DETROIT _ James Shields remained winless in his last 11 starts _ matching his longest winless streak last season _ as the Sox fell to the Tigers 3-2 in the series finale at Comerica Park.
Sox designated hitter Jose Rondon made it interesting with a two-out home run to left field in the ninth inning, and Daniel Palka followed with an infield single, but Tigers closer Shane Greene struck out Yoan Moncada with an 82 mph slider to end the game.
Before the game manager Rick Renteria said Shields typically "minimizes early damage and complications," and there were a few spots where Shields was in damage control.
In a two-run fifth inning in which Dixon Machado and Nicholas Castellanos singled in runs, Shields walked Jeimer Candelario to load the bases. After a huddle on the mound, Shields served Victor Martinez a couple of knuckle curves before getting him to pop out on a near-90 mph fastball.
In the seventh, Shields dropped a nasty 67-mph curveball on Leonys Martin then sauntered off the field. Since last season, the 36-year-old veteran has developed a repertoire of slower pitches to throw off hitters.
For the third outing in a row, Shields lasted at least seven innings. On Sunday, he gave up three earned runs, allowed five hits, walked three and struck out four.
Aaron Bummer got into a jam with runners on first and third in the eighth, but John Hicks grounded to shortstop Tim Anderson, who turned a double play with Moncada and Abreu.
The Sox were trying to string back-to-back wins at Comerica Park for the first time since last April.
