Martinez’s home run continues Tigers’ winning streak

Chicago: J.D. Martinez blasted a go-ahead, solo home run in his first at-bat since June 16, lifting the Detroit Tigers to their eighth straight victory — a 2-1 decision over the Chicago White Sox.

Martinez, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier, jumped on the first offering from White Sox ace Chris Sale in the eighth inning.

Sale (14-5) pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on six hits with a season-high 10 strikeouts. He had retired 11 straight batters before Martinez’s home run.

Shane Greene (2-2) picked up the victory with 1-1/3 innings of scoreless relief, including two strikeouts.

Detroit starter Michael Fulmer held the White Sox to one run on five hits over 6-2/3 innings but wound up with his fourth straight no-decision.

Matt Szczur scored on a wild pitch to cap a three-run ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied to a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Miami Marlins.

Chicago trailed 4-2 entering the ninth but A.J. Ramos gave up a leadoff double to Miguel Montero, a single to Javier Baez and walked Szczur on five pitches to load the bases.

Dexter Fowler hit a sacrifice fly to right-centre to score Montero. Ben Zobrist walked to bring home Baez and Ramos’ two-out wild pitch sailed past Miami catcher Jeff Mathis and allowed Szczur to score the game-winner.

Ramos (1-1) took the loss while reliever Justin Grimm (1-0), who was brought up from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, worked the ninth for the victory.

Meanwhile, Daniel Murphy and Trea Turner homered and Washington right-hander Max Scherzer won his 12th game and contributed two RBIs.

Murphy broke a 1-1 tie with a bases-empty homer in the sixth inning, and Scherzer capped the three-run rally with a two-run single for a 4-1 lead.

Scherzer (12-6) pitched through bases-empty homers by Jake Lamb in the sixth inning and Yasmany Tomas in the seventh inning.