By AP
CHICAGO – Gerald Laird hit a tiebreaking single in the 11th inning and the Detroit Tigers escaped with a 9-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox Sunday night when Manny Ramirez was caught looking at strike three with bases loaded for the final out.
Jim Leyland became the 18th manager to work 3,000 games. He watched the Tigers score six in the seventh to take a 7-3 lead only to have the bullpen give it away in the ninth and barely escape at the finish.
The winning rally started when Brandon Inge struck out on a wild pitch from Sergio Santos and advanced all the way to third when catcher A.J. Pierzynski's low throw to first bounced to the tarp along the right-field line. Brennan Boesch was intentionally walked before Laird delivered the go-ahead single to left, his second hit.