GDT: 8/24/09 - DET (65-58) AT LAA (74-48) - 10:05 p.m. ET

OAKLAND -- Clete Thomas hasn't been making much contact as of late.

He's stuck out at least once in 10 of his past 11 games, recording seven multi-strikeout showings over that span.

Thomas has been getting hits when the Tigers have needed them, though.

"He needs to shorten up," said manager Jim Leyland, whose Tigers open a three-game set against the Angels on Monday, "but he has knocked in the winning run in our last two wins."

Leyland, of course, would like to see more hits and fewer strikeouts from his young outfielder. Leyland said Thomas has been shortening his swing one day, then lengthening it again the next.

"He might strike out three times or he might hit two home runs," Leyland said. "He's a young player. You never know."

Thomas has been choking up a bit, but his hands are still drifting with his stride. The Tigers' offense has bigger problems to deal with, though.

"We have a bunch of guys that need to step up," he said. "[Thomas' strikeouts are] not our problem."

Maybe Thomas can be part of the solution.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (13-7, 3.29 ERA)
Verlander crossed the 200-strikeout mark with 10 in eight innings against the Mariners on Wednesday. A three-run fifth and a lack of run support, however, saddled him with the loss for the second time in his past three outings. He has split a pair of decisions against the Angels, including one where he struck out seven in eight scoreless innings on June 5 at Comerica Park. In the other, he surrendered seven runs in five innings.

LAA: RHP Jered Weaver (13-4, 3.89 ERA)
Weaver is coming off his second career shutout and fourth complete game, a seven-hit blanking of the Indians on Wednesday night. He was in command from the start, striking out two in the first inning, but became efficient as the game went on. The shutout erased the bitter taste of his worst outing of the season in Baltimore. Weaver had a seven-inning no-decision against the Tigers in April, yielding three earned runs. He's 2-1 with a 7.08 ERA in four career outings against Detroit and is 8-1 with a 2.76 ERA in 13 home assignments this season.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tidbits

...Leyland on drawing Weaver and John Lackey in the first two games of the series in Anaheim: "Yeah, that's the big leagues," he joked.
... Miguel Cabrera hit his 200th home run Sunday. He's the fifth Venezuelan-born player to accomplish the feat, joining Tony Armas (251), Bobby Abreu (252), teammate Magglio Ordonez (275) and Andres Galarraga (399).
... Detroit starting pitchers had combined to go 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in their past nine games entering Sunday.
... Triple-A Toledo's Mike Hessman has homered in back-to-back games, giving him 21 on the season. It's his sixth season in a row with 20-plus homers, and 11th in 13 seasons as a pro.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• ,

On radio

•
• XM Channel Schedule
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• 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 (Joe Saunders, 9-7, 5.33 ERA), 3:35 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .256
Polanco, 2B .271
Ordonez, RF .274
Cabrera, M, 1B .338
Huff, A, DH .249
Guillen, C, LF .237
Inge, 3B .239
Laird, C .223
Santiago, SS .257

LA Angels AVG
Figgins, 3B .302
Abreu, B, RF .307
Hunter, CF .306
Guerrero, DH .309
Rivera, J, LF .308
Morales, K, 1B .301
Izturis, M, 2B .300
Napoli, C .294
Aybar, E, SS .310

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Rivera.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Juan Rivera. Placido Polanco to 2nd.



B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (27) on a fly ball to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Placido Polanco scores. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.
DET 1, LAA 0




B:1 S:2 O:2 - Aubrey Huff reaches on a fielder's
choice out, pitcher Jered Weaver to catcher Mike Napoli. Magglio
Ordonez out at home. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out softly, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.

DET 1, LAA 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Chone Figgins singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Bobby Abreu swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Torii Hunter swinging.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Vladimir Guerrero grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, LAA 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird singles on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago lines out to third baseman Chone Figgins.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Curtis Granderson batting, Gerald Laird steals (3) 2nd base.



B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks.



B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

DET 1, LAA 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 - Juan Rivera grounds out, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:2 O:1 - Kendry Morales singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:0 S:1 O:1 - Maicer Izturis singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Kendry Morales to 2nd.


B:3 S:3 O:3 - Mike Napoli swinging and Kendry Morales caught stealing 3rd, catcher Gerald Laird to third baseman Brandon Inge.

DET 1, LAA 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to second baseman Maicer Izturis.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Aubrey Huff grounds out softly, pitcher Jered Weaver to first baseman Kendry Morales.

DET 1, LAA 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Erick Aybar pops out softly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Chone Figgins swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Bobby Abreu flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

DET 1, LAA 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out softly, third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales. Carlos Guillen to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird pops out to first baseman Kendry Morales in foul territory.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago hit by pitch.


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



B:3 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

DET 1, LAA 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Injury Delay.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Vladimir Guerrero called out on .


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Juan Rivera batting, Torii Hunter steals (15) 2nd base.




B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Juan Rivera pops out softly to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Kendry Morales swinging, catcher Gerald Laird to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.



Justin 59 pitches - 48 for strikes - 6

DET 1, LAA 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder Juan Rivera.

B:4 S:2 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Miguel Cabrera homers (26) on a fly ball to center field. Magglio Ordonez scores.
DET 3, LAA 0

B:1 S:2 O:1 - Dropped foul pop error by catcher Mike Napoli.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Aubrey Huff flies out at the wall to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:0 S:2 O:3 - Carlos Guillen grounds out to first baseman Kendry Morales.

DET 3, LAA 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Maicer Izturis called out on .

7


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Mike Napoli walks.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Erick Aybar walks. Mike Napoli to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:2 S:2 O:3 - Chone Figgins grounds into double play,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Erick Aybar out at 2nd.

DET 3, LAA 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 - Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Rivera.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Gerald Laird flies out to left fielder Juan Rivera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Ramon Santiago singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Brandon Inge to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Darren Oliver replaces Jered Weaver.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter. Brandon Inge scores. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.
DET 4, LAA 0

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Jose Arredondo replaces Darren Oliver.


B:1 S:2 O:1 - Placido Polanco singles on a fly ball to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Ramon Santiago scores. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.
DET 5, LAA 0

B:1 S:0 O:1 - With Magglio Ordonez batting, wild pitch by Jose Arredondo, Placido Polanco to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez walks. (bases loaded)

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Clete Thomas replaces Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Miguel Cabrera doubles (28) on a line
drive to left fielder Juan Rivera. Curtis Granderson scores. Placido
Polanco scores. Clete Thomas to 3rd.
DET 7, LAA 0

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Aubrey Huff reaches on a fielder's
choice out, shortstop Erick Aybar to catcher Mike Napoli. Clete Thomas
out at home. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Carlos Guillen homers (6) on a fly ball to left center field. Miguel Cabrera scores. Aubrey Huff scores.
DET 10, LAA 0

B:0 S:3 O:3 - Brandon Inge swinging.

DET 10, LAA 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Clete Thomas remains in the game as the right fielder.


B:0 S:0 O:0 - Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces left fielder Carlos Guillen, batting 6th, playing left field.


B:3 S:2 O:0 - Bobby Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:0 - Torii Hunter doubles (21) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Bobby Abreu scores.
DET 10, LAA 1

B:1 S:0 O:1 - Vladimir Guerrero grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Juan Rivera reaches on a fielder's
choice out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco
to third baseman Brandon Inge. Torii Hunter out at 3rd. Juan Rivera to
2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:2 - Kendry Morales doubles (32) on a fly ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Juan Rivera scores.
DET 10, LAA 2


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Maicer Izturis singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Kendry Morales scores.
DET 10, LAA 3

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


B:2 S:0 O:2 - Mike Napoli singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Maicer Izturis to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Erick Aybar singles on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas. Maicer Izturis scores. Mike Napoli to 3rd.
DET 10, LAA 4

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Justin Verlander.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Chone Figgins swinging.

DET 10, LAA 4 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Rafael Rodriguez replaces Jose Arredondo.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out softly, pitcher Rafael Rodriguez to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out sharply, pitcher Rafael Rodriguez to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Injury Delay. (Rafael Rodriguez)


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Palmer replaces Rafael Rodriguez.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco pops out to shortstop Erick Aybar.

DET 10, LAA 4 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 - Bobby Abreu walks.

B:4 S:1 O:0 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay.

B:3 S:3 O:1 - Torii Hunter called out on :K: .


B:4 S:1 O:1 - Vladimir Guerrero walks. Bobby Abreu to 2nd.


B:1 S:3 O:2 - Juan Rivera :K: swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Kendry Morales lines out softly to second baseman Placido Polanco.


DET 10, LAA 4 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Rafael Rodriguez left the game due to an injured hand/wrist.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Clete Thomas flies out sharply to left fielder Juan Rivera.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Aubrey Huff flies out to left fielder Juan Rivera.

DET 10, LAA 4 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Maicer Izturis pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:2 O:2 - Mike Napoli flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Erick Aybar singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Chone Figgins singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Erick Aybar to 3rd.


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Bobby Abreu homers (12) on a fly ball to right field. Erick Aybar scores. Chone Figgins scores.
DET 10, LAA 7

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Torii Hunter singles on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas.

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


B:1 S:0 O:2 - Vladimir Guerrero doubles (11) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Torii Hunter to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Brandon Lyon.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Juan Rivera grounds out softly, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 10, LAA 7 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, pitcher Matt Palmer to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge pops out to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Gerald Laird called out on .

DET 10, LAA 7 AFTER 8.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Kendry Morales swinging.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Maicer Izturis swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Mike Napoli flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

Tigers win 10-7

Verlander gets the win, Rodney gets his 1st 4 out save of the year!

August 24, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	0	0	0	2	7	0	0	0		10	12	0
LA Angels	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	3	0		7	15	1

Detroit AB-- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 3 1 1 1 2 0 2 .256 Polanco, 2B 5 2 2 1 0 1 3 .272 Ordonez, RF 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .275 --1-Thomas, C, PR-RF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 Cabrera, M, 1B 5 2 3 5 0 1 0 .341 Huff, A, DH 5 1 0 0 0 0 4 .247 Guillen, C, LF 4 1 2 3 0 0 2 .242 --Raburn, LF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 Inge, 3B 5 1 1 0 0 1 1 .238 Laird, C 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 .223 Santiago, SS 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .258 Totals 39 10 12 10 4 4 15 1-Ran for Ordonez in the 6th. BATTING 2B: Cabrera, M 2 (28, Weaver, Jr, Arredondo, Jo). HR: Cabrera, M (26, 5th inning off Weaver, Jr, 1 on, 1 out), Guillen, C (6, 6th inning off Arredondo, Jo, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Granderson; Polanco 2; Ordonez; Cabrera, M 8; Guillen, C 5; Inge; Laird; Santiago. RBI: Cabrera, M 5 (80), Granderson (56), Polanco (54), Guillen, C 3 (25). 2-out RBI: Guillen, C 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Guillen, C; Polanco; Granderson. Team RISP: 5-for-11. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING SB: Laird (3, 2nd base off Weaver, Jr/Napoli). FIELDING DP: 2 (Laird-Inge, Santiago-Polanco-Cabrera, M).		LA Angels AB- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Figgins, 3B 5 1 2 0 0 2 4 .303 Abreu, B, RF 4 2 2 3 1 1 1 .309 Hunter, CF 5 0 3 1 0 2 2 .311 Guerrero, DH 4 0 1 0 1 1 3 .308 Rivera, J, LF 5 1 0 0 0 1 6 .305 Morales, K, 1B 5 1 2 1 0 2 3 .303 Izturis, M, 2B 5 1 2 1 0 2 0 .301 Napoli, C 4 0 1 0 1 1 2 .293 Aybar, E, SS 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .313 Totals 40 7 15 7 4 12 21 BATTING 2B: Hunter (21, Verlander), Morales, K (32, Verlander), Guerrero (11, Lyon). HR: Abreu, B (12, 8th inning off Lyon, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Figgins 2; Abreu, B 5; Hunter 4; Guerrero 2; Morales, K 3; Izturis, M 2; Napoli; Aybar, E 2. RBI: Hunter (68), Morales, K (84), Izturis, M (52), Aybar, E (49), Abreu, B 3 (84). 2-out RBI: Morales, K; Izturis, M; Aybar, E; Abreu, B 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Morales, K 2; Figgins; Rivera, J 2. GIDP: Figgins. Team RISP: 4-for-14. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Hunter (15, 2nd base off Verlander/Laird). CS: Morales, K (4, 3rd base by Verlander/Laird). FIELDING E: Napoli (5, fielding).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Verlander (W, 14-7) 5.2 10 4 4 2 7 0 3.38 Seay 0.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.32 Lyon 1.2 5 3 3 1 2 1 3.15 Rodney (S, 27) 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.42		LA Angels IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Weaver, Jr (L, 13-5) 5.1 8 5 5 2 2 1 4.03 Oliver 0.0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2.94 Arredondo, Jo 0.2 3 4 4 1 1 1 5.97 Rodriguez, R 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.57 Palmer 2.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.38
Seay pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. Oliver pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. WP: Arredondo, Jo. HBP: Santiago (by Weaver, Jr). Pitches-strikes: Verlander 109-76, Seay 8-4, Lyon 37-25, Rodney 18-11, Weaver, Jr 109-68, Oliver 3-2, Arredondo, Jo 20-14, Rodriguez, R 6-4, Palmer 23-12. Groundouts-flyouts: Verlander 6-3, Seay 0-0, Lyon 0-3, Rodney 1-1, Weaver, Jr 6-8, Oliver 0-0, Arredondo, Jo 1-0, Rodriguez, R 2-0, Palmer 2-4. Batters faced: Verlander 27, Seay 2, Lyon 11, Rodney 4, Weaver, Jr 27, Oliver 1, Arredondo, Jo 6, Rodriguez, R 2, Palmer 8. Inherited runners-scored: Seay 2-0, Lyon 1-0, Rodney 2-0, Oliver 2-1, Arredondo, Jo 2-2. Umpires: HP: Tim Welke. 1B: Chad Fairchild. 2B: Mark Carlson. 3B: Jim Wolf. Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 4 mph, Out to CF. T: 3:34. Att: 38,421. August 24, 2009