Major League Baseball

Tigers have to make their own breaks against White Sox, Twins to win division

Published Sep. 22, 2014 10:05 p.m. ET

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DETROIT -- The last thing the Tigers expect from the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are favors at this time of year.

So it's going to be up to the Tigers to make their own breaks.

That didn't happen Monday night as White Sox rookie Chris Bassitt shut down the Tigers (86-70) in a 2-0 victory at Comerica Park.

"He threw the ball well, but we expect more from ourselves," said Ian Kinsler, who went 0-for-4. "We hit a bunch of balls hard, we just couldn't get the big hit."

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals (85-71) finished their suspended game with the Cleveland Indians, losing that one 4-3, before beating the Indians 2-0.

So the Tigers have a one-game lead over the Royals with six games to go in the regular season.

"There are six games left, and if we do our job, we'll win the division," Joba Chamberlain said. "That's all we can ask for right now. It's up to us to decide what happens."

The Tigers had a rookie of their own pitching in Kyle Lobstein and as he's done since he arrived, Lobstein didn't disappoint.

Although he took the loss, Lobstein allowed just two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five in seven innings.

"He pitched great," catcher Alex Avila said. "That's what we were asking of him. I think he pitched even better than what everybody's been expecting. He's got four pitches he can get you out with, he commands it, and he's been pitching very well for us."

The two runs Lobstein allowed came in the second inning on Tyler Flowers' two-run home run.

"Looking for something out over the plate," Flowers said. "If it was a fastball, try to think right-center and if off-speed, hit it to left and that's what it wound up being."

Flowers admitted that beating teams in the race is energizing for those teams that aren't in it.

"It's competitive athletics, teams don't roll over," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "They have a job to do, they're trying to prove things to themselves and things to their managers, general managers and coaches."

"They have a lot to play for," shortstop Andrew Romine said. "They have their jobs to play for. There's nothing more motivating than that. These guys are good players, this is a good team. We can't take anybody lightly. Obviously we're not gonna just walk through anybody. Bassitt did a great job and we didn't."

The Tigers fell to 8-9 against the White Sox and are 7-8 against the Twins, who arrive for a four-game series starting Thursday.

"They're both good teams and they both play us tough every time," J.D. Martinez said. "Sometimes you have teams that play you well and they're two of them.

"That's why I said it's not gonna be an easy last week. It's going to be a grind, it's going to be a nail-biter because both those teams play us extremely well."

The Tigers will need David Price and Justin Verlander to out-duel Scott Carroll and Chris Sale.

Price is 4-5 with a 3.69 ERA in nine career starts against the White Sox and Verlander is 16-13 with a 4.07 ERA in 33 starts against the White Sox.

"Unfortunately, their starting pitcher, Bassitt, had a great game, and you've gotta tip your cap to him," Lobstein said. "But we're still playing good ball right now, and we're in it right now. We just gotta keep doing what we're doing. Obviously can't win every game of the season. Just put this one behind us, and get back after it (Tuesday)."

**Tigers Live 9.22.14 -- If multimedia does not appear right away, please click refresh***

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