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A day after clinching a spot in the playoffs, the Tigers suffered a resounding loss to the White Sox

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A day after clinching a spot in the playoffs, the Tigers suffered a resounding loss to the White Sox

Detroit — As for hangover games, well, that was one of them.

“Let me reflect on the best things that happened today,” manager AJ Hinch said. “Jackson Jobe was excellent and we had the chance to extend him. Sean Guenther was as efficient as can be. And we were able to check off a day on the calendar.”

“That’s all.”

The Tigers, who celebrated their first playoff appearance in 10 years on Friday evening, suffered a 4-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday in front of a humid crowd at Comerica Park. Another sellout was announced, with 41,933 tickets sold, but the elements thinned the crowd significantly.

BOX SCORE: White Sox 4, Tigers 0

MLB STAND

It didn't help the sluggish pace and flagging energy that the game was delayed by two hours and 20 minutes and played in persistent rain.

“No excuses at all,” Hinch said. “After last night's morning, a lot of energy came into us and then we had to sit around for a bit. It wasn’t a great day to play, but it was a day where we definitely could have played and done better.”

The Tigers (86-75) were one game ahead of the Kansas City Royals (85-75) and secured the second wild card spot. The Royals, who played in Atlanta on Saturday night, are in a tiebreaker with Detroit.

Regardless of the result in Atlanta, the Tigers won't know until Sunday whether they will travel to Houston or Baltimore for the Wild Card Series.

Jobe was the highlight of the day for the Tigers.

“On a really difficult day to pitch, being wet and dreary and on the border of Gotham City, he was effective and threw all of his pitches,” Hinch said. “And he got a little better once he got more comfortable back on the mound.”

The White Sox grabbed opener Beau Brieske. With two outs in the second, rookie Bryan Ramos dropped his barrel on a 1-1 changeup at the bottom of the strike zone and fired it into the foul pole in left.

Jobe took over in the third inning and pitched three scoreless and hitless innings in his second big league game.

“I felt good,” he said. “I felt quite comfortable despite the conditions. Overall, I’m happy with my trip.”

He effectively mixed cutters, changeups and sweepers from a solid 96.7 mph four-seam fastball. And that was exactly the mix Hinch and the pitching staff were looking for.

“We have to keep in mind in that bullpen role that he’s a four- or five-pitch guy,” Hinch said. “He’s got a lot of things he can do to a hitter. We don't want to turn him into a two-pitch power reliever. That’s not why he’s here and that’s not how we’re going to use him.”

From the sound of it, Jobe had no intention of limiting his arsenal, nor did his catcher, Dillon Dingler, who emphasized using more sweepers in this game.

“I felt like that pitch was exactly how I wanted it,” Jobe said. “Turning around early for strikes. Showing four different pitches out of the bullpen, I think that's a pretty big deal to be able to mix it up like that. Especially if I want to face a lineup more than once.”

The changeup stunned White Sox hitters, particularly the 2-2 changeup he threw to right-to-right to freeze catcher Chuckie Robinson in the fifth for his first big-league strikeout.

“It was great to get that out of the way,” he said. “Super special. I’ll definitely get the ball.”

The White Sox, who set a new MLB record with their 121st loss on Friday, scored three runs against rookie righty Ty Madden. And Andrew Benintendi did most of the heavy lifting. He doubled and scored on a single by Andrew Vaughn in the sixth, and hit his 20th home run, a two-run throw, in the eighth.

The left-handed pitcher Guenther, who has become a key weapon for Hinch, beat the White Sox on nine pitches in the ninth.

And with 36 comeback wins this season, there was enough precedent for the Tigers to bounce back. But the bats never caught fire.

They were initially overwhelmed by White Sox rookie right-hander Sean Burke. With his 6-foot-6 frame and elite 7-foot arm extension, he hit hitters with elevated four-seam fastballs that played faster than the 95 mph radar gun indicated.

The Tigers managed two walks and 29 pitches from him in the first inning, but he adjusted quickly, allowing two hits with six strikeouts in five innings.

Veteran Michael Soroka, returning after two months out with a shoulder injury, didn't allow a hit and struck out five in his three innings.

The Tigers finally got their third hit of the game with one out in the ninth. Wenceel Perez tripled the gap in right-center against Gus Varland. He didn't get any further.

“It was a miserable matchday, but it was a matchday,” said Hinch. “The White Sox had the same elements as us. I'm glad it's over. I’m glad we can take it off the calendar and start tomorrow.”

Hinch retired outfielders Parker Meadows and Kerry Carpenter after the eighth inning. There were no injuries, but given the wet ground it was more of a precautionary measure.

“As soon as Carp jumped into the fence on the (Benintendi) home run, that was enough,” Hinch said. “He was fine, but I thought they were done.”

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@cmccosky

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