White Sox Sweep Tigers, 6–3 and 5–2, Move Into First Place
Staley and Baumann Excel in Relief as Detroit Drops Sixth Straight
CHICAGO, May 1 — The Chicago White Sox completed a three‑game sweep of the Detroit Tigers Sunday afternoon at Comiskey Park, taking both ends of a doubleheader, 6–3 and 5–2, to move into first place in the American League. A crowd of 29,586 watched the defending champions extend their winning streak to five games while Detroit, the league’s early surprise, absorbed its sixth consecutive defeat.
Chicago relied heavily on its bullpen, with Gerry Staley and Frank Baumann combining for 17⅔ innings of relief over the three‑game series. Both were central figures again on Sunday.
GAME ONE — White Sox 6, Tigers 3
Staley Steadies Chicago After Shaw Falters
Detroit tied the game 3–3 in the sixth inning, prompting manager Al Lopez to remove starter Bob Shaw. Staley entered and allowed only one hit the rest of the way, earning his second win of the season. He has yet to allow a run in 10⅓ innings.
Smith Leads Chicago Offense
The White Sox took a 2–0 lead in the third when Al Smith hit a two‑run homer, his second of the year. Smith later singled, stole second, and scored in the fifth. Detroit answered with Al Kaline’s first home run of the season and a three‑run rally in the sixth, highlighted by Frank Bolling’s triple and Neil Chrisley’s single.
Chicago responded immediately. Roy Sievers singled, Sherm Lollar doubled him home, and Billy Goodman followed with a run‑scoring hit. Luis Aparicio beat out an infield single to bring in another run, giving the White Sox a 6–3 lead that Staley protected.
GAME TWO — White Sox 5, Tigers 2
Baumann Takes Over Early
Detroit jumped ahead 2–0 in the first inning against starter Dick Donovan, but Lopez quickly turned to Baumann. The left‑hander, acquired from Boston in the offseason, allowed only three hits over 8⅓ innings and earned his first victory with Chicago.
Aparicio Drives in Three
Aparicio, who had not driven in a run all season, delivered three RBI in the nightcap. His single in the second scored Goodman, and two more runs crossed in the fourth when he forced a runner at second as Minnie Minoso scored. A wild pitch had already brought home Nellie Fox to tie the game.
Key Defensive Play Preserves Lead
Baumann received help in the sixth when Aparicio made a standout play on a grounder up the middle. Ranging far to his left, he gloved the ball while sliding, flipped to Fox, and completed a double play that halted a Detroit threat.
Tigers’ Slide Continues
Detroit, which opened the season 5–0, has now dropped six straight. Manager Jimmie Dykes was ejected in the first game — his first dismissal since taking over the club last year.
Kaline homered in the opener and singled in the second game, while Chrisley and Bolling each contributed key hits. But the Tigers were unable to solve Chicago’s bullpen, which shut them down throughout the series.
White Sox Hit the Road in First Place
The sweep lifted Chicago to 7–4, one game ahead of New York and Cleveland. The club now departs on a 14‑game eastern trip beginning Monday night in Baltimore.
Courtesy of The Chicago Tribune May 2, 1960 via Newspapers.com