DETROIT (AP) -- Rick Porcello pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning, and the Detroit Tigers took over first place in the AL Central on Saturday with a 7-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Brennan Boesch hit a three-run homer and Austin Jackson drove in the other four runs for the Tigers, who lead the White Sox by a half-game in the Central. Detroit was six games out after a loss to the Chicago Cubs on June 12.
Porcello (7-5) fell just short of his first complete game, departing after he allowed two hard-hit singles to start the ninth.
He allowed a run and five hits.
Porcello struck out four with no walks, outdueling Chris Sale (11-3) in the Chicago left-hander's first loss since May 12.
(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
