Tigers Take Finale in Old-School Way

Ty Cobb would’ve been proud.

Marcus Thames’ hard takeout slide broke up a potential inning-ending double play in the seventh inning and Chris Shelton followed with a go-ahead double to give the Detroit Tigers a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

A sellout crowd of 41,075 at Comerica Park, which has a statue of Cobb sliding beyond the left-field wall, was on its feet as right fielder Magglio Ordonez ran down Brian Anderson’s fly ball at the warning track for the final out.

The victory gave the Tigers a season-high 5 1/2 -game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.

“We gained a game, and it’s July 20. That’s all it means,” Detroit Manager Jim Leyland said. “We’ve got Oakland coming in, and the A’s are chomping at the bit.”

Detroit has the best record in baseball at 64-31 after taking two of three from the World Series champions -- after losing six of their first seven meetings this season. Chicago has lost seven of nine, falling into a tie with AL East leader Boston for the second-best record in baseball.

“You go through down points in a season, and this is one of the lowest,” Chicago starter Jose Contreras said through an interpreter.

An old-fashioned play by Thames tilted the game to the Tigers.

“Marcus Thames’ good, clean, hard slide was the difference,” Leyland said.

With one out in the seventh, Craig Monroe hit a grounder to third baseman Joe Crede, who threw to second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. Thames slid cleanly, taking out Iguchi and preventing a relay.

“You always want to break up a double play -- I learned that in Little League,” Thames said. “It’s only a dirty play if you can’t touch the bag, or you try to get the guy with your spikes.”

Shelton then doubled to left-center to score Monroe.

Guillen didn’t have a problem with Thames’ slide.

“I want my players to do the same stuff,” Guillen said. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt, but I applaud him. That’s the way to play the game at the big league level.”