Tigers error produces White Sox win

The Tigers' Zach Miner explains to catcher Ivan Rodriguez his strategy for pitching the ninth inning. The White Sox's Scott Podsednik crossed up the Tigers and he scored on Miner's error.

CHICAGO - White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen enjoyed seeing a little speed on the basepaths.

Scott Podsednik scored from first base on pitcher Zach Miner's throwing error in the ninth inning, and Chicago beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 yesterday to take three of five in the series against the defending AL champions.

"I always loved speed," Guillen said. "Obviously power is part of the game, but with speed you can make a lot of things happen. And I think [without] Scotty being here almost all year obviously our lineup is not the same. When you got speed and they get on base a lot of good things can happen and that's what we've been missing."

Podsednik, who came off the disabled list Tuesday after recovering from a strained left rib cage and finishing a five-game rehab stint at Triple-A Charlotte, stole 59 bases for the White Sox in 2005, but has been bothered by a number of injuries since. He has only played in 23 games for Chicago this season.

The White Sox had been 0-4-3 in home series since winning two of three against Oakland from May 21-23.

Podsednik led off the ninth with a base hit against Miner (1-3) and Josh Fields sacrificed. Miner bobbled the ball and then made a bad throw to second baseman Placido Polanco, who was covering first base.

"I tried to rush it before I had a grip on it. I threw a knuckleball or something over Polanco's head. It's definitely not the way you want to lose," Miner said.

The ball went into foul territory down the right-field line, and Ryan Raburn's throw to the plate was too late to get Podsednik.

With the ball in right, third base coach Razor Shines didn't hesitate to send Podsednik home.

"I get a kick out of Razor. He gets pumped up," Podsednik said. "He gets excited to wave guys around."

Bobby Jenks (3-4) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory, Chicago's fifth in nine games against the Tigers this season.

Justin Verlander allowed just three runs and three hits in seven-plus innings for the Tigers. Verlander remained at 11-3, receiving his second straight no-decision after a stretch in which he won six of seven starts.

"He was good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We were hoping to get one more out from him and couldn't do it."

The Tigers have lost five of their last eight.

"We've been through this situation before," Verlander said. "We went through it last year and I think it helps us. We know we're going to lose some games."

John Danks gave up three runs and six hits in 62/3 innings for Chicago.

Omar Infante's third-inning homer put Detroit ahead 1-0. Infante at first thought he walked on four straight pitches, dropped his bat and took a few steps toward first. After plate umpire Chad Fairchild called the pitch a strike, Infante followed with his second homer of the season - and second in his last six games.

Podsednik hit an RBI double in the fourth and Josh Fields' run-scoring grounder put the White Sox ahead 2-1. Run-scoring singles by Polanco and Mike Hessman - a hard grounder to third that short-hopped Fields - gave Detroit the lead in the sixth.

Tadahito Iguchi singled leading off the eighth to chase Verlander. Bobby Seay entered and walked Jim Thome before he was replaced by Miner. Paul Konerko then walked and A.J. Pierzynski followed with a tying double-play grounder.

Notes: Detroit designated hitter Gary Sheffield missed his second straight game with a sore right shoulder. White Sox outfielder Jerry Owens had his 10-game hitting streak snapped.