In a decisive victory, the Detroit Tigers overwhelmed the struggling Chicago White Sox with a resounding 13-1 win on Monday evening at the ballpark. Kerry Carpenter emerged as the standout performer, belting a personal-best of three home runs and amassing five RBIs, propelling his team to their 40th win of the season, a milestone unmatched by any other big-league club so far.
Joining the offensive fireworks, Dillon Dingler and Wenceel Pérez also went deep against the White Sox’s pitching. Parker Meadows, making a triumphant return after an arm injury, added two hits and crossed home plate three times, marking a strong season debut.
On the mound, Tigers’ pitcher Jack Flaherty showcased his skill, hurling six effective innings, yielding just one run on four hits. Striking out four and issuing a lone walk, Flaherty secured his second consecutive win.
This victory extended Detroit’s impressive record to 22 wins in their last 31 games. Moreover, it marked their 11th straight triumph against the White Sox in their rival’s home field, equaling a franchise-best streak that dates back to September 1, 2023.
Meanwhile, the White Sox’s struggles continued, registering only five hits amidst enduring their seventh defeat in the past eight games. Chase Meidroth provided a glimmer of hope with a single, scoring on Vinny Capra’s groundout in the sixth inning — the sole tally for Chicago that night.
Kerry Carpenter set the tone early with a two-run blast in Detroit’s three-run first inning, taking on Jonathan Cannon, who shouldered the loss to fall to a 2-7 record. Carpenter continued his assault with another two-run homer in the fourth, followed by a solo shot in the sixth, marking his 13th homer of the season. The crowd, consisting of 11,852 fans, erupted as Carpenter batted again in the eighth with the bases loaded, though this time he flied out to center field.
Defensively, the Tigers also sparkled. Parker Meadows delivered a clutch diving catch, robbing Andrew Benintendi of a potential run-scoring hit in the first inning. Riley Greene contributed with a superb sliding catch off Meidroth’s drive in the third.
Perhaps the most impressive defensive play came in the fifth inning when Dingler lunged for a foul popup by Joshua Palacios, managing to tap the ball into the air for third baseman Zach McKinstry to secure the out.
A pivotal moment in the game came courtesy of Wenceel Pérez’s two-run homer in the second inning, stretching the Tigers’ lead to 5-0.
Kerry Carpenter’s extraordinary performance placed him alongside a special group in Tigers’ history, becoming the first player to hit three homers in a game since Victor Martinez accomplished the feat against Kansas City in 2016.
Looking ahead, Detroit plans to rely on their bullpen for Tuesday’s game while Chicago intends to start rookie right-hander Shane Smith, who holds a record of 1-3 with an ERA of 2.68.