DETROIT  — The Chicago White Sox know they are running out of time.

The White Sox came up against overwhelming AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander on Friday night and lost 8-1 to the first-place Detroit Tigers.

The loss drops Chicago into third place in the AL Central, 61/2 games behind Detroit. Chicago has five games remaining against the Tigers this season, including the final two of this series.

“We’re almost out of games,” said White Sox starter John Danks, who struggled badly on the mound. “We have to win a lot more than we lost from here on out. We’re going to have to win out against the Tigers, and we’re still going to need some help.”

The White Sox had won five of six, but didn’t score off Verlander until the eighth inning.

“They definitely had everything rolling tonight, and they had their big gun out there,” Chicago’s Juan Pierre said. “He pretty much went through us any way he wanted.”

Verlander (21-5) improved to 19-2 since May 1, allowing one run on seven hits in 7 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out six in Jim Leyland’s 500th win as Tigers manager.

“I didn’t change my game plan when we were leading 3-0 early, but once it got to be 8-0, I started throwing first-pitch fastballs,” he said. “I figured if they were hacking, I could get some quick outs. It hurt me a little in the eighth, but you certainly can’t complain about a game like this.”

On a 95-degree day, Danks (6-10) never came close to matching Verlander, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks in 4 2-3 innings.

“Danks wasn’t around the plate, and he was facing a pretty good hitting club that is swinging the bats well,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

After Verlander needed just six pitches in the top of the first, Detroit staked him to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Jackson led off with a single, took second on Magglio Ordonez’s groundout and scored on Delmon Young’s triple. Young came home on Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single, and Cabrera then stunned the sold-out crowd of 42,352 by stealing second base.

That put him in position to score on Alex Avila’s single.

“That was all Miggy’s doing — don’t give me any credit for that one,” Leyland said. “He saw that Danks wasn’t paying attention and he got the base. That’s a huge play, because it gets us a run.”

Against Verlander, Guillen knew the game was almost over after one inning.

“When it is 3-0 in the first inning against that guy, you’ve got a pretty rough slope to climb,” he said.

The score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the fifth, with the White Sox only putting one runner in scoring position.

Brandon Inge led off Detroit’s fifth with a single, and scored on Jackson’s ninth homer of the season.

A single and two walks loaded the bases with two out, and Guillen pulled Danks in favor of Josh Kinney. The move didn’t pay off, as Peralta lined a bases-clearing double to give the Tigers their eight-run lead.

Tyler Flowers broke up Verlander’s shutout with a 425-foot homer on the first pitch of the eighth, and Chicago loaded the bases with one out before Joaquin Benoit came out of the bullpen. Paul Konerko flew out to left, and A.J. Pierzynski lined out to Cabrera at first.

NOTES: Tigers reliever Alberto Alburquerque is expected to throw an inning for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday before rejoining Detroit. Alburquerque has been sidelined with a concussion since being hit with a liner in batting practice on August 12. … Chicago’s Eduardo Escobar made his major-league debut, replacing Alexei Ramirez at shortstop in the seventh inning. Shane Lindsay, the first Australian to play for the White Sox, started his career by pitching the eighth. … Verlander has thrown at least six innings and 100 pitches in all 30 starts this season. … The teams play again Saturday afternoon, with Detroit’s Brad Penny (9-10) against Chicago’s Gavin Floyd (12-10).

The Chicago White Sox know they are running out of time.

The White Sox came up against overwhelming AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander on Friday night and lost 8-1 to the first-place Detroit Tigers.

The loss drops Chicago into third place in the AL Central, 6½ games behind Detroit. Chicago has five games remaining against the Tigers this season, including the final two of this series.

“We’re almost out of games,” said White Sox starter John Danks, who struggled badly on the mound. “We have to win a lot more than we lost from here on out. We’re going to have to win out against the Tigers, and we’re still going to need some help.”

The White Sox had won five of six, but didn’t score off Verlander until the eighth inning.

“They definitely had everything rolling tonight, and they had their big gun out there,” Chicago’s Juan Pierre said. “He pretty much went through us any way he wanted.”

Verlander (21-5) improved to 19-2 since May 1, allowing one run on seven hits in 7 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out six in Jim Leyland’s 500th win as Tigers manager.

“I didn’t change my game plan when we were leading 3-0 early, but once it got to be 8-0, I started throwing first-pitch fastballs,” he said. “I figured if they were hacking, I could get some quick outs. It hurt me a little in the eighth, but you certainly can’t complain about a game like this.”

On a 95-degree day, Danks (6-10) never came close to matching Verlander, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks in 4 2-3 innings.

“Danks wasn’t around the plate, and he was facing a pretty good hitting club that is swinging the bats well,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

After Verlander needed just six pitches in the top of the first, Detroit staked him to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Jackson led off with a single, took second on Magglio Ordonez’s groundout and scored on Delmon Young’s triple. Young came home on Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single, and Cabrera then stunned the sold-out crowd of 42,352 by stealing second base.

That put him in position to score on Alex Avila’s single.

“That was all Miggy’s doing — don’t give me any credit for that one,” Leyland said. “He saw that Danks wasn’t paying attention and he got the base. That’s a huge play, because it gets us a run.”

Against Verlander, Guillen knew the game was almost over after one inning.

“When it is 3-0 in the first inning against that guy, you’ve got a pretty rough slope to climb,” he said.

The score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the fifth, with the White Sox only putting one runner in scoring position.

Brandon Inge led off Detroit’s fifth with a single, and scored on Jackson’s ninth homer of the season.

A single and two walks loaded the bases with two out, and Guillen pulled Danks in favor of Josh Kinney. The move didn’t pay off, as Peralta lined a bases-clearing double to give the Tigers their eight-run lead.

Tyler Flowers broke up Verlander’s shutout with a 425-foot homer on the first pitch of the eighth, and Chicago loaded the bases with one out before Joaquin Benoit came out of the bullpen. Paul Konerko flew out to left, and A.J. Pierzynski lined out to Cabrera at first.

NOTES: Tigers reliever Alberto Alburquerque is expected to throw an inning for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday before rejoining Detroit. Alburquerque has been sidelined with a concussion since being hit with a liner in batting practice on August 12. … Chicago’s Eduardo Escobar made his major-league debut, replacing Alexei Ramirez at shortstop in the seventh inning. Shane Lindsay, the first Australian to play for the White Sox, started his career by pitching the eighth. … Verlander has thrown at least six innings and 100 pitches in all 30 starts this season. … The teams play again Saturday afternoon, with Detroit’s Brad Penny (9-10) against Chicago’s Gavin Floyd (12-10).

The Chicago White Sox take aim at their fourth straight win
this evening when they open a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at
U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox enter this series six games back of the Detroit Tigers in the
American League Central and will meet the frontrunners later this week. But,
first they face a Minnesota team that has been a thorn in their sides this
season, taking seven of the 11 matchups, including five of the six played in
Chicago.

“We have to try to win most series we can,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen
said. “That’s all you can control. You can’t go out there and say we have to
sweep Minnesota and Detroit and Cleveland. It sounds nice but not realistic.
Try to get two out of three if you can. Try to not get swept and hopefully at
end of the day, you are close and have a big punch.”

The White Sox took care of business this past weekend, sweeping a three-game
set from the Seattle Mariners. On Sunday, Tyler Flowers hit a grand slam in a
six-run sixth inning as Chicago rolled to a 9-3 win.

Dayan Viciedo added a three-run homer for the White Sox, winners of three in a
row and five of seven. Paul Konerko contributed three hits, an RBI and scored
twice in the rout.

Gavin Floyd (12-10) ended up allowing five hits and a pair of runs while
fanning six over 7 1/3 innings for the win.

“It was an all-around good ballgame,” said Floyd. “To get run support is
nice.”

Getting the call tonight for the Pale Hose will be left-hander Mark Buehrle,
who is 10-6 with a 3.19 ERA. Buehrle did not get a decision on Tuesday in
Anaheim, as he allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits in six innings
of a 5-4 loss.

Buehrle beat the Twins the last time he faced them and has allowed just one
earned run in 23 innings against them. In fact his 26 wins against the Twins
are more than any other active pitcher has against a single opponent.

Minnesota will counter with righty Kevin Slowey, who has lost both of his
starts this season. Slowey was defeated by Baltimore on Wednesday, as he
surrendered five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He had allowed six runs
in his previous assignment and is 0-2 on the year with a 6.84 ERA.

Slowey has faced the White Sox eight times (seven starts) and is 2-3 against
them with a 6.39 ERA.

Minnesota helped the White Sox out on Sunday and stopped a seven-game losing
streak in the process, as Luke Hughes homered twice and knocked in five runs,
helping the Twins get past the Tigers, 11-4.

“You’ve got to go out to the ballpark ready to play every day,” said Hughes.
“If you don’t, they’ll find someone else to do that.”

It was only Minnesota’s sixth win in the last 27 games, and the second victory
of a completed 11-game homestand.

Brian Duensing (9-13) pitched six innings for the win, giving up four runs –
three earned — on seven hits. The 28-year-old lefty snapped an 0-5 streak and
won for the first time since July 27.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BALTIMORE (AP)—Scoring four runs before making an out, the Chicago White
Sox made it easy for Mark Buehrle(notes) to reach double figures in wins for an 11
straight season.

Buehrle pitched eight innings to earn his 10th win, Alexei Ramirez(notes) homered
in a four-run first, and Chicago cruised past the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 Thursday
night.

Juan Pierre(notes) had three hits and two RBIs for the White Sox, who took three of
four from the Orioles to complete a 6-1 road trip. Chicago is 58-59, but that’s
good enough to be four games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

“Any other division we’re looking at offseason plans like fishing. But in
this division were still in the middle of it,” Pierre said. “Without a doubt
the best road trip we have had all year. Everything clicked all throughout the
lineup.”

Pierre led off the first inning with a single and Ramirez hit Chris
Tillman’s(notes) eighth pitch into the left-field seats. Paul Konerko(notes) doubled and
scored on a double by Carlos Quentin(notes), and A.J. Pierzynski(notes) followed with another
double to make it 4-0 on the 16th offering by Tillman, who needed 32 pitches to
retire the side.

That was enough support for Buehrle, who hadn’t given up more than three
runs in a game since April 22.

“With Buehrle on the mound throwing the ball the way he has been the last
few months, you feel comfortable,” manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Buehrle (10-5) gave up three runs and six hits, struck out six and walked
none. The left-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in 18 straight starts,
matching the club record set by Frank Smith in 1909, according to research by
the Elias Sports Bureau.

Buehrle is 4-0 in his last five starts, and his run of 10-win seasons is a
franchise record. In this one, the early cushion didn’t hurt.

“You still to go out there and pitch, but any time you get runs early in
the game it helps out, especially before you take the mound,” Buehrle said.
“The goal I always go for is to go deep in the game, have us score runs and
have the bullpen protect your leads.”

Sergio Santos(notes) worked a perfect ninth for his 25th save. Santos set a major
league record by starting the season with 25 straight scoreless appearances on
the road, breaking the mark set by Mariano Rivera(notes) in 2005. He has a 30-game
scoreless run on the road over two seasons.

Nick Markakis(notes) hit his 100th career home run for the Orioles, who have lost
seven of nine. Tillman (3-5) didn’t get an out until his 20th pitch and ended up
giving up six runs and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings.

“You see Buehrle out there, and as soon as it goes 4- and 6-0, it just
plays right into his hands,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He takes
your aggressiveness and uses it against you. He has so many things to speed you
up and slow you down. If you had to pick a guy to pitch when you get in that
situation, he’s a blueprint.”

Tillman escaped damage in the second despite giving up a leadoff double to
Pierre but couldn’t get out of the third. Adam Dunn(notes) walked and took third on a
single by Brent Morel(notes), who took an extra base when Markakis attempted to throw
out Dunn at third. Pierre followed with a two-run single off the glove of first
baseman Chris Davis(notes) for a 6-0 lead.

In the bottom half, Nolan Reimold(notes) doubled and scored on a single by J.J.
Hardy(notes) before Markakis launched a shot over the right-field scoreboard.

After Baltimore put runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth,
Buehrle struck out Markakis. The Orioles had only one baserunner the rest of the
way—Reimold, who beat out a grounder with two outs in the seventh.

NOTES: After the game Tillman was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. …
Pierzynski finished with three hits and went 10 for 17 in the series to raise
his batting average 15 points to .295. … The teams split the eight-game season
series. … The White Sox head home to face the Kansas City Royals in a
three-game series that begins Friday. Zach Stewart(notes) (1-1) will pitch for Chicago,
the only AL team with a losing record at home (24-32) and a winning record
(34-27) on the road. The White Sox have won eight of nine road games. …
Baltimore begins a three-game set against Detroit on Friday night. Alfredo Simon(notes)
will pitch for the Orioles, still in search of their first series win since June
24-26 against Cincinnati. … The Orioles have lost nine of their last 10
series finales. … It was the 20th anniversary of the no-hitter that Chicago’s
Wilson Alvarez threw against the Orioles at Memorial Stadium.

BALTIMORE (AP)—Scoring four runs before making an out, the Chicago White
Sox made it easy for Mark Buehrle(notes) to reach double figures in wins for an 11
straight season.

Buehrle pitched eight innings to earn his 10th win, Alexei Ramirez(notes) homered
in a four-run first, and Chicago cruised past the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 Thursday
night.

Juan Pierre(notes) had three hits and two RBIs for the White Sox, who took three of
four from the Orioles to complete a 6-1 road trip. Chicago is 58-59, but that’s
good enough to be four games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

“Any other division we’re looking at offseason plans like fishing. But in
this division were still in the middle of it,” Pierre said. “Without a doubt
the best road trip we have had all year. Everything clicked all throughout the
lineup.”

Pierre led off the first inning with a single and Ramirez hit Chris
Tillman’s(notes) eighth pitch into the left-field seats. Paul Konerko(notes) doubled and
scored on a double by Carlos Quentin(notes), and A.J. Pierzynski(notes) followed with another
double to make it 4-0 on the 16th offering by Tillman, who needed 32 pitches to
retire the side.

That was enough support for Buehrle, who hadn’t given up more than three
runs in a game since April 22.

“With Buehrle on the mound throwing the ball the way he has been the last
few months, you feel comfortable,” manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Buehrle (10-5) gave up three runs and six hits, struck out six and walked
none. The left-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in 18 straight starts,
matching the club record set by Frank Smith in 1909, according to research by
the Elias Sports Bureau.

Buehrle is 4-0 in his last five starts, and his run of 10-win seasons is a
franchise record. In this one, the early cushion didn’t hurt.

“You still to go out there and pitch, but any time you get runs early in
the game it helps out, especially before you take the mound,” Buehrle said.
“The goal I always go for is to go deep in the game, have us score runs and
have the bullpen protect your leads.”

Sergio Santos(notes) worked a perfect ninth for his 25th save. Santos set a major
league record by starting the season with 25 straight scoreless appearances on
the road, breaking the mark set by Mariano Rivera(notes) in 2005. He has a 30-game
scoreless run on the road over two seasons.

Nick Markakis(notes) hit his 100th career home run for the Orioles, who have lost
seven of nine. Tillman (3-5) didn’t get an out until his 20th pitch and ended up
giving up six runs and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings.

“You see Buehrle out there, and as soon as it goes 4- and 6-0, it just
plays right into his hands,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He takes
your aggressiveness and uses it against you. He has so many things to speed you
up and slow you down. If you had to pick a guy to pitch when you get in that
situation, he’s a blueprint.”

Tillman escaped damage in the second despite giving up a leadoff double to
Pierre but couldn’t get out of the third. Adam Dunn(notes) walked and took third on a
single by Brent Morel(notes), who took an extra base when Markakis attempted to throw
out Dunn at third. Pierre followed with a two-run single off the glove of first
baseman Chris Davis(notes) for a 6-0 lead.

In the bottom half, Nolan Reimold(notes) doubled and scored on a single by J.J.
Hardy(notes) before Markakis launched a shot over the right-field scoreboard.

After Baltimore put runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth,
Buehrle struck out Markakis. The Orioles had only one baserunner the rest of the
way—Reimold, who beat out a grounder with two outs in the seventh.

NOTES: After the game Tillman was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. …
Pierzynski finished with three hits and went 10 for 17 in the series to raise
his batting average 15 points to .295. … The teams split the eight-game season
series. … The White Sox head home to face the Kansas City Royals in a
three-game series that begins Friday. Zach Stewart(notes) (1-1) will pitch for Chicago,
the only AL team with a losing record at home (24-32) and a winning record
(34-27) on the road. The White Sox have won eight of nine road games. …
Baltimore begins a three-game set against Detroit on Friday night. Alfredo Simon(notes)
will pitch for the Orioles, still in search of their first series win since June
24-26 against Cincinnati. … The Orioles have lost nine of their last 10
series finales. … It was the 20th anniversary of the no-hitter that Chicago’s
Wilson Alvarez threw against the Orioles at Memorial Stadium.

Juan Pierre had three hits and two RBIs for the White Sox, who took three of four from the Orioles to complete a 6-1 road trip. Chicago is 58-59, but that’s good enough to be four games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

“Any other division we’re looking at offseason plans like fishing. But in this division were still in the middle of it,” Pierre said. “Without a doubt the best road trip we have had all year. Everything clicked all throughout the lineup.”

Pierre led off the first inning with a single and Ramirez hit Chris Tillman’s eighth pitch into the left-field seats. Paul Konerko doubled and scored on a double by Carlos Quentin, and A.J. Pierzynski followed with another double to make it 4-0 on the 16th offering by Tillman, who needed 32 pitches to retire the side.

That was enough support for Buehrle, who hadn’t given up more than three runs in a game since April 22.

“With Buehrle on the mound throwing the ball the way he has been the last few months, you feel comfortable,” manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Buehrle (10-5) gave up three runs and six hits, struck out six and walked none. The left-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in 18 straight starts, matching the club record set by Frank Smith in 1909, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau.

Buehrle is 4-0 in his last five starts, and his run of 10-win seasons is a franchise record. In this one, the early cushion didn’t hurt.

“You still to go out there and pitch, but any time you get runs early in the game it helps out, especially before you take the mound,” Buehrle said. “The goal I always go for is to go deep in the game, have us score runs and have the bullpen protect your leads.”

Sergio Santos worked a perfect ninth for his 25th save. Santos set a major league record by starting the season with 25 straight scoreless appearances on the road, breaking the mark set by Mariano Rivera in 2005. He has a 30-game scoreless run on the road over two seasons.

Nick Markakis hit his 100th career home run for the Orioles, who have lost seven of nine. Tillman (3-5) didn’t get an out until his 20th pitch and ended up giving up six runs and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings.

“You see Buehrle out there, and as soon as it goes 4- and 6-0, it just plays right into his hands,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He takes your aggressiveness and uses it against you. He has so many things to speed you up and slow you down. If you had to pick a guy to pitch when you get in that situation, he’s a blueprint.”

Tillman escaped damage in the second despite giving up a leadoff double to Pierre but couldn’t get out of the third. Adam Dunn walked and took third on a single by Brent Morel, who took an extra base when Markakis attempted to throw out Dunn at third. Pierre followed with a two-run single off the glove of first baseman Chris Davis for a 6-0 lead.

In the bottom half, Nolan Reimold doubled and scored on a single by J.J. Hardy before Markakis launched a shot over the right-field scoreboard.

After Baltimore put runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth, Buehrle struck out Markakis. The Orioles had only one baserunner the rest of the way — Reimold, who beat out a grounder with two outs in the seventh.

NOTES: After the game Tillman was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. … Pierzynski finished with three hits and went 10 for 17 in the series to raise his batting average 15 points to .295. … The teams split the eight-game season series. … The White Sox head home to face the Kansas City Royals in a three-game series that begins Friday. Zach Stewart (1-1) will pitch for Chicago, the only AL team with a losing record at home (24-32) and a winning record (34-27) on the road. The White Sox have won eight of nine road games. … Baltimore begins a three-game set against Detroit on Friday night. Alfredo Simon will pitch for the Orioles, still in search of their first series win since June 24-26 against Cincinnati. … The Orioles have lost nine of their last 10 series finales. … It was the 20th anniversary of the no-hitter that Chicago’s Wilson Alvarez threw against the Orioles at Memorial Stadium.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.