CHICAGO — Jake Peavy pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Dayan Viciedo homered and made a key catch Friday as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in their home opener.

Peavy (1-0) took a one-hitter and a 3-0 lead into the seventh. He walked Miguel Cabrera and Delmon Young’s two-out, two-run homer finished him.

Alex Avila singled off reliever Will Ohman and Jhonny Peralta followed with a double against Addison Reed before Viciedo made a diving catch of Andy Dirks’ sinking liner to left field to end the inning.

In the eighth, Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez made a nice stop and shovel to second, starting an inning-ending double play after the Tigers had runners at first and third.

Viciedo hit his first homer with two outs in the fifth to break up a scoreless duel between Peavy and Max Scherzer (0-1). Paul Konerko had an RBI single with two outs in the sixth and then just barely beat the throw home to score on A.J. Pierzynski’s triple into the right-field corner, making it 3-0.

Brent Morel hit an RBI single for Chicago in the eighth after Young misplayed Alejandro De Aza’s fly ball into triple. Morel eventually scored on a wild pitch by Brayan Villarreal.

Hector Santiago pitched the ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Peavy, whose stint with Chicago has been since slowed by injuries since coming to the White Sox in a trade with San Diego late in the 2009 season, allowed only two hits. He struck out eight and walked one in 6 2-3 innings.

Peavy retired the first 10 batters before Brennan Boesch singled sharply to right with one in the fourth.

Scherzer (0-1), who gave up eight hits and seven runs in just 2 2-3 innings in his first start this season against the Red Sox, was much more effective in his second outing.

Scherzer struck out 11, walked one and allowed five hits and three runs in six innings.

NOTES: The teams combined to strike out 25 times — 15 by White Sox batters,  including four by Adam Dunn. … Robin Ventura became the sixth straight White Sox manager to win his debut at U.S. Cellular Field. He and Konerko got loud ovations during introductions. “You feel like you grew up here, so in a lot of ways, it’s coming home,” said the low-key Ventura, who spent a decade as Chicago’s third baseman. Konerko said the communication from Ventura has been good early in the season. “Robin doesn’t say a whole bunch so when he does you know he means it and you pay attention to it.” … The game was delayed nearly 10 minutes in the top of the first when Tigers star Miguel Cabrera pointed out that the batter’s box wasn’t the right size. The grounds crew wiped out the original and created another box with a frame that had to be brought in from center field. … The announced sellout crowd was 38,676. … Tigers INF Brandon Inge could rejoin the club Saturday after an injury rehab (groin) rehab for Triple-A Toledo. …  Adam Wilk (0-0) goes for Detroit on Saturday against Gavin Floyd (0-1). …… Former major league pitcher Kevin Hickey, who was a batting practice pitcher and pregame instructor with the White Sox, remains hospitalized in Texas undergoing tests. He was taken to the hospital the day before the White Sox’s season opener against the Rangers on April 6.

Philip Humber and J.A. Happ each had a strong start and a shaky finish Wednesday. Both starting pitchers are looking forward to the regular season, too.

J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer and Brian Bogusevic added a solo shot for the Houston Astros, who played the Chicago White Sox to a 5-5 tie on Wednesday in the final exhibition game for both teams.

Humber pitched four scoreless innings before Jose Altuve’s run-scoring double and Martinez’s drive put Houston up 3-2 in the fifth. Humber allowed three runs and five hits with five strikeouts in five innings.

“Especially early on, I felt like I had my good stuff going and everything was working,” he said. “Toward the end, I felt like I was getting a little jumpy and I started rushing my delivery. But overall, I was very pleased with how this spring went.”

Happ gave up two runs and four hits while walking two in five innings for Houston.

Gordon Beckham and Alejandro De Aza hit back-to-back doubles to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the fifth.

“Things were moving and breaking and responding well, and that was a good feeling,” Happ said. “It’s a good sign, and it feels good to throw strikes and feel good with the pitches.”

Chicago’s Jared Mitchell hit a tying solo homer off Kyle Weiland in the seventh inning. Weiland, who earned a spot in Houston’s rotation this spring, allowed a spring-high seven hits with three runs in two innings.

Both teams are off Thursday before opening the season Friday. Houston hosts the Colorado Rockies and the White Sox face the Rangers in Arlington.

Alexei Ramirez had an RBI triple and Kosuke Fukudome singled in run to help the White Sox take a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning.

Houston catcher Jason Castro, who returned this spring after missing the entire 2011 season with a knee injury, had two hits. He is happy with his offensive work this spring, but was more excited about the progress he’s made behind the plate.

“We have a few new guys and I’ve been working on building those relationships with them,” he said of the new pitchers. “That was a big thing for me this spring was getting to know them and getting to know their strengths. I think we’ve learned each other quickly this spring and it’ll only get better as the season gets going.”

Bogusevic’s homer came in the sixth, and Chris Johnson doubled and scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.

Houston center fielder Jordan Schafer started for the second straight day after missing more than two weeks with a sprained left hand. Schafer, Houston’s leadoff hitter who hit .379 this spring, was replaced by a pinch hitter in the eighth and looks to be on track to start on Friday.

NOTES: The Astros finalized their 25-man roster when RHP Henry Sosa cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City and they purchased the contract of OF Travis Buck. … The Astros are still hopeful that SS Jed Lowrie will be able to start on Friday. He has been out since March 28 with a strained right thumb, but manager Brad Mills said he has been feeling much better the last couple of days.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Paul Konerko figures the Chicago White Sox can be successful this season, even if they fall short of the playoffs.

Before the White Sox’s first full-squad workout of spring training Tuesday, Konerko said he wasn’t conceding the season. But he noted that the White Sox have several young players and a new staff led by first-time manager Robin Ventura.

“Cleveland last year, not that they won the division, but all in all I think it was a very successful season.” said Konerko, who is entering his 16th major league season and will turn 36 next Monday. “But this year this (White Sox) team is different from a lot of teams we had recently. I hope I don’t throw anybody off with this — this can be a very successful year without making the playoffs.”

Konerko tempered his comments by saying the Sox could compete, and there’s “a fine line” between first-place division teams and those that finish second and third. If young players such as third baseman Brent Morel, second baseman Gordon Beckham and reliever Addison Reed produce good seasons, that can be a success, Konerko said.

“Those are all good signs it’s moving in the right direction,” said Konerko, who was a candidate for player-manager before the White Sox hired Ventura last October.

The White Sox finished 79-83 and third in the AL Central last season, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Manager Ozzie Guillen and ace Mark Buehrle headed to the Miami Marlins, and the White Sox were left to rebuild.

Ventura said he understood Konerko’s perspective.

“If we play well and play good team baseball, it can be (a success), but we’re obviously looking for more than just that,” Ventura said.

Off-the-field issues distracted the team last season, Konerko said. After managing the team for eight seasons, a stint that included a World Series championship, Guillen was let go in September before the end of the season.

“There were definitely some times late in the year last year there were probably games and days given away because of people worrying about things that were not related to the game of baseball,” Konerko said. “(This year) I don’t see that being an issue. I have a good feeling no matter what happens, whatever our record winds up being, you can look at that record and say, ‘That’s what this team did.’”

Konerko is one of the team’s few remaining veterans. He acknowledged the absence of Buehrle, who spent all 12 of his major-league seasons with the Sox.

“Not seeing Mark’s locker, I don’t know what to say other than it’s not right,” Konerko said.

Konerko said he believes that teammates who struggled last season – including Beckham, Alex Rios and Adam Dunn, who batted .159 last season – can bounce back. He especially sees promise in the 25-year-old Beckham.

“Knowing where he’s at in his head, I think it’s a good place,” he said. “I think he’s going to have a big year.”

Last season, Konerko produced his fifth All-Star season. He hit .300 with 31 home runs and 105 RBIs. He and catcher A.J. Pierzynski are the last remaining members of the 2005 World Series team.

“I’m happy I won a World Series, and I’ll always have that in my pocket. I’d love to get another one, but if I don’t, that’s cool too,” Konerko said. “I look at it this stage in my career, if it means I have to play two or three years, whatever it is, so I can hopefully leave here and help people and try to get this organization back on track, and I leave and those guys do the job, then that’s fine. I think that’s what I owe the team.”

Notes: In his first address to the whole team, Ventura said he emphasized having fun but also taking camp seriously. “We’re here to win games, but it’s important for me and the staff they show up every day and give good effort,” he said.