Major League Baseball

Tigers 9, White Sox 1

Published Sep. 8, 2010 4:19 a.m. ET

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The Chicago White Sox were trying to do something they hadn't accomplished in nearly 60 years.

Instead, they lost a game, some ground in the AL Central race and more players.

Chicago, which started the day trailing the Minnesota Twins by 3 1/2 games in the AL Central, already had Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham sidelined by injuries. Then the White Sox lost starting pitcher Freddy Garcia and designated hitter Manny Ramirez to injuries during Tuesday night's 9-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

The White Sox were trying to win the first eight games of a road trip for the first time since 1951, when they went 11-0 on a four-city jaunt. Instead, they fell behind in the first inning Tuesday and never caught up, losing a chance to keep up with the equally hot Twins.

''I'll take my chances if we go 7-1 in the next eight games,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''The Twins are a good team, so it isn't a surprise that they are playing well, but I'll take 7-1 again any time.''

The White Sox weren't the only ones dealing with injuries during the game. Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera left the game after aggravating a shoulder problem. Home plate umpire Angel Campos needed attention after being hit by a foul tip in the eighth inning, but stayed in the game.

''It hurts when I swing,'' said Cabrera, who has been dealing with the problem for the last week. ''It doesn't feel right.''

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he doubted Cabrera will play Wednesday, but isn't sure on a timetable for his return.

''It's not a concern in the sense that I think it is serious, but I'm concerned because I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to play him,'' Leyland said. ''I'm going to have to watch him closely.''

Justin Verlander (15-8) allowed one run in seven innings, walking one and striking out seven.

''I really felt like I got my curveball tonight,'' he said. ''It took me 30 starts to find it, or however many I've had this year, but it was kind of like a light bulb went off. I can't say it will be there the rest of the year, but I had the hard curve tonight. Hopefully, I can retain that feel.''

Detroit rookie reliever Robbie Weinhardt made things more interesting with a double error in the eighth when he misplayed a grounder and then threw the ball into the stands. Then he knocked Ramirez out of the game by hitting him with a pitch - the second time Ramirez had been hit in the game - but got out of the inning with a double play.

''I think Manny is going to be OK, but we'll have to see tomorrow,'' Guillen said. ''The ball hit mostly meat, so he should be fine.''

The Tigers broke the game open after Garcia was forced to leave with a stiff lower back. Garcia (11-6) allowed two runs in his two innings.

''When a pitcher like Freddy says he has to come out of the game, you know something is really wrong,'' Guillen said. ''I don't know if he'll be ready for Sunday, and I'm not sure what our Plan B will be, but we have options if we need them.''

In reliever Lucas Harrell's first inning, the Tigers scored four unearned runs.

Austin Jackson reached on first baseman Mark Kotsay's fielding error and took second on a sacrifice bunt. After Johnny Damon struck out, the White Sox intentionally walked Cabrera.

The move backfired, though, as Don Kelly and Brennan Boesch followed with RBI singles before Jhonny Peralta's two-run double gave the Tigers a 6-1 lead.

Harrell held the Tigers scoreless for the next three innings, but Chicago couldn't take advantage against Verlander. Brandon Inge finished the scoring with a three-run homer off Carlos Torres in the eighth.

''Anytime we can get runs for him, we know Verlander is going to go out there and try to shut them down,'' Inge said. ''Tonight, we were aggressive, and he was very good. It looked like he had an unbelievable curveball.''

Detroit took a 2-0 lead in the first on Damon's first homer since July 28, but Chicago got a run back in the third on Omar Vizquel's RBI single.

NOTES: The White Sox recalled Torres and INF Dayan Viciedo from Triple-A Charlotte before the game, bringing their roster to 32. ... Konerko (back) missed his third straight game while Beckham was a late scratch from the lineup after having more pain in his right hand. ... Cabrera's intentional walk was his 29th of the season, the most since Frank Thomas was intentionally walked 29 times in 1995. ... A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox extended his hitting streak to 14 games. ... Chicago reliever Gregory Infante and pinch-hitter Brent Morel both made their major league debuts.