GDT: 9/27/09 - DET (83-71) AT CWS (74-81) - 2:05 p.m. ET

CHICAGO -- If the Tigers had any temptation to look ahead a day to their showdown with the Twins, their manager has a message for them: Daniel Hudson is pretty good.

Jim Leyland has been talking about the White Sox rookie right-hander for the past few days, anticipating their meeting with him ever since Chicago penciled him in for Sunday's series finale. Leyland watched Hudson on television Monday in his first Major League start as he tried to hold down the resurgent Twins to no avail, and the skipper came away impressed.

He's hoping his hitters don't overlook the rookie.

"We've got a tough chore," Leyland said Saturday after his team put up a dozen runs on Freddy Garcia and the White Sox bullpen. "I saw Hudson on television. I watched the game he pitched against Minnesota, and he's really a good-looking young pitcher with a very good arm. We've got our work cut out."

Considering the Tigers were shut out for the first 13 innings of the series, it's difficult to consider their offensive issues solved after eight runs over two big innings Saturday. While Detroit's rally Saturday ensured it will head home Sunday night with first place all to itself leading into their defining four-game showdown with the second-place Twins, who face Royals ace Zack Greinke on Sunday, the hitting stroke doesn't necessarily carry over. Momentum, as Leyland likes to say, is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher.

Fortunately for the Tigers, they have a good one going with Edwin Jackson, whose last outing suggested his late-season troubles might be behind him. If they are, the Tigers and White Sox could have a pitching duel on their hands.

Part of the problem for the Tigers lately, Leyland said, was their pitch selection at the plate in relation to the strike zone. They get into streaks where they take strikes and swing at balls.

"A lot of it is recognition," Leyland said. "I don't know if that goes along with people's vision or what."

Nor does Leyland know if it can be solved on the spur of the moment. It could be something more involved with offseason and Spring Training work. At least Saturday, though, the streaky hitting was on their side.

The way the division race is going, it's all about streaks. While the Tigers have won five of their last six to ensure a winning record on their final scheduled road trip of the regular season, their lead (two games) in the American League Central is the same as it was going into last Sunday, thanks to the Twins, who have won five straight.

Until they can meet again face-to-face Monday at Comerica Park, they have to settle for scoreboard-watching one more day. Leyland calls it good pressure.

"They're just not losing," Leyland said. "They're winning every night. They're putting good pressure on us, because they're winning every night. But like I said, it's good pressure. If you handle it right, it's good pressure. If you handle it wrong, it's bad pressure."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (13-7, 3.25 ERA)
If Jackson was tipping his slider, as pitching coach Rick Knapp suggested, he doesn't seem to be doing it anymore. Combine his strikeout pitch with a fastball that hit 98 mph last time out, and he has his early season power arsenal back to throw at hitters for the stretch run and into the postseason. It's bad news for the White Sox, who beat Jackson during the Tigers' last trip to Chicago in June before giving him a no-decision in an extra-inning game in July at Comerica Park.


CWS: RHP Daniel Hudson (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
Hudson pitched admirably in his first Major League start, but he did not receive any run support in a 7-0 loss against the Twins on Monday at U.S. Cellular Field. He made it through five innings, allowing three runs -- one earned -- on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks. The loss marked Hudson's first at any level since June 15, when he pitched for Class A Winston-Salem -- a span of 14 starts. Hudson, who has only made four big league appearances overall, has never faced the Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Miguel Cabrera's four-RBI night Saturday earned him his sixth straight 100-RBI season.
... Magglio Ordonez is batting .455 (10-for-22) over his last six games and has a .408 average in September.
... Placido Polanco has a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's batting 16-for-31 (.516).

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 14-9, 4.14 ERA) vs. Twins (Nick Blackburn, 11-11, 4.18 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 17-9, 3.41 ERA) vs. Twins (Brian Duensing, 5-1, 3.33 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Eddie Bonine, 0-1, 4.60 ERA) vs. Twins (Carl Pavano, 13-11, 4.86 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .246
Polanco, 2B .290
Thomas, C, RF .247
Cabrera, M, 1B .331
Huff, A, DH .244
Guillen, C, LF .256
Inge, 3B .230
Laird, C .232
Santiago, SS .268

Chi White Sox AVG
Podsednik, CF .302
Beckham, 3B .268
Pierzynski, C .305
Dye, DH .251
Kotsay, 1B .283
Ramirez, A, SS .278
Quentin, LF .233
Getz, 2B .264
Rios, RF .244

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson homers (28) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 1, CWS 0


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco pops out to first baseman Mark Kotsay in foul territory.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera called out on .

DET 1, CWS 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Scott Podsednik singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:0 O:1 - With Gordon Beckham batting, Scott
Podsednik caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to second
baseman Placido Polanco.

Go get em G-money!


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Gordon Beckham grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, CWS 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Aubrey Huff walks.


B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen walks. Aubrey Huff to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - Gerald Laird lines into double play,
center fielder Scott Podsednik to second baseman Chris Getz. Aubrey
Huff doubled off 2nd.

DET 1, CWS 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Jermaine Dye pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Kotsay walks.


B:0 S:2 O:2 - Alexei Ramirez grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Mark
Kotsay out at 2nd. Alexei Ramirez to 1st.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin doubles (13) on a fly ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Alexei Ramirez scores.
DET 1, CWS 1

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Chris Getz pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

DET 1, CWS 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Alex Rios. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to right fielder Alex Rios. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Chris Getz.

DET 1, CWS 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Alex Rios swinging.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Scott Podsednik grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Gordon Beckham pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


DET 1, CWS 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

DET 1, CWS 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


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

DET 1, CWS 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson lines out to right fielder Alex Rios.

DET 1, CWS 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


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

DET 1, CWS 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco walks.


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


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks. Placido Polanco to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff walks. Placido Polanco to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


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


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Scott Podsednik. Placido Polanco scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.
DET 2, CWS 1


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

DET 2, CWS 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Alex Rios doubles (30) on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Scott Podsednik triples (6) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Alex Rios scores.
DET 2, CWS 2


B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Gordon Beckham doubles (26) on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Scott Podsednik scores. CWS 3, DET 2




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



B:0 S:3 O:1 -
A. J. Pierzynski swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Jermaine Dye singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Gordon Beckham scores.
CWS 4, DET 2




B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Mark Kotsay batting, wild pitch by Edwin Jackson, Jermaine Dye to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Mark Kotsay grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jermaine Dye to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Alexei Ramirez grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 4, DET 2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Tony Pena replaces Daniel Hudson.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (22) on a ground ball to right fielder Alex Rios.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

CWS 4, DET 2 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Quentin pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Chris Getz swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Alex Rios reaches on fielding error by third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Scott Podsednik flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

CWS 4, DET 2 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera called out on .


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Thornton replaces Tony Pena.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Marcus Thames replaces Aubrey Huff.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Marcus Thames pops out to first baseman Mark Kotsay in foul territory.

CWS 4, DET 2 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Marcus Thames remains in the game as the designated hitter.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Gordon Beckham singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Edwin Jackson.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
A. J. Pierzynski pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Fu-Te Ni.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Gordon Beckham to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Mark Kotsay singles on a fly ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Gordon Beckham scores.
CWS 5, DET 2




B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Mark Kotsay to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin homers (19) on a fly ball to right center field. Mark Kotsay scores. Alexei Ramirez scores.
CWS 8, DET 2




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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Fernando Rodney.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Chris Getz grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 8, DET 2 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen doubles (10) on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge called out on .


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird lines out softly to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Scott Podsednik. Carlos Guillen scores.
CWS 8, DET 3




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


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Ryan Raburn batting, Ramon Santiago advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.


B:1 S:1 O:2 - Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to
left fielder Carlos Quentin, deflected by shortstop Alexei Ramirez.
Ramon Santiago scores.
CWS 8, DET 4




B:0 S:1 O:2 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Ryan Raburn advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

FINAL SCORE CWS 8, DET 4

September 27, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2		4	7	1
Chi White Sox	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	4	X		8	10	0

Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .250 --b-Raburn, PH 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286 Polanco, 2B 4 1 0 0 1 1 4 .288 Thomas, C, RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .243 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .329 Huff, A, DH 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .243 --a-Thames, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Guillen, C, LF 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 .258 Inge, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .228 Laird, C 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .229 Santiago, SS 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .272 Totals 32 4 7 4 5 7 17 a-Popped out for Huff, A in the 8th. b-Singled for Granderson in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Granderson (22, Pena, To), Guillen, C (10, Thornton). HR: Granderson (28, 1st inning off Hudson, D, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Granderson 7; Raburn; Guillen, C 2; Santiago 2. RBI: Granderson (68), Guillen, C (40), Santiago (32), Raburn (42). 2-out RBI: Santiago; Raburn. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M; Inge; Polanco 2. SF: Guillen, C. Team RISP: 2-for-12. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING E: Inge (19, fielding).		Chi White Sox- AB- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Podsednik, CF 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .303 Beckham, 3B 4 2 2 1 0 0 0 .270 Pierzynski, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .302 Dye, DH 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .251 Kotsay, 1B 3 1 1 1 1 0 1 .284 Ramirez, A, SS 4 2 1 0 0 0 2 .278 Quentin, LF 4 1 2 4 0 0 0 .236 Getz, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .261 Rios, RF 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .244 Totals 34 8 10 8 1 3 8 BATTING 2B: Quentin (13, Jackson, E), Rios (30, Jackson, E), Beckham (26, Jackson, E). 3B: Podsednik (6, Jackson, E). HR: Quentin (19, 8th inning off Rodney, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Podsednik 4; Beckham 3; Dye; Kotsay; Ramirez, A; Quentin 6; Rios 2. RBI: Quentin 4 (53), Podsednik (46), Beckham (60), Dye (79), Kotsay (21). 2-out RBI: Quentin 4; Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Getz; Ramirez, A. Team RISP: 5-for-9. Team LOB: 3. BASERUNNING CS: Podsednik (11, 2nd base by Jackson, E/Laird). FIELDING Outfield assists: Podsednik (Huff, A at 2nd base). DP: (Podsednik-Getz).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Jackson, E (L, 13-8) 7.0 7 5 5 1 3 0 3.36 Ni 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.70 Rodney 0.1 3 3 3 0 0 1 4.35 Perry 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.03		Chi White Sox IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Hudson, D (W, 1-1) 6.0 3 2 2 5 4 1 3.24 Pena, To (H, 11) 1.2 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.16 Thornton (S, 3) 1.1 3 2 2 0 1 0 2.82
Jackson, E pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. WP: Jackson, E. Pitches-strikes: Jackson, E 111-69, Ni 2-1, Rodney 16-9, Perry 7-4, Hudson, D 95-52, Pena, To 30-18, Thornton 27-18. Groundouts-flyouts: Jackson, E 10-7, Ni 0-1, Rodney 1-0, Perry 1-0, Hudson, D 1-12, Pena, To 3-0, Thornton 1-2. Batters faced: Jackson, E 29, Ni 1, Rodney 4, Perry 1, Hudson, D 25, Pena, To 6, Thornton 7. Inherited runners-scored: Ni 1-0, Rodney 1-1. Umpires: HP: Wally Bell. 1B: Ron Kulpa. 2B: Mark Carlson. 3B: Kerwin Danley. Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, R to L. T: 2:38. Att: 33,685. September 27, 2009