Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke throws against the Detroit...

Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Detroit. Credit: AP/Paul Sancya

DETROIT — Sean Burke pitched two-hit ball over five innings, Andrew Benintendi tied his career high with his 20th homer and the Chicago White Sox beat the playoff-bound Detroit Tigers 4-0 on Saturday to stay at 121 losses going into their season finale.

Making his fourth big league appearance, Burke (2-0) struck out six and walked three, helping stop Detroit's six-game winning streak.

Detroit had two baserunners in each of the first two innings. Burke allowed only one runner in his last three innings.

“We had a couple of chances early to change his day,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “They got somebody up early because I think he had 30 pitches in the first and never really broke through.”

Burke held playoff-bound San Diego to one run and two hits in six innings during his previous outing. He persevered through dreary playing conditions in Saturday’s start.

“It’s nothing I haven’t pitched in before,” Burke said, who played college ball at Maryland. “I’m from Massachusetts and went to a Big Ten school, so I got used to pitching in this stuff. After the first two innings, I kind of settled in.”

Michael Soroka didn't allow a baserunner while striking out five in three innings. Gus Varland finished a three-hitter, just the seventh shutout for the White Sox.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe throws against the Chicago White...

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe throws against the Chicago White Sox in the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Detroit. Credit: AP/Paul Sancya

Detroit, which will be the No. 2 or 3 wild card in the AL playoffs, on Friday clinched its first postseason berth since 2014 with its 10th win in 11 games.

A night after setting the post-1900 record for losses, Chicago (40-121) won for the fourth time in a five-game span for only the second time this season. The White Sox won a season-high four straight from May 8-11.

Benintendi also doubled and scored two runs and Bryan Ramos added a solo homer for the White Sox.

Jackson Jobe, a well-regarded 22-year-old Detroit right-hander, had a hitless three-inning relief stint. Making his second big league appearance, Jobe had his first two career strikeouts.

Chicago White Sox's Bryan Ramos reacts to striking out against...

Chicago White Sox's Bryan Ramos reacts to striking out against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Detroit. Credit: AP/Paul Sancya

In a game that started 2 hours, 20 minutes late because of inclement weather, Ramos homered in the second off Beau Brieske (4-5) and Andrew Vaughn hit an RBI single in the sixth against Ty Madden.

Benintendi followed a leadoff walk to Zach DeLoach in the eighth a two-run homer. He also hit 20 in 2017, his first full season with Boston.

Hinch didn't think there was a letdown after Friday's celebration.

“I don't want to make any excuses whatsoever,” he said. “There was a lot of energy this morning coming out of last night. Then we sat around a little bit and then go out and it wasn't a great day to play. We're going to chalk this up and get through it and bounce back tomorrow. We have a chance to win the series and the regular season on a much better note.”

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Jonathan Cannon (4-10, 4.37 ERA) starts Sunday against a Tigers pitcher to be announced.

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