Sept. 24--The Tigers jumped on White Sox rookie Frankie Montas for six runs in three innings on the way to a 7-4 victory Wednesday at Comerica Park. In the first inning of his first major-league start, Montas gave up a two-run homer to Victor Martinez, and he allowed four in the third as the Sox settled for a split of the four-game series.
Turning point
After the Tigers loaded the bases in the third on two singles, a Geovany Soto throwing error and an intentional walk, J.D. Martinez hit a two-run ground-rule double to push the Tigers ahead 4-0.
On the bases
Jose Abreu walked in the first but was doubled off when he didn't see Trayce Thompson fly out to right field and didn't attempt to make it back. Mike Olt was caught stealing on a bad slide in the third.
Key at-bat
After the Sox loaded the bases against Justin Verlander down 7-3 in the seventh, Soto struck out to end the inning.
Key number
100 -- Career homers for Melky Cabrera, who hit a two-run shot in the fourth. He was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs.
The quote
"Victor, I throw a good pitch, and he made good contact with my fastball. He's a really good hitter." -- Montas
The quote II
"When he goes through the beginning of the game, he'll ease his way through it and pitch. ... Now he builds on that. Even when he got in a tight spot there in the end, he was able to find another gear and crank it up there in the high 90s." -- Sox manager Robin Ventura on Verlander
Up next
At Yankees, 6:05 p.m. Thursday, CSN.
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