Tigers Lose No. 100, Join Select Company

The Detroit Tigers made more dubious history.

With a 5-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night, the Tigers (34-100) joined the 1962 Mets as the only other team in the modern era to lose 100 games before September.

“This really doesn’t hurt any more than the others,” Tiger Manager Alan Trammell said. “I know it is a round number, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. We competed and we played pretty well, so it isn’t as painful as a lot of them.”

Frank Thomas and Carlos Lee homered for the White Sox and combined to drive in five runs. Chicago is again alone in first place in the American League Central because Kansas City was rained out.

“We have to keep the blinders on and just worry about ourselves,” Chicago Manager Jerry Manuel said. “We’ve just got to run our race.”

Mike Maroth (6-19) took the loss and is one defeat from becoming the first pitcher since Oakland’s Brian Kingman in 1980 to lose 20 games in a season. Kingman is reportedly planning to attend Maroth’s next start.

“I really don’t care about 20 at this point,” Maroth said. “I don’t want my next start to be a circus, but that’s probably what’s going to happen. I just have to deal with it.”

Maroth, expected to start again Thursday against Cleveland or Friday in Toronto, gave up five runs, eight hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.

“He’s going to make his start -- we just aren’t sure when we will be going to a six-man rotation,” Trammell said. “I didn’t think he pitched too badly tonight -- I certainly don’t think we have any better options than Mike with a month left in the season.”

Jon Garland (10-10) earned his second win in six August starts, giving up two runs, five hits and four walks in six-plus innings. Garland has 18 strikeouts in his last two starts -- his previous season best for back-to-back outings was 11.

Three White Sox relievers finished, with Damaso Marte working 1 2/3 perfect innings and Tom Gordon getting the final two outs.