Tigers beat White Sox 18-2 to sweep key series By Sports Network

If the White Sox find themselves looking back on a series that killed their season, this would be it.

Miguel Cabrera and Andy Dirks both hit two-run homers and knocked in four runs apiece, and the Tigers dealt the White Sox a crushing three-game sweep with an 18-2 win on Sunday night.

First place Detroit outscored Chicago 35-11 in the series, knocking the White Sox 8 1/2 games back in the AL Central.

Alex Avila had four of Detroit's 24 hits, an offensive outburst that helped Max Scherzer comfortably increase his career-high win total.

Scherzer (14-8) threw seven shutout innings, giving up just five hits, and struck out six without issuing a walk as the Tigers won their third straight to remain 6 1/2 games ahead of second place Cleveland in the division.

The White Sox, mired in a four-game losing streak, didn't scored until the ninth inning. They had three of their nine hits in the frame.