DETROIT _ J.D. Martinez returned to the Detroit Tigers in style.
He entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and broke a 1-1 tie with a home run on the first pitch he's seen in the big leagues in seven weeks.
Martinez sent a pitch from Chris Sale into the shrubbery in center for his 13th home run of the season. It was his second career pinch-hit home run. Martinez hit for catcher James McCann, who had gone 0-for-2 against Sale.
The Tigers went on to beat the White Sox, 2-1, Wednesday at Comerica Park.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus had said before the game that Martinez was available to hit, but didn't start him in right because he wanted to give him a day to rest after he played in a doubleheader for the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday.
Closer Francisco Rodriguez made his 900th career appearance and earned his 30th save of the season.
Melky Cabrera led off with an infield single, beating a throw by third baseman Andrew Romine. Rodriguez fell behind, 2-0, and went on to walk Jose Abreu.
Justin Morneau, who tied the game with a home run off Michael Fulmer in the seventh inning, flied out to center in the ninth. With runners on the corners, Todd Frazier struck out swinging at a changeup.
K-Rod fell behind 3-0 before giving up a walk to ex-Tiger Avisail Garcia to load the bases with two outs.
Dioner Navarro grounded out to second to end the game.
Sale struck out five of the first seven batters he faced and finished with a season-high 10 strikeouts over eight innings. He allowed two runs on six hits with one walk for the White Sox.
After giving up a leadoff single to Ian Kinsler, Sale struck out Cameron Maybin, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, in the first inning.
Cabrera hustled to turn a line drive single to left into a double to lead off the fourth. Sale gave up a walk to Victor Martinez, who came into the game batting .500 (18-for-36) lifetime against Sale.
Nick Castellanos' RBI double to right gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the fourth. It was Castellanos' 23rd double of the season.
The Tigers tried to add another run in the fourth, but Victor Martinez was thrown out at home by Abreu after Mike Aviles popped out into foul territory.
Rookie right-hander Michael Fulmer allowed one run on five hits over 62/3 innings for the Tigers. He walked one and struck out four.
The Tigers led until Morneau hit a two-out solo home run in the seventh inning. Two of Morneau's three home runs this season have come against Fulmer.
The Tigers helped Fulmer out with three double plays over the first four innings.
Adam Eaton led off the game with a double. With one out., Melky Cabrera lined into a double play at second.
Morneau grounded into a double play after leadoff single by Abreu in the second inning.
After Tim Anderson reached on a throwing error by Jose Iglesias in the fourth inning, Melky Cabrera grounded into another double play.
Fulmer had retired 11 of 12 batters before Morneau homered.
Fulmer then gave up a walk to Todd Frazier and hit Garcia with a pitch. Shane Greene replaced Fulmer and Navarro struck out swinging at a slider.
Greene has inherited 11 runners this season and none have scored. Greene allowed one hit and one walk over 12/3 innings with two strikeouts.
