LATE MONDAY

Porcello dominates error-prone Chicago

Detroit Tigers second baseman Hernan Perez, right, turns the double play, forcing Chicago White Sox's Dayan Viciedo at second and getting Josh Phegley at first during the fourth inning.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello delivers during the first inning.

CHICAGO — Considering Miguel Cabrera was sitting this one out, the Tigers weren’t about to turn away any help. Good thing for them, the White Sox were in a generous mood again.

Rick Porcello pitched four-hit ball over seven scoreless innings, Jhonny Peralta homered and Detroit took advantage of four errors in a 6-2 victory over Chicago on Tuesday night.

“Everybody has problems,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “Everybody has injuries, and everybody has issues that they’ve got to deal with. We’ve really had our share this year.”

With their MVP and Triple Crown winner Cabrera sidelined by a hip problem, the AL Central leaders again got all the help they needed from Chicago. One night after matching what was a season-high with three errors and giving up five unearned runs in a 7-3 loss to the Tigers, the White Sox managed to outdo themselves.

The four errors matched their highest total since a game at Kansas City on April 6, 2011, and gave them 68 in all — two shy of last year’s total. They also matched a season high by falling 19 games below .500.

“I don’t think anyone saw this one coming this year with the way we played last year and we have pretty much the same pieces,” Paul Konerko said. “The ball just kept rolling down the hill the wrong way and we have not stopped it.”

Peralta, meanwhile, delivered an RBI single and scored in a three-run fourth in which the Tigers took advantage of two errors. He also hit a solo drive off Hector Santiago (3-6) in the sixth, and Detroit scored three in the inning to go up 6-0.

That was more than enough for Porcello (7-6), who won his third straight start after dropping three in a row. He struck out one and walked three.

“I feel real good about the way tonight went, not only for myself, but all around, we played well,” Porcello said.

Santiago took the loss after four straight no-decisions, allowing six runs over six innings. Only three were earned, but just like Chris Sale the night before, he got no support from his fielders.

The error procession started in the first inning when first baseman Adam Dunn appeared to bump Torii Hunter and force him out of the baseline in a rundown. The runner was awarded second base, and manager Robin Ventura got ejected for the first time this season after a heated argument with first base umpire Gary Darling.

It only got worse for Chicago in the fourth.

Matt Tuiasosopo reached leading off when third baseman Conor Gillaspie booted his grounder. Tuiasosopo scored from third on a single by Peralta after Victor Martinez doubled. There was also a bases-loaded walk to Don Kelly and a sacrifice fly by Hernan Perez in which right fielder Alex Rios’ throw home got away from catcher Josh Phegley, allowing the runner to advance from first to second.

Peralta made it 4-0 with his drive to left with one out in the sixth, and the Tigers added two more in the inning with the White Sox committing another error along the way.

That happened when left fielder Dayan Viciedo bobbled the ball several times trying to pick it up after Perez tripled with a man on first, allowing both runners to score.

As for Cabrera, he said he didn’t go for an MRI and was feeling better on Tuesday — a day after he walked off the field with a sore left hip flexor.

Leyland said his star might return within the next two days against Chicago and that he doesn’t expect him to wind up on the disabled list.

“I doubt very much he’ll play (Wednesday),” Leyland said. “I can assure you, he’s not going to play both these games the next two days. ... Will he play one? I can’t answer that. But if he played (Wednesday) night, he certainly wouldn’t play the day game. I don’t know if he’ll player either of the two, to be honest with you.”

NOTES: Leyland said 2B Omar Infante, on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle, could soon begin a rehab assignment. Assuming no setbacks from Tuesday’s workout, Infante would leave for Class-A West Michigan today and could rejoin the Tigers this weekend. Leyland also said LHP Darin Downs (tendinitis in his pitching shoulder) is “probably close to going out and pitching. But I can’t tell you when.” ... White Sox reliever Jesse Crain threw off a mound Tuesday for the first time since he went on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder and could be ready to return as soon as this weekend, pitching coach Don Cooper said. He is tentatively scheduled to throw on the side on Thursday.