DETROIT — The game was in the White Sox’ grasp — until it wasn’t.
Despite holding a two-run lead and playing clean baseball for much of the game, the Sox couldn’t close the deal, allowing three runs in the ninth inning to fall to the Tigers 4-3 for their fifth consecutive loss.
Left-hander Fraser Ellard — who had retired Kerry Carpenter with runners on first and second in the eighth — allowed a single to Javy Baez, who was forced at second on a grounder by Trey Sweeney, and walked Zach McKinstry after a 10-pitch at-bat to put runners on first and second with one out.
Ellard said he should’ve taken a breath after McKinstry’s at-bat to refocus on pinch hitter Riley Greene, but he didn’t. He walked Green on four pitches.
‘‘The one I’m really kicking myself is the Riley Greene at-bat,’’ Ellard said.
Right-hander Jordan Leasure entered and walked Andy Ibanez to force in a run, and the final nail in the coffin came when Spencer Torkelson doubled to left field to drive in McKinstry and Greene for the walk-off victory.
‘‘It comes down to [the fact] I walked two guys, and those guys came in and scored,’’ Ellard said.
The result negated a sterling performance by left-hander Martin Perez, who allowed one run, four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 6⅓ innings.
‘‘We lost in the last inning,’’ Perez said. ‘‘That’s part of the game, man. As a pitcher, you’ve got to stay on the attack. We got behind [in the count] and we walked a couple of guys, and they got a double. But it’s still early. I trust my team, and I trust my [relievers]. We’ll be fine.’’
The bullpen’s struggles began in the seventh. Right-hander Mike Clevinger got Baez to fly out for the second out, but he walked Sweeney and McKinstry, forcing manager Will Venable to turn to Cam Booser for the final out.
Clevinger’s performance portended that of the rest of the bullpen, which couldn’t find the strike zone. Penn Murfee followed Booser and allowed a hit and a walk, and Ellard and Leasure combined for three walks. Five Sox relievers allowed six walks, denying the defense the chance to make a play.
‘‘Just too many walks out of the bullpen,’’ Venable said. ‘‘We expect better out of those guys.’’
The three-game sweep revealed all the Sox’ flaws. They were outscored 18-9, and their bullpen wasn’t dependable. Entering Sunday, Sox relievers had the 13th-worst ERA in the majors (4.13).
‘‘You have to be competitive in the zone,’’ Venable said of Ellard and Leasure. ‘‘You look at the McKinstry at-bat, that was a good at-bat where he battled and earned that walk. But Fraser’s in the game there to get those guys out, and we’ve got to make them put the ball into play.’’
After a would-be victory turned into a loss, the Sox have to turn the page before facing the Guardians on Tuesday. It will be the Guardians’ home opener.
‘‘We have good game plans, [and] our starters are putting us in positions to win,’’ Ellard said. ‘‘The overall performance and product has been a lot cleaner. Just got to put everything together.’’