Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Justin Verlander threw Detroit's first complete game in almost exactly one year to win for just the third time this season, as the Tigers topped the Chicago White Sox, 5-1, in the middle contest of a three-game series.

Verlander (3-9) allowed four hits and fanned three without walking a batter to pick up just his second victory in his last nine starts. The right-hander moved to 2-6 lifetime against the White Sox.

"The last four or five starts, I thought was throwing the ball well," Verlander said. "I knew I was close and I went out there and threw a good one."

It was Detroit's first complete game since Verlander threw a no-hitter June 12, 2007 versus Milwaukee. Verlander has three career complete games.

"He controlled that game," Tigers catcher Brandon Inge said. "He spotted his fastball on both sides of the plate, down. Whenever you do that, have a fastball, curve, change, you can mix it up at that point. That was his game, he took control of it, threw strikes. Bottom line, throwing strikes, right there."

Marcus Thames slugged a three-run homer in the second inning for the Tigers, winners in four of their last five games. Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez knocked in the other runs for Detroit, which has taken the first two games of this set.

Javier Vazquez (6-5) yielded 10 hits and five runs over six innings, while walking three and logging nine strikeouts in defeat.

A.J. Pierzynski drove in the lone run for the AL Central-leading White Sox, who had won seven straight coming into this series. Brian Anderson had two of Chicago's four hits.

Anderson singled to center to begin the ninth, but then Tigers got the benefit of a poor call. Orlando Cabrera hit a ball towards the hole on the left side of the infield. Shortstop Edgar Renteria ranged to his right to get the ball, but his throw to second appeared late as Anderson appeared safe. However, second base umpire Chris Tiller ruled Anderson out.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn't argue, instead motioning for Anderson to get back to the dugout.

Pierzynski then fouled out and Carlos Quentin grounded out to end the game.

"He had electric stuff tonight," Anderson said of Verlander. "We helped him out by swinging at a lot of first pitches and keeping his pitch count down. He just pounded the zone with strikes. When a pitcher does that to you, it's going to be a short night."

Detroit struck in the second inning. Miguel Cabrera walked, Renteria hit a one-out single and Thames followed with a blast over the wall in left. Thames hit came after the ball was dropped at second on Renteria's infield hit.

"It was a breaking ball," Thames said. "I thought he would throw me something soft since runners were in scoring position. He threw me a slider and he left it out over the plate and I put a good swing on it and hit it out."

Cabrera doubled and scored on a Pierzynski base hit in the fourth, but the Tigers got that run back in the bottom half when Ordonez singled in Inge.

Carlos Guillen tripled in Placido Polanco in the sixth.