Holaday's ninth-inning RBI bunt lifts Tigers to 4-3 win over White Sox

Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander throws during the first inning.

CHICAGO — Bryan Holaday saw an opening and took advantage.

Holaday drove in Austin Jackson with a two-out bunt single in the ninth, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Holaday said he focused on White Sox third baseman Marcus Semien before going for the bunt hit against Ronald Belisario.

“I noticed he was staring in and then he backed up and I thought I had a good chance to lay it down,” the catcher said.

Jackson bolted for home while Holaday beat the throw to first. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he was calling for the bunt, but he wasn’t sure if the message ever got to Holaday.

“I don’t know if he heard us or saw it on his own and took advantage,” Ausmus said.

“(Holaday) is not a speed merchant but he’s not slow. . He’s got the ability to beat it out.”

Jackson started the winning rally when he reached third on a one-out error by right fielder Dayan Viciedo. Belisario (1-3) pitched two innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Holaday, a late lineup addition, went 2 for 4.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana struck out a season-high 10 in six innings, but received a no-decision for the third time this season. The left-hander allowed three runs and eight hits.

Justin Verlander allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings for Detroit. It was the right-hander’s 176th quality start since 2006.

The White Sox jumped ahead with three runs in the third. Adam Eaton doubled home Semien and then scored on Gordon Beckham’s base hit. Adam Dunn drove in Beckham with a two-out double to right.

Detroit got one back on Victor Martinez’s RBI single in the fourth, and then tied with two runs in Quintana’s last inning.

The Tigers collected four straight two-out hits. Torii Hunter’s RBI single scored Miguel Cabrera and Jackson’s base hit drove in Martinez.

“He was doing pretty good, but you run into that part of the lineup, if you’re not perfect, that can happen,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Quintana. “With Cabrera, then you go to Victor, so unless you’re on it and you’re throwing it right where you want, that can happen, it can sneak up on you.”

Quintana struck out Nick Castellanos to close his final inning.

Alejandro De Aza tripled with one out in the seventh but was stranded when Verlander struck out Semien and Eaton.

Verlander walked three and struck out four.

“I was a little out of rhythm after six days off,” he said. “After the third inning I kind of established a rhythm and got back to the way I should and have some quick innings.”

Tigers catcher Nick Avila was a late scratch with lower back spasms. He was replaced about 2½ hours prior to the game by Holaday.

NOTES: Ausmus said RHP Anibal Sanchez’s finger “looked good” and he is scheduled to do informal throwing today. Sanchez was placed on the disabled list April 27 with a laceration on his right middle finger, and that “rawness kind of seems to have gone away,” Ausmus said. “It’s just a matter now of building up the skin on the end of that finger where it can take the friction of a baseball coming off of it again.” ... The Tigers entered Tuesday after two days off having played just 21 games - the fewest in baseball. ... White Sox left-hander Chris Sale, sidelined with a left flexor strain, remains unlikely to pitch into this weekend.