and playing fewer events so he can focus more on trying to

CHICAGO -- Max Scherzer wasnt at his best Wednesday. But it was more than enough to beat the White Sox. Scherzer threw six scoreless innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 5-1 to finish a two-game sweep. Scherzer (3-1) won his third straight start, allowing four hits while striking out seven to become the first pitcher in team history with at least seven strikeouts in each of his first six starts. He also became the first in the majors to do it since Tim Lincecum began the 2010 season with at least six strikeouts in his first seven starts. But it was the three walks and 105 pitches that gnawed at the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. "They fought me all the way through the whole at-bat," Scherzer said. "I just thought I could have been a little more efficient so I could have pitched deeper into the game." Scherzer beat the White Sox for the second straight time, following up his April 24 win when he went six innings and allowed two runs in a 7-4 victory. He also helped Tigers win for the fourth time in five games, and shut down the powerful White Sox offence for the second straight day. "Yeah, we missed out on a couple of opportunities today and yesterday too, but those guys are pretty good pitchers and have been for a while," White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers said. "They do some good things in those situations and get the job done. We just have to find a way to battle through on some of those and get some runs across." On Tuesday, Justin Verlander and two relievers held the White Sox to seven hits in a 4-3 Detroit win. Scherzer and the Tigers continued that Wednesday against a team that started the day first in the American League in runs and second in home runs and slugging, coming within one out of a shutout. "Theres 29 other managers that would like to be able to do that," Detroits Brad Ausmus said of starting Verlander and Scherzer on consecutive days. Chicagos Robin Ventura is certainly one of those managers. As with Flowers, he heaped praise on Scherzer. "Hes great, hes always tough. You get some guys on, you get opportunities and thats when good pitchers really show their stuff. He did that today," Ventura said. "We at least got him a high pitch count and he couldnt get eight or nine innings. But, hes just tough." The Tigers got all the runs they needed in a four-run fourth, when Detroit scored four times against Hector Noesi (0-2). Bryan Holaday capped the rally with a two-run double. Noesi, making a spot start for Chicago, went 3 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits. He breezed through the first three innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth in his first start of the season. "We dont know much about the guy, and I dont think he has been extended that far so it may have been a combination of the hitters getting a chance to see him a few times and also maybe because he hadnt been as deep into a game this year," Ausmus said. "He could have been getting a little tired as well." The White Sox challenged Scherzer as well, but left seven runners on against the Tigers righty. "Im very cognizant of what theyre able to do and always willing to give them credit," Scherzer said. "Today I thought they did a good job of battling me but when push came to shove I thought I was better." NOTES: The Tigers announced that left-hander Robbie Ray will make his major-league debut Tuesday in Detroit against the Astros. Ray, 22, was acquired this off-season from the Nationals as part of the trade that sent starter Doug Fister to Washington, and will start in place of injured starter Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez is on the disabled list with a laceration on his right middle finger and threw from flat ground prior to Wednesdays game. . C Alex Avila missed his second straight game with back spasms. . Robin Ventura said LHP Chris Sale is "feeling better" but a rehab start is a possibility if his recovery continues to be extended. Sale has been on the disabled list since April 22 -- retroactive to April 18 -- with a flexor muscle strain in his left arm. Ventura also said RHP Felipe Paulino (right rotator cuff inflammation) will have a rehab assignment coming up "pretty soon." Tobias Harris Jersey . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Luc Mbah a Moute Jersey . Hes had three top-10 results this season and feels ready to put it all together and finally hoist a trophy at the top level. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.info/Customized/ .Steamboat Ski Resort contends Steamboat Springs, Colorado has long been known as Ski Town, U.S.A., and claims in a new lawsuit that Salt Lake tourism officials violated their trademark when they rolled out the Ski City marketing campaign last month. Jerome Robinson Jersey . This is an exercise I have undertaken a few times, starting in 2009, and hope that Ive refined my approach a little bit in that time to help paint a better picture. Blake Griffin Jersey . He had spent 16 days on the disabled list before being activated Thursday. He was batting just .203 when he came to bat in the 11th inning on Sunday.KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Keegan Bradley is playing so well at the CIMB Classic that not even the fact his beloved Boston Red Sox are in the World Series can distract him. Teeing off on Friday in Malaysia while the Red Sox were playing the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of the World Series in Boston, Bradley sunk seven birdies -- including five in a six-hole stretch on his back nine -- to shoot a 6-under 66 and open up a four-stroke lead over Ryan Moore heading into the weekend. Hes at 13-under 131 for the tournament, an official event on the PGA Tour for the first time. Bradley, who grew up near Boston in Woodstock, Vt., is such a big Red Sox fan, his bio on the tour website lists his "biggest thrill outside golf" as Bostons World Series triumphs in 2004 and 2007. But even though hes been getting updates on this years series from his girlfriend, Jillian, on the course, hes kept his focus on his own game. So much so, in fact, hes playing some of his best golf -- even though the Red Sox lost on Thursday to even the series at one game apiece. "In the back of my mind, Im wondering whats going on (with the Red Sox)," he said. "I know my mom at home is flipping back and forth, watching. Its fun to know yesterday the Red Sox won, the (Boston) Bruins won and I shot 7 under." Bradley has carded only one bogey in 36 holes at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. And he nearly had an eagle and another birdie on the back nine on Friday, missing both putts by inches. "Its hard to remember a time where Ive been more dialed in than these last two days," he said. Moore didnt follow up his stellar play in the opening round -- when he made 10 birdies -- with an equally strong second round. He had three bogeys to go with three birdies in an even-par 72 and sits at 9-under 135, a stroke ahead of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Chris Stroud in a tie for third. "Obviously it wasnt the round I had yesterday but amazingly enough it wasnt too dissimilar," Moore said. "I hit a lot of really good putts today that just were just right on the edge, burning the edges, so overall Im still very happy with my game and where Im at." Graham DeLaet of Weybun, Sask., followed an even opening round by shooting 5-under 67 Friday, moving him into a tie for 13th. David Hearn of BBrantford, Ont.dddddddddddd shot 2-under 70 and was tied for 33rd. One player whos not at all happy is Phil Mickelson, who again struggled with wayward drives a day after saying his swing is as bad as its been in a long time. After a long wait caused by a backup at the 10th hole, Mickelson pulled his tee shot to the left, just out of bounds under a tree. He clenched his teeth and muttered to himself, but was in better spirits when he reached the ball, joking to the crowd, "Everybody OK? Sorry about that." Then, on the back nine, Mickelson gave himself two tough chip shots from sand traps onto the greens that led to back-to-back bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes. He birdied his last two holes to salvage a 2-under 70, but that didnt give the five-time major winner much solace. "I dont have the control of the swing that Id like," said Mickelson, who is 10 strokes off the pace at 3 under. "Im not sure which side Im going to miss it on and playing this golf course from the rough, which I did today is extremely difficult. The rough is tough. Youre fighting for pars the whole day." Mickelson said before the tournament hed be taking more time off this season and playing fewer events so he can focus more on trying to win the majors, particularly the U.S. Open, which would complete a career Grand Slam. But his biggest priority right now is fixing his swing. "Ive got a lot of issues and I think that Ill address it more in the off-season. This week and next week (at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai), its going to be difficult," he said. The surprise of the Malaysian tournament so far has been Kiradech, who briefly shared the lead on Friday before Bradley went on his back-nine birdie run. The Thai is competing in just his fourth PGA Tour event but didnt look out of his element playing alongside Mickelson and defending champion Nick Watney. He knows this course well -- he won the Malaysian Open at the same golf club in March to earn his European Tour card. He has a chance to receive a two-year U.S. tour exemption and invitation to the Masters with a win on Sunday. "Im trying my best. I dont want to force myself," he said. "If I can do well and have a lot of luck, make a lot of putts, maybe Ill have a chance to get the PGA Tour card." ' ' '