over to Ian Krol for the seventh.
Krol ended the perfect game drama by hitting Eaton with his second pitch, but got through the rest of the inning without allowing a hit.
Meanwhile, the Tigers weren’t able to put anything together against Jose Quintana until the bottom of the seventh. With one out, J.D. Martinez singled, took second on Nick Castellanos’ hit and easily beat Eaton’s throw when James McCann lined a single into centre.
Drew VerHagen pitched a perfect eighth, although a replay review was needed to overturn a throwing error by Castellanos.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: Chicago has only used eight starting pitchers this season, tied for the fewest in the majors, but Monday’s double-header means they will need to use a ninth — rookie Frankie Montas will start Wednesday.
Tigers: Detroit sent Rondon home for the season for what Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said were "effort" issues. Rondon inherited the closing job after Joakim Soria was sent to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, and converted five of nine chances.
UP NEXT
The teams finish the four-game series with Montas (0-0, 1.13) facing Detroit’s Justin Verlander (3-8, 3.46). Montas has allowed one run in eight innings over five relief appearances since making his major league debut on Sept. 2.
