DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers aren't proud of what they
accomplished.

Detroit became the first team ever to lose its first nine games
in consecutive seasons, falling 5-0 to the Chicago White Sox on
Friday night.

''It's definitely not something to be proud of,'' first baseman
Carlos Pena said. ''But we wear that on our sleeve -- we're 0-9. We
were 0-9 last year too. We're the Tigers, that's where we are right
now.

''But we're not going to bow our heads to anyone, or explain
ourselves, or make excuses, or say we're sorry to anyone.''

Jose Valentin hit a two-run homer and Esteban Loaiza pitched
eight scoreless innings as the White Sox won for the sixth time in
seven games.

''As a player on the opposite team playing against them, I feel
real comfortable,'' Valentin said. ''It doesn't mean that you're
going to lay down and take advantage because they're not playing
good. Let me tell you what, they're 0-9, but I don't want to be the
first team to get the first 'W' for them.

''I'm sorry for them, but that's what we get paid for -- to win.
It would be kind of a disappointment to us to let those guys beat
us.''

The Tigers started 0-11 last year, then went on to tie Tampa Bay
for the worst record in baseball at 55-106. Rookie manager Alan
Trammell is still looking for his first victory this season.

''I'm not a happy camper and I hope our players are not happy
campers,'' Trammell said. ''What are you going to do, are you going
to quit? No, that's not acceptable.''

The 1962-63 New York Mets held the record for the worst starts
in consecutive seasons. They were 0-9 in 1962 as an expansion team,
and 0-8 the next season.

White Sox manager Jerry Manuel was drafted by Detroit in 1972
and played 60 games with the Tigers.

''They've been a tremendous franchise for a long time,'' Manuel
said.

The Tigers said 12,577 tickets were sold, but it appeared that
at least a few thousand didn't show up for the historic night.
Three fans ran across the field in the bottom of the ninth and were
taken away by security.

D'Angelo Jimenez hit a leadoff double and scored on Valentin's
fourth homer. Jimenez homered in the second to put the White Sox
ahead 3-0.

Loaiza (2-0) gave up two hits, matching a career-low, and no
walks while striking out three.

The Tigers have been awful offensively this season.

They have been shut out three times, have scored a major
league-low 14 runs, haven't scored an earned run in 21 innings and
are hitting .140.

Against Loaiza, Detroit didn't have a baserunner until Shane
Halter hit a bloop single to center with one out in the fourth.
Ramon Santiago led off the sixth with a bunt single.

Loaiza won his fifth in a row against the Tigers and is 8-2
against them in 13 starts.

The White Sox signed Loaiza as a free agent in January after he
spent the past two-plus seasons in Toronto, and he has already
surpassed Manuel's expectations.

''I kind of thought he would just kind of be an innings guy, but
still give you an opportunity to win a game here or there,'' Manuel
said. ''He's been more than that.''

Adam Bernero (0-2) gave up three runs, six hits and three walks
in seven innings.

Bernero pitched well -- after his rough start. After Valentin
singled in the second following Jimenez's home run, the White Sox
did not have another base hit until hitting two consecutive singles
in the fifth. Bernero then retired the next eight batters.

Magglio Ordonez hit a run-scoring double and Paul Konerko hit a
sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Game notes
Jimenez was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and three runs
scored. ... The White Sox have outscored Detroit 21-4 in four games
this season, have won eight in a row against the Tigers and are
19-7 at Comerica Park, their best record in any venue. ... Based on
opening-day rosters, the Tigers are the youngest team with an
average age of 27.38 followed by Tampa Bay at 27.41. ... Chicago's
Carlos Lee snapped an 0-for-18 streak with a single in the eighth.