CHICAGO -- The Detroit Tigers had to wait out a marathon rain delay before the game was finally called. They wont get too many wins like this, and they wont complain about it, either.Ian Kinsler hit his 20th home run, Miguel Cabrera added his 19th and Detroit beat the struggling Chicago White Sox 2-1 in a game that was stopped after more than a two-hour rain delay in the seventh inning on Thursday.A heavy downpour before the bottom of the seventh sent players and umpires running for cover. And after two hours, five minutes the game was called.A lot of riddles, dominos, cribbage, poker, watching other games, Kinsler said, describing the scene in the clubhouse during the delay. Just kind of hanging out, trying to stay aware of the weather situation and if were gonna have a chance to play. Theres not really much you can do.The Tigers did what they needed to do before the rain came and opened a seven-game trip on a winning note. The White Sox have now dropped seven of eight.Kinsler and Cabrera made it 2-1 with solo homers against James Shields (4-12) in the fifth. Mike Pelfrey (3-9) won for just the second time in nine starts, and the Tigers came out on top after dropping two of three against Minnesota.Adam Eaton had three hits and scored for Chicago. Shields gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings, but the White Sox continued their slide after going 1-5 on a trip to the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle.We found another way to lose a game today, Eaton said. Its just crazy.Held to four runs in the Minnesota series, the Tigers used the long ball to grab the lead in the fifth.Kinsler tied it with one out on a drive to center for his second homer in as many games. Cameron Maybin followed with a fly to deep right before Cabrera made it 2-1 with his shot to left-center. The home run -- his 427th -- tied Mike Piazza for 47th all-time. It also gave him 1,499 RBI.We only scored two runs but, truthfully, this is the second day in a row where we hit the ball hard, manager Brad Ausmus said. We didnt have a lot to show for it in terms of runs, but up and down the lineup guys hit the ball hard.REBOUND PERFORMANCEPelfrey, knocked out in the second by Kansas City last week, picked up the win after going 1-4 in his previous eight starts. The right-hander gave up a run and eight hits before leaving with one out in the sixth and runners on first and second.Shane Greene came in and hit Tyler Saladino with two out to load the bases. He then retired J.B. Shuck on a soft grounder to first for his second save in as many chances.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: RF J.D. Martinez took batting practice for the first time since he broke his right elbow last month. It still bothers him a little bit to throw, said manager Brad Ausmus, who indicated theyve yet to determine when hell begin a minor league rehab stint. . RHP Jordan Zimmerman (neck) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session. Next up, a rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Toledo. . OF Tyler Collins (neck) said he felt much better, but remained out of the lineup.White Sox: 2B Brett Lawrie is day to day after leaving the game because of tightness in his left hamstring. He popped out to the pitcher in the second inning and was replaced at second base by Tyler Saladino in the fourth. ... GM Rick Hahn said LHP Carlos Rodon (wrist) is progressing nicely and will make a minor-league rehab start before returning. ... Catcher Alex Avila (hamstring) suffered a setback in a rehab game with Triple-A Charlotte and likely wont be activated for another month. ... RHP Zach Putnam (right elbow) also had a setback and will likely need to have bone spurs removed from his elbow. Hahn said OF Austin Jackson, recovering from a torn meniscus in his left knee, will start ramping up non-impact activity in the coming days.UP NEXTRHP Michael Fulmer (9-2, 2.13 ERA) -- 7-1 in his past 10 starts -- looks to stay on a roll for Detroit while RHP Jacob Turner (0-1, 18.00) makes his second start for Chicago. Fake Custom Jerseys . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Custom Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. http://www.jerseyscustom.us/custom-san-francisco-49ers-jerseys/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Cheap Custom Jerseys . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw left with a lead in the seventh inning and the bases loaded. After the bullpen faltered, veterans Chase Utley and Andre Ethier rescued the Dodgers.Utley singled home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the eighth, and Los Angeles avoided elimination Tuesday with a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals that forced a deciding Game 5 in their NL playoff.Kenley Jansen worked the ninth for a save, one day after giving up four late runs during Los Angeles loss in Game 3.I got out there and focused and fought, he said.Game 5 is Thursday in Washington, with 20-game winner Max Scherzer set to pitch for the Nationals.Man, this is going to be a heck of a ballgame, Scherzer said. The effort from both sides over the first four games has been incredible. Great pitching, great hitting, defense, everything.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he will use left-hander Rich Hill and rookie Julio Urias, but did not announce which one will start.If anyone gives up on this team, they havent seen us play a whole lot this year, Roberts said, and it starts with what Clayton did -- short rest and leaving it all out there. Everyone fed off that.After failing to close out the Dodgers on the road, Washington will get one more chance Thursday to win a playoff series for the first time since the franchise relocated from Montreal. NL East champions in three of the past five years, the Nationals were unable to advance during their two previous trips to the postseason.Thats why we fought so hard for the home-field advantage, manager Dusty Baker said. This year, its coming to fruition.Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who turned to Kershaw on three days rest to salvage their season.The score was tied 5-all with two outs in the eighth when Andrew Toles got hit by a pitch from loser Blake Treinen. Ethier followed with a single to left and Utley singled to right, scoring Toles from second for a 6-5 lead.Trailing 5-2 in the seventh, the Nats had runners on first and second against Kershaw with two outs. The crowd chanted Kershaws name as he and Bryce Harper battled through eight pitches before Harper drew a walk.Man, thats what baseball is all about right there: a matter of will, Baker said. Kershaw was on empty. We knew it. They knew it. Everybody knew it.Harpers walk loaded the bases and chased Kershaw, who walked off with his head down. He sat alone in the dugout with his head resting on his right hand.Kershaw was outstanding, Baker said. Thats one of the best performances Ive seen, especially on three days rest.But the Dodgers bullpen nearly gave the game away.Pedro Baez came in and hit Jayson Werth with his only pitch, forcing in a run to make it 5-3. Baez got booed off the field.Daniel Murphys single off Luis Avilan dropped between Toles and Joc Pederson in left-center field, scoring two runs to tie it at 5. Avilan also heard boos.Joe Blanton, who earned the win, retired Anthony Rendon on a swinging strikeout to end the inning.Our bullpen has been uunbelievable, Kershaw said.ddddddddddddJoe did what Joes been doing all season. Hes been through a lot in his career but he came in and shut them down.Desperate to avoid another early playoff exit, the Dodgers went with Kershaw, their three-time Cy Young Award winner who won Game 1 last Friday despite going just five innings and allowing three runs.This time, he was charged with five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 -- equaling his second-best postseason total -- and walked two.The left-hander was limited to 149 innings while compiling a 1.69 ERA during the regular season. He missed 2 1/2 months with a mildly herniated disk in his back.Kershaw opened the game by giving up a leadoff single and a walk before Murphys RBI single.The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on Gonzalezs two-run shot that scored Justin Turner, who was hit by a pitch from Joe Ross.Werths RBI single tied it 2-all in the third.Los Angeles again answered in the bottom of the inning, with Kershaw getting the rally going with a double to left field. He slid into second and clenched his fists in a rare show of emotion.Kershaw scored on Turners single with two outs. Pederson got hit by a pitch from Ross with the bases loaded, forcing in TurnerRoss made his postseason debut for the Nationals, giving up four runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings, equaling the shortest playoff start in the history of the Montreal-Washington franchise. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked two. He hasnt pitched more than four innings since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 18.LOOK OUT!Five players were hit by pitches, including four Dodgers, which set a single-game franchise playoff record. Of the quartet, two ended up scoring. Werth was the lone Nationals player to get hit.There have been 11 hit batters in the series, a postseason record.No one on either side is trying to hit anybody with everything on the line right now, Scherzer said. Thats just baseball being played at its highest.TRAINERS ROOMNationals RHP Stephen Strasburg experienced discomfort in his right elbow during a bullpen session Monday at Dodger Stadium. He threw 30 or 31 pitches instead of the scheduled 35. Strasburg has been out since tearing the pronator tendon in his elbow on Sept. 7.Baker said Strasburg was throwing the ball very good and hes not concerned about the pitchers progress. Strasburg has said he would try to return this season if the Nationals advance to the NLCS.SHORT RESTKershaw started a game on three days rest for the fourth consecutive postseason.CANT CLOSE `EM OUTBaker has lost eight consecutive postseason games when his team would have advanced with a victory. Thats the longest such streak in major league history, according to ESPN Stats & Info.ELIMINATION GAMESThe Dodgers improved to 12-15 in postseason elimination games since moving to Los Angeles. ' ' '
