DETROIT -- When a manager pinch-runs for Victor Martinez with two outs in the ninth inning and the scored is tied, he can expect to get first-guessed.

And when the pinch-runner stays in the game and strikes out with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, the bases loaded and his team one run down, the manager can expect to get second-guessed as well.

Which is precisely what happened Thursday when Josh Wilson was struck out by laboring closer David Robertson to preserve the Chicago White Sox's 8-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

"Josh Wilson might get me another day," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said, "but it didn't happen (Thursday)."

"It's easy to double-guess," said Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez, who singled with two outs in the ninth of a 5-5 game and was replaced on the bases by Wilson. "You've got to do your moves, take what happens.

"If (Yoenis) Cespedes hits one in the gap, I get held at third base. We're trying to win ballgames."

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus ran Wilson for the slow-footed Martinez in the ninth because Cespedes is an extra-base threat.

"The guy at the plate, I think is second or third in doubles, in Cespedes," Ausmus said. "And certainly, if Cespedes hits a single, if you don't pinch run for him at first, you gotta pinch run for him at second.

"I just felt like, having a guy like Cespedes that can hit a double, I'd be upset with myself if he did hit a double and we don't score. So I just put Wilson in, thinking he had a better chance of scoring on a double."

But Ausmus also is known for not pinch-running for Martinez or Cabrera late in games -- because he wants them able to bat in extra innings.

Which is what didn't happen Thursday.

Tigers catcher Bryan Holaday hit a two-run single with the bases loaded and one out in the 10th to shave the White Sox lead to 8-7 after Chicago had taken an 8-5 lead in the top of the inning on a three-run triple to right by second baseman Carlos Sanchez.

Robertson got the first out in the bottom of the 10th but sandwiched singles around a walk to load the bases before Holaday's hit.

Robertson got second baseman Ian Kinsler to fly out to shallow center, leaving runners at first and second. Ventura gambled on walking Cabrera intentionally to pitch to the well-traveled and light-hitting Wilson.

"It's always risky putting the winning run at second base," Ventura said. "But with Miguel Cabrera, we've seen enough of him over the years, examples of what he can do up there, you are willing to risk walking him (intentionally).

"Maybe it's different with Victor (Martinez) back there. Maybe you don't take a chance (on walking Cabrera) then.

"I've seen enough of Miggy over the years to know (what he can do)."

Losing right-hander Joba Chamberlain (0-2) saw Chicago load the bases with two outs when Sanchez ripped a hanging 1-2 slider into the right field corner to turn a 5-5 tie into an 8-5 White Sox lead.

Left-hander Zach Duke (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth and got the win.

Chicago center fielder Adam Eaton hit right-hander Alfredo Simon's first pitch of the game for his fourth home run of the season. It was the second time Eaton had led off a game with a home run.

Detroit touched rookie left-handed starter Carlos Rodon for a pair of two-run homers. Kinsler's second homer of the season followed a leadoff single to short by center fielder Rajai Davis and gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the first inning.

Chicago added two runs in the second, one on an RBI double by Garcia and the second on catcher Tyler Flowers' RBI single.

With two outs in the fifth, Chicago designated hitter Adam LaRoche blasted a fat 3-0 pitch over Davis' head in center for a two-run double, expanding the lead to 5-2.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Detroit right fielder J.D. Martinez hit his 18th homer one out after Victor Martinez doubled to left. That cut the Tigers' deficit to 5-4.

Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to create a 5-5 tie. Third baseman Nick Castellanos doubled to left and pinch runner Andrew Romine advanced to third on a wild pitch before the sacrifice fly scored him.

The Tigers hit into three double plays, upping their major-league-high total to 76, and also wasted a leadoff triple by Castellanos in the fourth.

Simon gave up five runs, six hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five.

Rodon surrendered four runs, eight hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out seven.

NOTES: Chicago manager Robin Ventura "had a talk" with CF Adam Eaton, who stopped running on a ball hit to short Wednesday. "You run everything out," Ventura said. "You don't take anything for granted." ... Tigers C Alex Avila left Detroit on Thursday to join the club's Triple-A club in Toledo for a rehab assignment that could last a week. He will catch, then DH on alternate days. ... White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez wasn't in the starting lineup in hopes it would turn his defensive play (nine errors) around. Ventura feels it could be affecting Ramirez's hitting (.220). Ramirez hit a pinch-hit double in the eighth inning and remained in the game. ... RHP Bruce Rondon has returned to the Tigers, and manager Brad Ausmus said "he's got to work himself back into a role" in the bullpen. Rondon pitched to two batters in the seventh and struck both out.