CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 04: Starting pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers pitches in the 6th inning against the Chicago White Sox during the opening day game at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 4, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Tigers defeated the White Sox 6-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Verlander views the Detroit Tigers as a driven team intent on reaching the playoffs after missing out the past two years.
This wasn’t a bad start.
Verlander struck out 10 to match the most by a Detroit pitcher on opening day since Mickey Lolich in 1970, and the Tigers backed him with three home runs in a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
“I think everyone had a similar feel around the locker room in spring training,” said Verlander, whose team finished second in the AL Central last year and fell short of a wild card. “I think everybody is really happy with the vibe that we had going on this locker room. Everybody’s excited about the season getting going.”
JaCoby Jones hit his first career homer , Nick Castellanos and Ian Kinsler also went deep against Jose Quintana (0-1), and the Tigers sent Rick Renteria to a loss in his debut as White Sox manager.
A day after the teams were rained out and with a sparse crowd looking on, Jones’ three-run homer and Castellanos’ two-run drive in a five-run second lifted Detroit into a 5-1 lead. Kinsler added a solo shot in the fourth.
Verlander (1-0), the AL Cy Young Award runner-up last season, gave up two runs and six hits while walking two in 6 1/3 innings.
“He was just in control today,” said Kinsler, who had two hits and two runs. “He got into a couple tough situations, but he didn’t let it bother him.”
Francisco Rodriguez relieved with two on in the ninth and retired three straight batters for the save. He gave up an RBI groundout to Jacob May before catcher James McCann leaned over the railing in front of the Tigers dugout to snag Tyler Saladino’s foul for the final out.
Quintana, a first-time All-Star in 2016 and a candidate to be traded, allowed six runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. The three homers he gave up matched a career high.
“I feel really good and have confidence in me and it was just the first start,” Quintana said. “I have a long season and I’ll try the next one to throw the ball better.”
Melky Cabrera had two doubles, drove in a run and scored. Jose Abreu and Tyler Saladino each had two hits, but the bottom five batters were a combined 2 of 19 with eight strikeouts.
It was a familiar result for a White Sox team taking a different approach after four straight losing seasons.
Chicago traded ace Chris Sale and outfielder Adam Eaton while acquiring young players. The White Sox also promoted Renteria from bench coach to replace Robin Ventura, hoping to jolt a franchise with one playoff appearance since winning the 2005 World Series title.
