Torkelson's 2-run double in the ninth inning gives Tigers 4-3 win over White Sox

DETROIT (AP) — Spencer Torkelson smacked a two-run double to cap Detroit's three-run rally in the ninth inning and give the Tigers a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Torkelson's one-out hit off Jordan Leasure (0-1) followed a bases-loaded walk by Andy Ibáñez. John Brebbia (1-0) got the win with one inning of scoreless relief.

Javier Báez had three hits and drove in a run for the Tigers. Jackson Jobe gave up three runs, two earned, and struck out four in five innings in his second career start.

White Sox starter Martín Pérez limited the Tigers to one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. Signed as a free agent in January, Pérez held Minnesota hitless for six innings in his White Sox debut last Monday.

Andrew Vaughn hit an RBI single and Matt Thaiss and Jacob Amaya drove in runs with sacrifice flies for the White Sox, who have lost five straight.

White Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi was removed in the fifth inning due to left adductor tightness.

Baez led off the ninth with a hit and Zach McKinstry and Riley Greene drew one-out walks against Fraser Ellard to load the bases. That forced White Sox manager Will Venable to bring in Leasure.

The Tigers have won 15 of their last 18 against the White Sox, including the three-game series sweep.

White Sox: Begin a three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday. Rookie RHP Shane Smith (0-0) is scheduled to make his second career start in the opener against LHP Logan Allen (0-1).

Tigers: Start a three-game homestand against the New York Yankees on Monday. All of those games have been moved from night starts to the afternoon because of expected cold temperatures. RHP Casey Mize (1-0) will start the series opener against LHP Carlos Rodon (1-1).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago White Sox pitcher Cam Booser throws against the Detroit Tigers in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevenger throws against the Detroit Tigers in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Chicago White Sox's Andrew Benintendi slides safely into third base against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert Jr. hits a single against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Chicago White Sox's Andrew Benintendi (23) scores as Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) waits for the throw in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez tags Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert Jr. (88) out attempting to steal second base in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez hits a one-run single against the Chicago White Sox in the second inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Chicago White Sox's Matt Thaiss hits a sacrifice fly against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Chicago White Sox pitcher MartÌn PÈrez throws against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy (44) celebrates scoring with Spencer Torkelson against the Chicago White Sox pitcher in the first inning during a baseball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson is doused with sports drink by Trey Sweeney (27) after a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

CHICAGO (AP) — Pat Maroon played his first and his last NHL game at the United Center.

In between, it was quite a ride.

Maroon closed his 14th and final season when the Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Winnipeg Jets in a shootout on Saturday night. He was joined by defenseman Alec Martinez, who also made Chicago's home finale his last game.

While the Blackhawks have two road dates left on their schedule, Maroon and Martinez are going off to retirement.

“It sucks, because this is all we knew,” Maroon said. “And I'm so happy that I got to share it with Marty tonight. A guy that's a big-time player, scored big-time goals. Hell of a hockey player, competitor.”

Maroon and Martinez each got the start in their last game. The Blackhawks saluted Maroon with a highlight video during a first-period timeout, and they did the same for Martinez in the third.

The crowd responded with a standing ovation after each tribute. An emotional Maroon waved and patted his heart in appreciation, and Martinez also waved and held his stick in the air.

After the game ended, the Jets stuck around for a handshake line with the three-time Stanley Cup winners. Maroon and Martinez then hugged, waved to their families in the cheering crowd and had one more embrace before leaving the ice.

“I’m not really one for the limelight,” Martinez said, “so it’s nice that it was sort of deflected on him, too.”

Maroon, a St. Louis native who turns 37 on April 23, signed a $1.3 million, one-year contract with Chicago in free agency last summer. The rugged forward announced last month that he planned to retire after this season, but he waited until Saturday to reveal that the home finale would be his last game.

“He's been awesome. Such an enjoyable person to be around,” Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard said. “Obviously, his experience in the league ... he can teach us a lot of things. But I think just the laughs he brings and energy he brings to the room, he's just a guy that everyone wants to be around.”

Maroon was selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. He was traded to Anaheim in 2010 and made his NHL debut in the Ducks' shootout loss at Chicago on Oct. 25, 2011.

Maroon helped his hometown Blues win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in 2019. He also won back-to-back championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and ’21.

He became the fourth player in NHL history and first since 1964 to win the Cup three years in a row with two teams. He finishes his career with 126 goals and 197 assists in 848 regular-season games, also playing for Edmonton, New Jersey, Minnesota and Boston.

“I've been fortunate to do what I love for a living for a long time,” Maroon said. “As I look back on my career when this is all done, I'm going to look back on the bad times that I went through in Philly to where it got me to where I'm at today.”

Maroon left open the possibility of working in hockey down the road, but he wasn't ready to think about that just yet.

“As of right now, my focus is family,” he said. “My wife's due any day now. So we're going to focus on that, focus on getting back to Tampa, getting settled in and kind of digesting everything and what our next step is.”

The 37-year-old Martinez, who won it all with Los Angeles twice and Vegas once, also joined Chicago in free agency on July 1. He had 88 goals and 201 assists in 862 regular-season games.

Martinez had one of the biggest moments of his career playing against the Blackhawks. He scored in overtime when Los Angeles eliminated Chicago with a 5-4 victory in Game 7 of the epic 2014 Western Conference Final.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez (25) reaches for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon (77), left, and defenseman Alec Martinez (25) embrace each other after what was their final NHL hockey game Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon (77) handles the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon (77) plays during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez (25) plays during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez (25) acknowledges the crowd in his last game during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon (77), left, and defenseman Alec Martinez (25) embrace each other after what was their final NHL hockey game Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon (77) watches a tribute video to himself during the first period of his final NHL hockey game, against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon acknowledges a standing ovation from fans during the first period of his final NHL hockey game, against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon acknowledges a standing ovation from fans during the first period of his final NHL hockey game, against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) with the puck against Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon (77) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)