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Detroit Tigers' Jackson Jobe records first MLB strikeout in 4-0 loss to Chicago White Sox

The Detroit Tigers played like a team coming off a long night celebrating their first trip to the postseason in a decade, limited to three hits in a 4-0 loss to the MLB-worst Chicago White Sox on Saturday in the second of three games in the series at Comerica Park.

The regular season ends Sunday.

The postseason starts Tuesday.

The Tigers (86-75) squandered their six-game winning streak, but to put their recent winning ways in perspective, the Tigers lost a game for the first time since Sept. 12 in which the opposing starter wasn't named Corbin Burnes.

In Saturday's loss, right-handed reliever Jackson Jobe — the top pitching prospect in baseball — tossed three scoreless innings, throwing 39 pitches. The 22-year-old struck out Jacob Amaya looking with a sixth-pitch changeup for the first out in the third inning, marking the first strikeout of his MLB career.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe (21) throws against Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe (21) throws against Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

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Jobe took down the third, fourth and fifth innings.

The former No. 3 overall draft pick also froze Chuckie Robinson, a right-handed hitter, with a nasty up-and-in changeup for a called strikeout. The right-on-right changeup is Jobe's best weapon, as long as he locates.

Jobe didn't allow a hit, but he issued one walk while collecting two strikeouts.

His fastball averaged 96.8 mph.

For his 39 pitches, Jobe threw 22 four-seam fastballs, seven cutters, six changeups and four sweepers. He generated one whiff on 14 swings — a 7.1% whiff rate — with one fastball.

Jobe has failed to miss bats in his two games.

Hitters have swung at 21 of his 48 pitches through four innings in his MLB career, making contact on 19 of 21 swings. He recorded one whiff in each of his relief appearances.

Offense shut down

The Tigers were shut out for the first time since Sept. 2.

For the White Sox, right-hander Sean Burke completed five scoreless innings.

Colt Keith hit a single in the second inning, Dillon Dingler hit a double in the fifth inning, and Wenceel Pérez hit a triple in the ninth inning.

Those were the only hits.

Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) is walked by Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) is walked by Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

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As for walks, Kerry Carpenter and Pérez worked free passes in the first inning, but Riley Greene lined into an inning-ending double play. Jace Jung had the third and final walk in the second inning.

Giving up runs

Right-hander Beau Brieske, a traditional reliever, served as the opener for the Tigers, covering two innings. With two outs in the second, Bryan Ramos hit Brieske's changeup at the bottom of the strike zone for a solo home run to left field.

The homer put the White Sox ahead, 1-0.

The White Sox scored three runs against right-handed reliever Ty Madden, who allowed three runs on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts across three innings, throwing 60 pitches.

Andrew Vaughn increased the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single in the sixth inning, then Andrew Benintendi made it 4-0 with a two-run home run in the eighth inning, following Zach DeLoach's leadoff walk.

Left-handed reliever Sean Guenther tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers bats slumber as streak ends with 4-0 loss to White Sox