Matthew Boyd's Six Strikeouts Lead Tigers to Win
Boyd's sixth win of the season ties him for the American League lead
Tigers offense provides just enough support in 3-2 victory over White Sox
DETROIT -- Matthew Boyd turned in another strong outing, striking out six over 5 1/3 innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.
Boyd (6-4) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks. He threw 89 pitches, 57 for strikes.
The Tigers offense provided just enough support for Boyd, scoring three runs on six hits and two walks.
John Hicks drove in two runs with a double in the first inning, and Jeimer Candelario added an RBI single in the third.
The White Sox scored their runs on a groundout by Leury Garcia in the second inning and a sacrifice fly by Jose Abreu in the fourth.
Shane Greene worked the ninth for his 20th save of the season.
The Tigers improved to 37-39 with the win, while the White Sox fell to 32-44.
Boyd's strikeouts key to Tigers' victory
Boyd was sharp from the start, striking out the side in the first inning.
He allowed a run in the second on Garcia's groundout, but retired the next seven batters he faced.
Boyd ran into trouble in the fourth, loading the bases with two outs.
But he escaped the jam by getting Abreu to fly out to center field.
Boyd was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning.
"I felt good tonight," Boyd said. "I was able to locate my fastball and changeup well, and I was able to get some strikeouts when I needed them."
Tigers offense provides just enough support
The Tigers offense was quiet for much of the game, but they came up with some big hits when they needed them.
Hicks' double in the first inning gave the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
Candelario's single in the third made it 3-1.
The Tigers had a chance to add to their lead in the fourth, but they stranded two runners on base.
They also had a chance to add to their lead in the sixth, but they grounded into a double play with runners on first and second.
"We didn't get a lot of hits tonight, but we got the big hits when we needed them," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's what good teams do."
Greene locks down the win
Greene worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his 20th save of the season.
He struck out two batters and induced a groundout.
"I'm just trying to throw strikes and let my defense work behind me," Greene said. "I know they're going to make plays for me, so I just try to do my job."
Conclusion
The Tigers' win was their third in a row, and it moved them into a tie for third place in the American League Central.
Boyd's outing was a big reason for the win, and he is now tied for the American League lead in wins.
The Tigers will look to continue their winning ways when they face the White Sox again on Wednesday night at Comerica Park.
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