GDT: 7/27/11 - DET (55-48) AT CWS (50-52) - 2:10 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Chicago White SoxWednesday, July 27, 2011
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, IL
Game Time - 2:10 p.m. EDT REMEMBERING SPARKYThe Tigers are wearing a patch on their right
sleeves this season in the shape of a home
plate emblazoned with the name SPARKY, to
honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky
Anderson who passed away on November 4,
2010. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Danks, Scherzer to duel for important series winBy Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 7/27/2011 12:15 AM ET
The White Sox came into their series against the Tigers knowing how important all three games were in the bigger picture of the American League Central race.
And now, after splitting the first two games, Chicago still sits 4 1/2 games back of first-place Detroit, trying to take a crucial series victory on Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field.
The South Siders will turn to left-hander John Danks, who has worked to regain his form since coming off the disabled list on July 20 with a strained right oblique.
Tossing seven shutout innings in his last start against the Royals, Danks took a no-decision. He also struck out six and walked one.
"I'm feeling a lot better going into every start," Danks said. "I feel like I'm throwing the ball well and getting results, too, which makes it always a lot more fun."
Danks also feels like he is making more quality pitches on a consistent basis and getting the outs to prove it.
"We've been working hard. We haven't really changed a whole lot in terms of our preparation in between starts," Danks said. "It seems like even hard-hit balls, there's a chance they will get caught. For a little bit, it felt like there weren't any of them getting caught."
The Tigers will try to shake the White Sox in the series finale with right-hander Max Scherzer, who picked up his 11th win of the season on Friday against the Twins.
Going seven innings, Scherzer gave up just one run on four hits for his third straight quality start. He also faced just four batters over the minimum in his seven frames.
"He really had a pretty comfortable seven innings," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said afterward. "I thought he did a good job. He didn't really tire at all, I didn't think."
Tigers: Inge officially joins Toledo• Brandon Inge was back with Triple-A Toldeo on Tuesday, after the longtime Tiger cleared waivers earlier in the day and was officially outrighted.
The assignment completes last Wednesday's roster move to designate his contract after Detroit acquired Wilson Betemit from Kansas City. As a player with 10 years of Major League service time, all with the Tigers, Inge had the right to decline a Minor League assignment and ask for his release, which the Tigers would've had to honor. He decided to accept it after talking with his agent and organizational officials.
• Tigers top prospect Jacob Turner returned to the rotation at Double-A Erie on Monday night with eight innings of three-run ball after having his turn in the SeaWolves rotation skipped last week.
White Sox: Pena out for seasonReliever Tony Pena, who has not pitched for the White Sox since May 27, will not be on the mound the rest of the season. Pena said on Tuesday that Tommy John surgery had been recommended on his right elbow, but he will seek a second opinion next week when visiting Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.
"Oh my god, it hurt," said Pena of his last rehab appearance, which lasted four pitches. "They told me I've got to do surgery. I don't know how it feels now because I'm not pitching."
Worth Noting• Aside from Gavin Floyd pitching on Friday, the White Sox have not set up their remaining rotation against Boston. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said that Philip Humber is "out there somewhere" against the Red Sox. Humber has been available out of the bullpen during the Tigers series and in Sunday's final game against the Indians.
•
Detroit's Jhonny Peralta is hitting .400 (16-for-40) since the All-Star break, with three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs. Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (11-5, 4.35 ERA)Picking up his 11th win of the season, Scherzer beat the Twins for the first time on Friday in five career starts against Minnesota. Scherzer went seven innings, giving up just one run on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
White Sox: LHP John Danks (3-8, 3.92 ERA)Danks certainly didn't look rusty in his first start since going on the DL on June 26. The lefty threw seven scoreless innings against KC, allowing five hits and striking out six. He left with a 1-0 lead but got a no-decision in an 11-inning loss.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
-
Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
60-day DL on May 11)
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To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet MLB.TV Gameday Audio•
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Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
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Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) • Thursday, July 28: Tigers (RHP
Brad Penny (7-7, 4.51 ERA))
VS Angels (RHP
Joel Pineiro (5-5, 4.61 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Friday, July 29: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (10-6, 4.67 ERA))
VS Angels (RHP
Tyler Chatwood (6-6, 3.64 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Saturday, July 30: Tigers (LHP
Duane Below (0-1, 4.66 ERA))
VS Angels (RHP
Dan Haren (10-6, 3.01 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, July 31: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (13-5, 2.24 ERA))
VS Angels (RHP
Jered Weaver (13-4, 1.81 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)