Levine: White Sox Come Up Short In Latest Loss

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Coming back to win ball games hadn't been the calling card for recent Chicago White Sox teams.

This 2016 version has been feisty and resilient in the methodical way they have put together a 10-6 start. Although Chicago has averaged just three runs a game, it has fought to the end. The White Sox did so again Thursday, this time in a 3-2 home loss to the Tigers -- a setback that didn't have the gloom-and-doom feel of 2015 endings.

"We have been playing well," said third baseman Todd Frazier, who homered with two outs in the ninth inning to cut the deficit to one. "We have not been getting eight, nine, 10 runs a game, but we have been winning. If the pitchers do their jobs and we find a way to get a couple of runs, we will take 2-1 wins every day of the week."

White Sox left-hander John Danks struggled with his command but hung in for six innings, allowing two runs.

"I was able to make some pitches when I had to," said Danks, who surrendered a two-run homer to Mike Trout in the fifth inning. "There were a couple of points when I needed a ground ball. The guys were able to make a play behind me. For me, it's getting there. Yes, there certainly is a ways to go, but it's getting there. Maybe without the walks, it's a different ballgame."

A single by Andrelton Simmons preceded Trout's 415 -foot home run. The Angels added a run off of the White Sox bullpen on a suicide squeeze bunt in the ninth. Carlos Perez's second attempt on the squeeze was the charm and added the eventual difference-making run.

Frazier's solo shot off of closer Houston Street was followed by two walks and then a warning-track fly out by Austin Jackson that just missed leaving the yard.

"The wind was blowing in a little bit," manager Robin Ventura said. "I think in the summer that probably goes. It didn't sound like he got it as well as he could of. I appreciate and like the effort in the ninth inning. We were able to bring the winning run to the plate and were able to grind out ninth inning. So, I really like that about our team."

A failed attempt by White Sox pinch-runner Tyler Saladino to get a lead and steal a base resulted in a pick-off with one out in the eighth and his team trailing 2-1.

"He was just trying to pick a pitch to go on," Ventura said. "They got him. He is one of our better base-stealing (guys), and they picked a good time to get him."

Danks was looking for his first win of the season. The gritty nine-year veteran has been on thin ice with two dud performances before his gutsy outing Thursday.

"He was bobbing and weaving all day," Ventura said. "I don't know if his control was all that great. He got ground balls when he needed it, outside of getting hurt by the homer. Other than that, he was able to find his way out of it, a little Harry Houdini to get out of some jams. After that, I thought the bullpen did a pretty good job."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.