CHICAGO — The Detroit Tigers have turned bullpen games into a work of art over the last two seasons.
This one didn’t work out.
Four Detroit relievers gave up runs, and the Tigers’ offense sputtered in an 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night at Rate Field.
The Tigers (40-22) snapped an 11-game winning streak at Rate Field dating to 2023. They’ve split the first two games of the four-game series with the Sox (19-42).
In the sixth, the White Sox reached on two infield hits against Tigers lefty Tyler Holton, then veteran outfielder Michael A. Taylor crushed a three-run homer to left.
The Tigers answered back with their only run in the top of the seventh when Wenceel Pérez singled and scored on Dillon Dingler’s double.
The White Sox got on the board in the fourth when reliever Brenan Hanifee made a wild throw to second on what could have been a double-play comebacker. Instead, everyone was safe. Hanifee walked the next two batters, forcing in a run, but got a big strikeout of Vinny Capra to strand the bases loaded.
White Sox rookie starter Shane Smith pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out six.
The Sox tacked on two insurance runs against Tigers rookie Dylan Smith in the seventh.
The Tigers’ last real threat fizzled when Dingler hit a sharp lineout to right field with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning.
This story will be updated.
BOX SCORE
Up next: The Tigers and White Sox play again on Wednesday at 7:40 p.m. Eastern time.
The Tigers plan to reinstate right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long from the 60-day injured list to make his first MLB appearance since 2023. The White Sox originally listed right-hander Sean Burke (3-6, 4.20 ERA) as the starter, but have since changed it to TBA.
Gipson-Long, 27, played college ball at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., and was drafted in the sixth round by the Minnesota Twins in 2019.
He was traded to the Tigers for reliever Michael Fulmer at the deadline in 2022.
Before undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, Gipson-Long impressed the Tigers with four late-season starts in 2023, posting a 2.70 ERA while striking out 26 and walking eight in 20 innings.