GDT: 8/23/09 - DET (65-57) AT OAK (54-68) - 4:05 p.m. ET

OAKLAND -- In some ways, Rick Porcello's ejection on Aug. 11 and the five-game suspension that followed was just what he needed.

Tossed with only one inning under his belt after drilling Kevin Youkilis at Fenway Park, Porcello essentially saved himself two starts worth of work.

Porcello is 10-7 with a 4.21 ERA in 117 2/3 innings over 22 starts entering Sunday's series finale against the A's. The 20-year-old threw a total of 125 innings with Class A Lakeland last season.

Manager Jim Leyland said the amount of pitches Porcello and his young pitchers throw isn't the problem -- where they're throwing them is.

"Throwing 95 pitches here is a lot different than 95 in say Double-A," Leyland said. "Here, you get yourself into jams, throw more high-stress pitches. It's different."

Leyland said he's been watching innings for Porcello as well as reliever Ryan Perry. Perry, 22, has thrown 41 1/3 innings in 37 appearances.

"You always try to do that," Leyland said. "Everything has worked out pretty good for us so far. We're doing all right from that standpoint."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (10-7, 4.21 ERA)
Porcello's first outing after his five-game suspension for throwing at Boston's Kevin Youkilis should provide a better idea as to whether he's on his way to a high-strikeout finish. He used the combination of a devastating offspeed pitch and his usual biting sinker to rack up eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings against the Mariners on Tuesday at Comerica Park, but he left with trouble on the bases with two outs in the sixth and 93 pitches thrown.

OAK: RHP Brett Tomko (2-2, 4.21 ERA)
The A's signed Tomko to a Minor League contract on Aug. 5. On Monday, he was back in the Majors, facing the same Yankees team that released him earlier this season. The 36-year-old held New York to five hits over five innings, leading the A's to a 3-0 win. "It's been a long road this year," Tomko said. "It was kind of ironic that my first start here came against the Yankees." He'll look to keep things going against the Tigers. He hasn't faced them this season.

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Tidbits

...Left-hander Bobby Seay has had his way with both right-handed (.204 average against) and left-handed hitters (.217) this season. "That's big," Leyland said. "It's a big plus about him."
... The Tigers are 20-12 against American League West opponents.
... Placido Polanco leads all Major Leaguers with a .377 career average against the A's.
... Ryan Rayburn is batting .372 over his past 19 games.
... Double-A Erie's Thad Weber threw a no-hitter and struck out 10 in a 16-0 win over Akron on Saturday.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 13-7, 3.29 ERA) at Angels (Jered Weaver, 13-4, 3.89 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 3.18 ERA) at Angels (John Lackey, 8-6, 4.00 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 10-5, 2.86) at Angels (TBD), 3:35 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .255
Thomas, C, RF .242
Guillen, C, LF .240
Cabrera, M, 1B .335
Huff, A, DH .252
Inge, 3B .238
Avila, C .370
Everett, SS .237
Santiago, 2B .251

Oakland AVG
Kennedy, A, 3B .282
Davis, R, CF .295
Sweeney, R, RF .277
Hairston, S, LF .285
Cust, DH .234
Ellis, M, 2B .275
Powell, C .245
Barton, D, 1B .154
Pennington, SS .261

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson homers (24) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 1, OAK 0

B:1 S:2 O:1 - Clete Thomas pops out to second baseman Mark Ellis.


B:4 S:2 O:1 - Carlos Guillen walks.


B:3 S:3 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging and
Carlos Guillen caught stealing 2nd, catcher Landon Powell to second
baseman Mark Ellis.

DET 1, OAK 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Rajai Davis grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Sweeney grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


DET 1, OAK 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Rajai Davis.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Mark Ellis to first baseman Daric Barton.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Mark Ellis to first baseman Daric Barton.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Hairston grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jack Cust singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Mark Ellis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Jack Cust to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Landon Powell grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jack Cust to 3rd. Mark Ellis to 2nd.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Daric Barton grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Adam Everett strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Ryan Sweeney.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to third baseman Adam Kennedy.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 - Cliff Pennington singles on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Cliff Pennington to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Rajai Davis singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas. Cliff Pennington scores.
DET 1, OAK 1

B:4 S:2 O:1 - Ryan Sweeney walks. Rajai Davis to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:2 - Scott Hairston strikes out on foul tip.


B:2 S:0 O:2 - Jack Cust homers (18) on a fly ball to left field. Rajai Davis scores. Ryan Sweeney scores.
OAK 4, DET 1

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Mark Ellis lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Clete Thomas called out on .

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Scott Hairston.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Scott Hairston.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Aubrey Huff flies out to right fielder Ryan Sweeney.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Landon Powell grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Daric Barton singles on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Cliff Pennington lines out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Kennedy lines out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Alex Avila walks.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging and Alex Avila was picked off 1st, catcher Landon Powell to first baseman Daric Barton.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Rajai Davis grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Scott Hairston pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Sweeney.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.



B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Clete Thomas swinging.


B:0 S:2 O:3 - Carlos Guillen grounds into a force out,
shortstop Cliff Pennington to second baseman Mark Ellis. Ramon Santiago
out at 2nd.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 - Jack Cust homers (19) on a fly ball to right field.
OAK 5, DET 1

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:1 O:1 - Mark Ellis grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:0 O:1 - Landon Powell singles on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:2 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Rick Porcello.

B:2 S:1 O:2 - Daric Barton pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.


B:1 S:1 O:3 - Cliff Pennington grounds into a force
out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Landon
Powell out at 2nd.


OAK 5, DET 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Brad Ziegler replaces Brett Tomko.

B:2 S:1 O:0 - Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Aubrey Huff flies out to left fielder Scott Hairston.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Scott Hairston. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:2 - Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Scott Hairston.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Marcus Thames replaces Adam Everett.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Marcus Thames singles on a line drive to center fielder Rajai Davis. Miguel Cabrera scores. Brandon Inge to 2nd.
OAK 5, DET 2


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Pitcher Change: Craig Breslow replaces Brad Ziegler.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to left fielder Scott Hairston. Brandon Inge to 3rd. Marcus Thames to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Pitcher Change: Michael Wuertz replaces Craig Breslow.

B:0 S:2 O:3 - Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Rajai Davis.

OAK 5, DET 2 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the right fielder.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from right field to center field for Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Placido Polanco replaces Marcus Thames, batting 8th, playing second base.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from second base to shortstop for Ramon Santiago.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.



B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Rajai Davis reaches on fielding error by left fielder Carlos Guillen. Rajai Davis to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Ryan Sweeney batting, Rajai Davis steals (27) 3rd base.



B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Scott Hairston flies out to center fielder Clete Thomas.

OAK 5, DET 2 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Clete Thomas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Rajai Davis.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Scott Hairston.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (25) on a fly ball to right center field. Clete Thomas scores.
OAK 5, DET 4


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Aubrey Huff strikes out swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge strikes out swinging.

OAK 5, DET 4 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jack Cust walks.


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Mark Ellis doubles (17) on a line drive to center fielder Clete Thomas. Jack Cust to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Fu-Te Ni.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.



B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Landon Powell homers (4) on a fly ball to right field. Jack Cust scores. Mark Ellis scores.
OAK 8, DET 4





B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Daric Barton flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Cliff Pennington homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.
OAK 9, DET 4





B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
With Rajai Davis batting, Adam Kennedy steals (16) 2nd base.




B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Rajai Davis swinging.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Perry intentionally walks Ryan Sweeney.



B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Scott Hairston swinging.

OAK 9, DET 4 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jeff Gray replaces Michael Wuertz.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Alex Avila grounds out, first baseman Daric Barton to pitcher Jeff Gray.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Rajai Davis.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Daric Barton.

Tigers lose 4-9

August 23, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0		4	9	1
Oakland	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	4	X		9	12	0

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 .256 --b-Raburn, PH-RF 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .275 Thomas, C, RF-CF 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .242 Guillen, C, LF 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .237 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 2 3 2 0 1 1 .338 Huff, A, DH 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .249 Inge, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 .239 Avila, C 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .333 Everett, SS 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .235 --a-Thames, PH 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .246 --Polanco, 2B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 Santiago, 2B-SS 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .257 Totals 34 4 9 4 2 10 13 a-Singled for Everett in the 7th. b-Flied out for Granderson in the 7th. BATTING HR: Granderson (24, 1st inning off Tomko, 0 on, 0 out), Cabrera, M (25, 8th inning off Wuertz, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson 4; Thomas, C; Cabrera, M 6; Inge; Thames; Santiago 2. RBI: Granderson (55), Thames (30), Cabrera, M 2 (75). 2-out RBI: Thames. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Raburn 2. Team RISP: 2-for-4. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Guillen, C (2, 2nd base by Tomko/Powell). PO: Avila (1st base by Powell). FIELDING E: Guillen, C (1, fielding).		Oakland AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Kennedy, A, 3B 5 0 1 0 0 0 2 .281 Davis, R, CF 5 1 1 1 0 1 1 .293 Sweeney, R, RF 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 .274 Hairston, S, LF 5 0 0 0 0 2 5 .281 Cust, DH 3 3 3 4 1 0 0 .240 Ellis, M, 2B 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .279 Powell, C 4 1 2 3 0 0 2 .255 Barton, D, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .163 Pennington, SS 4 2 2 1 0 0 2 .274 Totals 37 9 12 9 3 3 16 BATTING 2B: Ellis, M (17, Ni). HR: Cust 2 (19, 3rd inning off Porcello, 2 on, 2 out; 6th inning off Porcello, 0 on, 0 out), Powell (4, 8th inning off Perry, 2 on, 0 out), Pennington (2, 8th inning off Perry, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Kennedy, A; Davis, R; Cust 9; Ellis, M 3; Powell 5; Barton, D; Pennington 5. RBI: Davis, R (27), Cust 4 (56), Powell 3 (23), Pennington (8). 2-out RBI: Cust 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Barton, D 2; Hairston, S 2. Team RISP: 3-for-10. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING SB: Kennedy, A (16, 2nd base off Perry/Avila), Davis, R (27, 3rd base off Ni/Avila). FIELDING DP: 2 (Powell-Barton, D, Powell-Ellis, M). Pickoffs: Powell (Avila at 1st base).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello (L, 10-8) 5.1 8 5 5 1 1 2 4.39 Ni 1.2 1 2 2 1 0 0 2.78 Perry 1.0 3 2 2 1 2 2 3.89		Oakland IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Tomko (W, 3-2) 6.0 3 1 1 2 8 1 3.69 Ziegler 0.2 3 1 1 0 0 0 2.72 Breslow 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.91 Wuertz (H, 16) 1.1 2 2 2 0 2 1 3.28 Gray 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.04
Ni pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. Breslow pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. IBB: Sweeney, R (by Perry). Pitches-strikes: Porcello 92-60, Ni 33-18, Perry 33-19, Tomko 87-55, Ziegler 23-14, Breslow 3-2, Wuertz 21-16, Gray 10-6. Groundouts-flyouts: Porcello 10-5, Ni 1-4, Perry 0-1, Tomko 2-6, Ziegler 0-2, Breslow 0-0, Wuertz 0-2, Gray 2-1. Batters faced: Porcello 25, Ni 8, Perry 7, Tomko 21, Ziegler 5, Breslow 1, Wuertz 6, Gray 3. Inherited runners-scored: Ni 1-0, Perry 2-2, Breslow 2-0, Wuertz 3-0. Umpires: HP: Jim Wolf. 1B: Fieldin Culbreth. 2B: Adrian Johnson. 3B: Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, Out to LF. T: 2:51. Att: 17,690. August 23, 2009