GDT103: 7/27/13 - DET (57-45) VS PHI (49-54) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (14-1, 3.14 ERA)

In his first outing after his All-Star Game start, Scherzer stymied the White Sox and improved to 14-1. He has a 2.21 road ERA this year and 157 strikeouts on the season.



Phillies: LHP Raul Valdes (1-0, 7.59 ERA)

Valdes starts in place of Cliff Lee, who was scratched from the start because of a stiff neck. Valdes went 3-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 12 starts this season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but has struggled in the Phillies' bullpen.




Phils try to snap skid without Lee against Scherzer
With southpaw scratched, Valdes fills in against AL All-Star starter

By Stephen Pianovich / MLB.com | 7/26/2013 10:25 PM ET

There is a lot of speculation about Cliff Lee's future, but one thing is for sure: He will not be on the mound Saturday in Detroit.

Lee was scratched from his scheduled start with a stiff neck, the Phillies announced during Friday's series-opening loss. Raul Valdes, who has a 7.59 ERA in 11 Major League appearances out of the bullpen this season, will start in his place.

With the non-waiver Trade Deadline on Wednesday and the Phillies sliding with six-straight losses, Lee's name has become the subject of some rumors. The left-handed All-Star is 10-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 20 starts.

Now, the Phillies will have to hope Valdes can replicate the form he showed as a starter with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, not a reliever in the bigs. The lefy has a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts for the IronPigs.

But he'll need more offense, as the Phillies have scored only 10 runs during their six-game slide. They'll have a challenge to snap out of it, as Max Scherzer will get the nod for the Tigers. Scherzer started the All-Star Game for the American League and has 157 strikeouts in 20 starts. The right-hander started his second half with eight innings of two-run ball Monday against the White Sox.

He didn't walk any batters in that start and has a 5-1 strikeout to walk ratio this season -- the sixth-best mark in baseball.

"When you look at the swings and misses, obviously if you're able to generate strikeouts and minimize walks, that's a huge recipe for success," Scherzer said. "Those are results of attacking hitters with four pitches. The process is using four pitches. Analyzing results is looking at the strikeout-to-walk rate."

Tigers: Cabrera takes BP, but sits Friday
Miguel Cabrera took batting practice Friday, but was held out of the lineup for the fourth straight game.

The slugger has not played since Monday, when he left a game against the White Sox with a sore left hip flexor.

"He's made real good improvement," Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Friday. "Obviously, we held him out [Friday] to give him a chance to do some activity. He's feeling a lot better, but he still feels he needs another day or so."

Cabrera leads the Majors with a .358 batting average, and he also has 31 homers, 96 RBIs and a 1.120 OPS.

Phillies: Ruf getting time in left field
With left fielder Domonic Brown on the seven-day disabled list and center fielder Ben Revere still nursing a broken bone in his right foot, the Phillies need depth in their outfield.

Fortunately for manager Charlie Manuel, Darin Ruf can provide that.

Ruf was called up to play first base when Ryan Howard landed on the DL with a knee injury, but has also spent some time during his career in left field. And that's where he was Friday.

The Phillies have an extra bat in their lineup this weekend since they are in Detroit's AL park, and Brown, who sustained concussion-like symptoms after diving for a fly ball against the Cardinals, is not eligible to return until next Tuesday.

Ruf, who is hitting .288 since being called up July 6, went 1-for-4 in the opener.

Worth noting
• Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter missed Friday's game with a sore Achilles.

Stephen Pianovich is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)

• LHP Darin Downs (Left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis, placed on the 15-day disabled list July 7, 2013.)

• 2B Omar Infante (Left ankle sprain, placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 4, 2013.)




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• SUN, Jul 28:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (7-6, 4.49 ERA)) VS
PHILLIES: (RHP Jonathan Pettibone (5-4, 3.97 ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• MON, Jul 29:
OFF DAY


• TUE, Jul 30:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (8-7, 2.68 ERA)) VS
NATIONALS: (RHP Stephen Strasburg (5-8, 2.85 ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

   Austin Jackson, CF
   Torii Hunter, RF
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B
   Prince Fielder, 1B (0-for-1 off Valdes)
   Victor Martinez, DH
   Jhonny Peralta, SS
   Matt Tuiasosopo, LF
   Hernan Perez, 2B
   Alex Avila, C

P: Max Scherzer

PHILLIES (career numbers off Scherzer)

   Michael Young, 3B (7-for-23, 2 walks, 4 K’s)
   Kevin Frandsen, 1B (0-for-3)
   Jimmy Rollins, SS
   Chase Utley, 2B (1-for-2, walk)
   Delmon Young, DH (3-for-10, 3 K’s)
   Darin Ruf, LF
   Laynce Nix, RF
   Erik Kratz, C
   Michael Martinez, CF

P: Raul Valdes

Chris McCosky@cmccosky
“@tigers: Rainbow emerging over Comerica Park after the storm.

PHI - Top 1st
B:1 S:1 O:1
Michael Young lines out sharply to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Kevin Frandsen lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jimmy Rollins flies out to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo.


DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Laynce Nix.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Torii Hunter pops out to second baseman Chase Utley.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera homers (32) on a fly ball to left center field.
DET 1 - 0


B:1 S:2 O:2
Prince Fielder singles on a ground ball to center fielder Michael Martinez, deflected by second baseman Chase Utley.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Martinez, deflected by shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Prince Fielder to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to left fielder Darin Ruf. Prince Fielder scores. Victor Martinez to 2nd.
DET 2 - 0

B:1 S:2 O:2
Matt Tuiasosopo homers (7) on a fly ball to center field. Victor Martinez scores. Jhonny Peralta scores.
DET 5 - 0

B:1 S:2 O:3
Hernan Perez flies out to right fielder Laynce Nix.

DET 5 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

PHI - Top 2nd
B:1 S:0 O:1
Chase Utley flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Darin Ruf doubles (5) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Laynce Nix strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Laynce Nix.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Austin Jackson lines out sharply to left fielder Darin Ruf.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Torii Hunter singles on a line drive to left fielder Darin Ruf. Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Darin Ruf. Alex Avila scores. Torii Hunter to 2nd.
DET 6 - 0

B:0 S:3 O:2
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Raul Valdes. Torii Hunter to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Martinez. Torii Hunter scores. Miguel Cabrera scores.
DET 8 - 0

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to left fielder Darin Ruf. Victor Martinez to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Matt Tuiasosopo called out on strikes.

DET 8 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

PHI - Top 3rd
B:0 S:3 O:1
Erik Kratz strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Michael Martinez grounds out, second baseman Hernan Perez to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Michael Young lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


DET - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Hernan Perez flies out to left fielder Darin Ruf.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila grounds out, shortstop Jimmy Rollins to first baseman Kevin Frandsen.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder Michael Martinez.

DET 8 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

PHI - Top 4th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Kevin Frandsen called out on strikes.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Jimmy Rollins grounds out sharply to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Chase Utley flies out to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo.


DET - Bot 4th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Torii Hunter doubles (25) on a line drive to right fielder Laynce Nix. Torii Hunter advances to 3rd, on a fielding error by right fielder Laynce Nix.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Jimmy Rollins to first baseman Kevin Frandsen. Torii Hunter scores.
DET 9 - 0

B:0 S:3 O:2
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez doubles (23) on a fly ball to center fielder Michael Martinez.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: J. Ramirez replaces Raul Valdes.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Jhonny Peralta strikes out swinging.

DET 9 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

PHI - Top 5th
Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces third baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 3rd, playing third base.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Delmon Young strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Darin Ruf grounds out, pitcher Max Scherzer to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Laynce Nix strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 5th
Defensive Substitution: Steve Susdorf replaces third baseman Michael Young, batting 1st, playing left field.

Defensive switch from first base to second base for Kevin Frandsen.

Defensive Substitution: John McDonald replaces shortstop Jimmy Rollins, batting 3rd, playing shortstop.


Defensive Substitution: John Mayberry replaces second baseman Chase Utley, batting 4th, playing center field.

Defensive switch from left field to first base for Darin Ruf.

Defensive switch from center field to third base for Michael Martinez.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Matt Tuiasosopo grounds out, second baseman Kevin Frandsen to first baseman Darin Ruf.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Hernan Perez singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Steve Susdorf.
0 9
B:2 S:2 O:1
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Laynce Nix. Hernan Perez to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson walks. Hernan Perez to 3rd. Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Torii Hunter out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder John Mayberry. Hernan Perez scores.
DET 10 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:3
Ramon Santiago grounds out, first baseman Darin Ruf to pitcher J. C. Ramirez.

DET 10 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

PHI - Top 6th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Erik Kratz strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Michael Martinez called out on strikes.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Steve Susdorf grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 6th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder pops out to third baseman Michael Martinez in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez lines out to center fielder John Mayberry.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, second baseman Kevin Frandsen to first baseman Darin Ruf.

DET 10 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

PHI - Top 7th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces first baseman Prince Fielder, batting 4th, playing first base.

Pitching Change: Al Alburquerque replaces Max Scherzer.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Kevin Frandsen singles on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo.

B:0 S:0 O:2
John McDonald grounds into a double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Hernan Perez to first baseman Don Kelly. Kevin Frandsen out at 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
John Mayberry strikes out on a foul tip.


DET - Bot 7th
Pitching Change: Jake Diekman replaces J. Ramirez.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Matt Tuiasosopo grounds out, third baseman Michael Martinez to first baseman Darin Ruf.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Hernan Perez flies out to center fielder John Mayberry.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila grounds out to first baseman Darin Ruf.

DET 10 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

PHI - Top 8th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Delmon Young pops out to first baseman Don Kelly in foul territory.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Darin Ruf walks.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Laynce Nix grounds out to first baseman Don Kelly. Darin Ruf to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Erik Kratz grounds out, third baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Don Kelly.


DET - Bot 8th
Pitching Change: Justin De Fratus replaces Jake Diekman.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder John Mayberry.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Mayberry.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Andy Dirks replaces Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Steve Susdorf.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Laynce Nix.

DET 10 - 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

PHI - Top 9th
Andy Dirks remains in the game as the right fielder.

Pitching Change: Evan Reed replaces Al Alburquerque.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Michael Martinez grounds out, pitcher Evan Reed to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Steve Susdorf grounds out, second baseman Hernan Perez to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Kevin Frandsen grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Don Kelly.


TIGERS WIN 10-0

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Scherzer
L: Valdes


Game Info

WP: Valdes.
Pitches-strikes: Valdes 80-58, Ramirez, J 38-25, Diekman 9-8, De Fratus 13-10, Scherzer 75-50, Alburquerque 20-12, Reed, E 7-4.
Groundouts-flyouts: Valdes 2-4, Ramirez, J 3-1, Diekman 2-1, De Fratus 0-3, Scherzer 4-4, Alburquerque 3-0, Reed, E 3-0.
Batters faced: Valdes 23, Ramirez, J 10, Diekman 3, De Fratus 4, Scherzer 19, Alburquerque 7, Reed, E 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Ramirez, J 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Paul Schrieber. 1B: Chad Fairchild. 2B: Jeff Kellogg. 3B: Eric Cooper.
Weather: 62 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:25 (:47 delay).
Att: 41,970.
Venue: Comerica Park.
July 27, 2013