DETROIT -- After the eighth inning, the Comerica Park scoreboard greeted J.D. Martinez with a highlight reel set to the theme song from Welcome Back, Kotter.The party was already well underway Wednesday night.Martinez hadnt played since fracturing his elbow June 16, but he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and hit Chris Sales first pitch into the shrubs above the centerfield fence to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.I saw the pitch coming and it looked nice and slow, and I just knew, he said.The homer turned out to be the winning run as Detroit won its eighth straight and moved within two games of first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.That was like a movie, Detroit infielder Ian Kinsler said. That was something Ive never seen before. It is certainly good to have him back.Martinez received a long standing ovation when he made his way to the plate to hit for James McCann, and it only got louder as he launched Sales fastball an estimated 434 feet.That was probably the coolest moment of my career, he said. I tried to go up there with a plan, but it was so crazy that I just decided to see the ball and hit the ball.The crowd of 32,526 roared again during the musical tribute until Martinez took a curtain call.If I could thank every fan individually, I would, he said. I didnt know what to do. I wasnt expecting any of that.Sale said he approached Martinez the same way he would had he been playing every day.Nothing different at all, he said. I havent looked at it again, but I thought it was a good pitch, but hes a great hitter and they do things to win games. Thats what J.D. did to me.The White Sox put their first two runners on against Rodriguez in the ninth, and Melky Cabrera moved to third on Justin Morneaus fly out. Rodriguez struck out Todd Frazier, but walked Avisail Garcia to load the bases. Dioner Navarro grounded out to second to end the game.I knew he was going to be throwing changeups, and I wanted to get a good pitch to hit, Navarro said. I was just too anxious and got ahead of it.Sale (14-5) took the loss, allowing two runs on six hits in an eight-inning complete game. He walked one and struck out 10.Thats about as sharp as hes looked all season, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. They got one run with a slice down the line, and the other one, you just tip your hat to J.D.Shane Greene (2-2) got the win after pitching out of a seventh-inning jam, while Rodriguez picked up his 30th save.Rookie Michael Fulmer allowed one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings.Sale was making his first start against the Tigers since being a late scratch on July 23 -- the night he cut up the teams throwback jerseys.Fulmer and Sale dueled early, although the rookie was aided by Chicago hitting into three double plays in the first four innings.The Tigers finally broke through in the fourth. Miguel Cabrera led off with a double, Victor Martinez walked and Nick Castellanos hit an RBI double down the right-field line. Sale struck out Justin Upton, and Mike Aviles hit a foul pop down the first-base line. Jose Abreu made a running catch, then turned and easily threw out Victor Martinez at the plate.Fulmer kept rolling until the sixth, when Morneau tied the game with a long two-out homer to right-center. Morneau has hit two of his three homers this season off Fulmer.Frazier walked on four pitches and Fulmer hit Garcia, bringing Greene out of the Tigers bullpen to end the rally. Frazier and Garcia were the 10th and 11th runners inherited by Greene this season, with none having scored.TRAINERS ROOMWhite Sox: OF Charlie Tilson will miss the rest of the season after tearing his hamstring during his major-league debut Tuesday. Tilson is the third White Sox rookie this season to leave his first game with an injury, joining OF Jason Coats and 3B Matt Davidson. C Kevan Smith injured himself warming up for his first game, and ended up on the disabled list before playing.Tigers: Martinez was officially activated from the disabled list after missing seven weeks with a fractured elbow. Martinez didnt start Wednesday -- Brad Ausmus rested him after playing a doubleheader with Triple-A Toledo -- but is expected to start on Thursday. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) will be activated Thursday to start against the White Sox.ROUND NUMBER FOR K-RODRodriguez became the 24th pitcher to reach 900 career games with his appearance in the ninth inning. With LaTroy Hawkins retiring after last season, Rodriguez leads all active players in games pitched.UP NEXTThe teams finish their three-game series Wednesday afternoon with Zimmerman (9-4, 3.95) facing Jose Quintana (8-8, 2.89). Soccer Jerseys China . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez understands the New York Jets starting quarterback job is still up for grabs. That doesnt mean he expects the final result to be anything different from what it has been the last four seasons: with him under centre leading the team every Sunday. "Naturally, as you progress in your career, you try and tighten up and hone in," Sanchez said Thursday after voluntary workouts. "But, like Ive said, this is something I dreamed about my whole life and now Im not planning on letting go." Sanchez is approaching this off-season as though he is the starting quarterback, despite his hold on the job being extremely tenuous. There is one less competitor in the mix, however, with David Garrard planning to retire because his balky left knee has continued to give him trouble. So with Garrard stepping away and New York cutting Tim Tebow two weeks ago, Sanchez, Geno Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms are left on the roster. "Nothings changed," Sanchez said of his approach without Garrard on the team. "My mindset is the same: just stay focused, master this offence, improve on my fundamentals, be as accurate as possible, take care of the football and lead this team." It had been speculated by some that the competition to start would be between Garrard, Sanchez and Smith, despite GM John Idzik, coach Rex Ryan and offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg insisting it would be "open" to everyone. Now, Sanchez appears to have a clear advantage, although the organization is excited about the potential of Smith, the former record-breaking West Virginia quarterback who slid in the draft from a potential top-10 pick all the way to the second round. "He looks good," Sanchez said of Smith. "Hes sharp. He works hard, doesnt say too much. Just plays his butt off and competes. Thats great." Sanchez said Garrards retirement was "a little bit abrupt," but praised the 35-year-old veteran for "a career to celebrate." Now, Sanchez is the veteran of the bunch in the quarterback room. That could still change, of course, if the team pursues another experienced player to push Sanchez and mentor Smith, but there arent many options. The list includes the likes of Vince Young, JaMarcus Russell, Matt Leinart, Trent Edwards, Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch -- oh, and, Tebow. Sanchez, however, insists that McElroy and Simms should very much be in the quarterback conversation. "Dont count those other two out," he said. "Trust me, its a fierce deal. Were all excited." Sanchez is particularly thrilled to put a miserable season behind him in which he turned the ball over 26 times, including when he ran into the backside of guard Brandon Moore -- the blooper-reel favourite "Butt-Fumble" -- last November against New England. He was benched for the first time in his career late last season, and appeared to lose confidence.dddddddddddd And, the hits keep coming for Sanchez. Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith said during a radio interview Wednesday that, "I wouldnt let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich." Sanchez took the high road, refusing to fire back and instead wishing Smith and the Panthers well. And, frankly, hes got bigger things to worry about these days. Mornhinweg said during a conference call with season ticket holders Wednesday that the Jets would have a "bona fide quarterback competition. Period." He added that he has thought a lot about how the snaps would be distributed in practices, but theres now one less quarterback to consider with Garrard no longer in the mix. Mornhinweg also indicated hed like someone to rise to the top of the competition "quicker rather than later." "I have no idea," Sanchez said when asked if he could be that guy. "Im focused on playing the very best I can. As soon as they tell me, Youre the guy; youre not the guy, then well know. Theyve given me no indication on when that should be." Sanchez has been working with Mornhinweg and new quarterbacks coach David Lee on cutting down his turnovers, making him throw the ball away in practice rather than forcing a play and making a mistake. "Marty touched on it," Sanchez said. "He said its a mentality. Theres a point where you bite your nails growing up or something and then you just stop. Whatever it takes, you just stop. Its a habit. It becomes a way of thinking and a way of making decisions on the field." Sanchez is also looking forward to playing in Mornhinwegs West Coast-style offence, something he was somewhat familiar with from his days at Southern California. "Im from the West Coast," he said with a big grin. He also spent time with Jeff Garcia, who played for Mornhinweg in Philadelphia, during the off-season and thinks this is a system in which he can be consistently successful. "I love to feel that way, and thats the way I do (feel)," Sanchez said. "I feel good about everything going in, about the progression of things." ------ NOTES: RB Chris Ivory, acquired during the draft from New Orleans, said he hasnt been told by the Jets hell be the No. 1 back but is preparing as if he will. Hell have a better opportunity to play than in New Orleans, where he was behind Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram. "It was just a tough situation over there," he said. "We all had our roles. Its just tough to fit four backs in a system." ... LB Quinton Coples was called out by Ryan last weekend for having a subpar day in the weight room, and the coach wanted to make sure last years first-round pick knew he was disappointed. "I agree with him," Coples said, adding that he "gave better effort" the next day, and "made sure that wont happen again." ' ' '