Cabrera, White Sox rally for 7-6 win over Tigers

CHICAGO (AP) The White Sox hadn't hit a home run in nine games, a drought manager Robin Ventura knew eventually had to end.

After Conor Gillaspie snapped the homerless streak, Melky Cabrera made sure his long ball was a difference-maker.

Cabrera hit a tying homer and drove in four runs, and Chicago scored four times in the eighth inning to rally past the Detroit Tigers 7-6 on Wednesday night.

''We keep talking about the offense eventually putting it together,'' Ventura said. ''It's been sputtering for a little while - not a whole lot of home runs and things like that - but they continue to grind.''

Gillaspie homered early for Chicago, its first long ball since April 22. Cabrera tied the score at 6 with a three-run shot in the eighth.

Avisail Garcia's two-out single drove in the go-ahead run on the sixth straight hit off reliever Joba Chamberlain (0-1). All of them came after he retired the first two batters in the inning.

''I felt really good,'' Chamberlain said. ''Sometimes those are the frustrating ones, when you feel really good, and (the White Sox) did a good job of hitting it and you can't take anything away from them.''

Zach Putnam (1-1) worked an inning to get the win and David Robertson earned his fifth save for the White Sox (10-14), who improved to 8-3 at home.

Victor Martinez homered and knocked in four runs for the Tigers.

Chicago trailed 6-3 in the eighth after Martinez drove in his fourth run of the night with a single. The White Sox kept grinding though, playing from behind all night.

''There were opportunities for both sides to score,'' Ventura said. ''For us, it hurts every time you don't get one. It's almost like golf, when you miss a birdie.''

But despite some missed chances early on, the White Sox piled on the offense in the eighth inning with those six straight hits, including Cabrera's home run.

''I feel very good,'' Cabrera said. ''I always try to hit the ball hard.''

ROAD TO RODON

Chicago will give top prospect Carlos Rodon his first major league start Saturday against the Reds. With right-hander Jeff Samardzija serving his five-game suspension, Chicago needed somebody to face Cincinnati. That chance is going to Rodon, who has a 2.84 ERA in three relief appearances. ''It should be fun. We'll see how it goes,'' Rodon said. ''You've just got to be prepared for anything, honestly.''

VERLANDER CLEARED

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander made 50 tosses in the outfield after being cleared by doctors to throw. Verlander has been sidelined since the start of the season with strained right triceps. Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said there is no set timetable for Verlander's return. ''This is a first step,'' Ausmus said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: SS Jose Iglesias returned to the lineup after leaving Sunday's game against Kansas City with tightness in his left groin. Iglesias was scheduled to return Tuesday, but was a late scratch by manager Brad Ausmus.

White Sox: Relief pitcher Nate Jones will remain in Chicago through the weekend so the White Sox can determine the next steps in his rehabilitation. Jones had Tommy John surgery last June and has been at extended spring training. Jones, on the 60-day disabled list, said the message from Ventura and pitching coach Don Cooper is to remain patient and focus on getting through each day healthy.

UP NEXT

Detroit LHP Kyle Lobstein (2-2, 3.91 ERA) faces Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 5.28).

Quintana allowed nine earned runs and 10 hits in four innings during his last outing against the Tigers on April 19.