GDT: 4/13/09 - DET (4-3) VS CWS (3-3) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers' season ended on a rainy Monday afternoon in Chicago last September, a makeup game that felt more like a post-mortem. While team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski talked about the club's offseason plans, players were setting their travel plans for home.

The Tigers were only there because the game had playoff implications for Chicago. A White Sox win put them in a one-game playoff with the Twins for the American League Central title. All the previous Chicago victories, of course, played a huge role in putting the Tigers in the Central cellar. Starting Monday, they'll meet again for three games that could set the tone for this year's race.

Take away the Tigers' 27-45 record in the division, and they were four games over .500 against everybody else. Of course, in an unbalanced schedule, division records mean everything. The results turned a team that was supposed to be a titan into one of baseball's biggest disappointments.

"Last year, we finished last," manager Jim Leyland said over the winter, "and the media was buzzing about we won the World Series [with their 2007-08 offseason moves]. That didn't work out too good."

If the Tigers are to turn that around this season, the schedule has to turn on divisional play, where opponents were able to tame what was supposed to be the division's most formidable team.

"I feel like the other teams pitched so well against us," Brandon Inge said.

It was a major issue over the offseason, when Leyland talked about studying up on the division's top hitters so that Detroit's pitchers could be prepared. It was a point in some of the team's moves, shoring up the defense and diversifying the offense with complementary players to counter the fundamental advantage the Twins and White Sox had.

"We have to do better within the division, there's no question about it," Leyland said.

Through the season's first week, the Tigers find themselves on top of the division, but mainly by virtue of schedule. Because the Tigers played seven games and not six, their 4-3 record tops Chicago and Kansas City by a half-game. Minnesota sits only a game back at 3-4.

It's only a week, of course, but it's a symbol of the kind of parity many expect from the Central. The defending division champion White Sox are an example, having lost two of three to the Royals in Chicago before coming back to take their last two against the Twins to win that three-game set.

The White Sox set the tone in the division last year early with a hot opening month, winning five of their first six games and seven of 10. Five of those wins came against the Tigers with a three-game sweep at Comerica Park on the season's first weekend and back-to-back shutouts in Chicago. It sure didn't seal the Central for the White Sox, thanks to the Twins' charge, but it helped put Detroit in a hole that proved too deep to dig out of.

This series starts Detroit's 2009 comeback effort. It'll be a brief division spurt before the Tigers head to the West Coast for six games, but it's their chance to erase a longstanding concern.

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Zach Miner (1-0, 1.59 ERA)
Opening the season in a Major League rotation for the first time in his career, Miner recovered from four straight baserunners to open his season debut Wednesday at Toronto and tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, collecting Detroit's first win of the year in the process. Now he returns home to Comerica Park, where his career 5.28 ERA is more than two full runs higher than his 3.14 mark on the road. Opponents have batted .301 against him at home compared with .234 everywhere else.

CWS: RHP Gavin Floyd (0-1, 2.57 ERA)
The right-hander looked every bit as dominant during his first start of 2009 as his stellar Spring Training projected him to be. Floyd worked seven innings, fanning nine and walking two, while giving up two runs on six hits. Those two runs were two too many against the Royals, as Zack Greinke was just a little bit better. Floyd has made a living out of manhandling the Tigers, posting a 3-0 record with a 3.68 ERA against the Tigers in a 2008 to boost his career mark to 4-0. He holds a 2-0 record with a 2.63 ERA at Comerica Park.

Tidbits
Carlos Guillen is day-to-day after leaving Sunday's win over the Rangers with soreness in his Achilles' heel. He could be the designated hitter on Monday to ease the strain.
... Monday is Miguel Cabrera bobblehead night, the first of the Tigers' bobblehead promotions this season. The first 10,000 fans will receive a Cabrera bobblehead complete with a crown on his head, celebrating his title as last year's AL home run leader.
... Detroit relievers have retired the last 21 hitters they've faced.
... Inge went 3-for-7 against Floyd last season with all three hits for extra bases -- two RBI doubles and a two-run homer.
... Marcus Thames went 5-for-34 (.147) against the White Sox last season, but three of those hits were home runs.

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Up next
• Tuesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. White Sox (John Danks, 0-0, 0.00 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. White Sox (Jose Contreras, 0-1, 7.20 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day

Inning 1
Top Half

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

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

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin walks.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Jim Thome grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Brent Lillibridge to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Dewayne Wise.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Jermaine Dye homers (2) on a line drive to left center field.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Paul Konerko homers (2) on a line drive to left field.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
A. J. Pierzynski singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:1 O:2 - Alexei Ramirez grounds into double play,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. A. J. Pierzynski out at 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Dewayne Wise flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Josh Fields to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Quentin.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jermaine Dye. Carlos Guillen to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Josh Anderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Jermaine Dye. Carlos Guillen scores. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
With Matt Treanor batting, wild pitch by Gavin Floyd, Ramon Santiago to 3rd. Josh Anderson to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Matt Treanor walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Brent Lillibridge to first baseman Paul Konerko.

Sox 2-1

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brent Lillibridge doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Josh Fields walks.

B:3 S:1 O:0 - Carlos Quentin singles on a ground ball
to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Brent Lillibridge scores. Josh
Fields to 2nd.

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

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jim Thome walks. Josh Fields to 3rd. Carlos Quentin to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jermaine Dye swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Paul Konerko doubles (2) on a line drive
to left fielder Josh Anderson. Josh Fields scores. Carlos Quentin
scores. Jim Thome to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - A. J. Pierzynski reaches on a fielder's
choice out, second baseman Placido Polanco to catcher Matt Treanor. Jim
Thome out at home.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Anderson. Paul Konerko scores. A. Pierzynski to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:3 - Dewayne Wise grounds into a force out,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. Alexei
Ramirez out at 2nd.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Dewayne Wise.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Dewayne Wise.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

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

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago homers (1) on a line drive to right field. Magglio Ordonez scores. Carlos Guillen scores.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Josh Anderson grounds into a force out, fielded by shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Brandon Inge out at 2nd.

Sox 6-4 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brent Lillibridge grounds out, pitcher Zach Miner to third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Josh Fields singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Quentin homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. Josh Fields scores.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Eddie Bonine replaces Zach Miner.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Jim Thome grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Jermaine Dye lines out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Matt Treanor lines out to shortstop Alexei Ramirez.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Josh Fields to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS 8-4 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Paul Konerko singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
A. J. Pierzynski flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Dewayne Wise singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Paul Konerko to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Brent Lillibridge swinging.

CWS 8-4

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Dewayne Wise.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Defensive Substitution: Brian Anderson replaces center fielder Dewayne Wise injured on the tumbling catch, batting 9th, playing center field.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Carlos Guillen to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:2 - Josh Anderson doubles (1) on a line
drive to right fielder Jermaine Dye. Magglio Ordonez scores. Carlos
Guillen scores. Brandon Inge to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Matt Treanor flies out to right fielder Jermaine Dye.

CWS 8-6 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

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

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Quentin homers (4) on a fly ball to left center field.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Jim Thome swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Paul Konerko doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jermaine Dye scores.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Eddie Bonine intentionally walks A. J. Pierzynski.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Alexei Ramirez swinging.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: D. J. Carrasco replaces Gavin Floyd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson lines out to left fielder Carlos Quentin.

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

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Brian Anderson. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Quentin. Placido Polanco to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, pitcher D. J. Carrasco to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS 10-6 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Juan Rincon replaces Eddie Bonine.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Brian Anderson walks.

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

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brent Lillibridge called out on .

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
With Josh Fields batting, Brian Anderson steals (1) 2nd base.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Josh Fields swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Quentin lines out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Brian Anderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Josh Anderson grounds out, pitcher D. Carrasco to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Matt Treanor grounds out, first baseman Paul Konerko to pitcher D. J. Carrasco.

CWS 10-6 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Jim Thome singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jermaine Dye singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jim Thome to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Paul Konerko flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
A. J. Pierzynski called out on .

B:2 S:1 O:3 - Alexei Ramirez grounds into a force out,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. Jermaine
Dye out at 2nd.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Thornton replaces D. J. Carrasco.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Brian Anderson.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Chicago White Sox center fielder Dewayne Wise left the game due to an injured neck/shoulder.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out, third baseman Josh Fields to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS 10-6 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Brian Anderson walks.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brent Lillibridge called out on .

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
With Josh Fields batting, Brian Anderson steals (2) 2nd base.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Josh Fields called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Quentin pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Scott Linebrink replaces Matt Thornton.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a bunt ground ball to second baseman Brent Lillibridge.

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

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Josh Anderson on foul tip.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jeff Larish replaces Matt Treanor.

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

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jeff Larish flies out to left fielder Carlos Quentin.

Tigers LOSE 6-10

April 13, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Chi White Sox	0	2	4	2	0	2	0	0	0		10	16	0
Detroit	0	1	3	0	2	0	0	0	0		6	9	0

Chi White Sox AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Lillibridge, 2B 6 1 1 0 0 3 4 .100 Fields, 3B 5 2 1 0 1 2 2 .318 Quentin, LF 5 3 3 4 1 0 2 .333 Thome, DH 4 0 1 0 1 1 1 .217 Dye, RF 5 2 3 1 0 1 3 .370 Konerko, 1B 5 2 4 4 0 0 2 .346 Pierzynski, C 4 0 1 0 1 1 5 .182 Ramirez, SS 5 0 1 1 0 2 6 .160 Wise, CF 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .238 Anderson, B, CF 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .167 Totals 42 10 16 10 6 10 27 BATTING 2B: Lillibridge (1, Miner), Konerko 2 (3, Miner, Bonine), Dye (1, Bonine). HR: Dye (2, 2nd inning off Miner, 0 on, 0 out), Konerko (2, 2nd inning off Miner, 0 on, 0 out), Quentin 2 (4, 4th inning off Miner, 1 on, 1 out; 6th inning off Bonine, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Lillibridge 2; Fields; Quentin 9; Thome; Dye 7; Konerko 9; Pierzynski; Ramirez; Wise. RBI: Dye (4), Konerko 4 (6), Quentin 4 (8), Ramirez (3). 2-out RBI: Ramirez; Konerko. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wise; Lillibridge; Ramirez 2; Quentin 2. GIDP: Ramirez. Team RISP: 4-for-16. Team LOB: 11. BASERUNNING SB: Anderson, B 2 (2, 2nd base off Rincon/Treanor, 2nd base off Rincon/Treanor).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 5 0 0 0 0 1 3 .206 Polanco, 2B 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 .333 Ordonez, RF 2 2 1 0 3 1 0 .276 Cabrera, M, 1B 5 0 1 0 0 2 4 .467 Guillen, DH 3 3 1 0 2 1 5 .200 Santiago, SS 5 1 3 3 0 0 5 .385 Inge, 3B 3 0 0 0 2 1 3 .269 Anderson, J, LF 5 0 2 3 0 1 2 .182 Treanor, C 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .000 --a-Larish, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .222 Totals 36 6 9 6 9 7 25 a-Flied out for Treanor in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Anderson, J (1, Floyd). 3B: Polanco (1, Thornton). HR: Santiago (1, 3rd inning off Floyd, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Polanco 3; Ordonez; Cabrera, M; Guillen; Santiago 6; Anderson, J 3. RBI: Anderson, J 3 (3), Santiago 3 (3). 2-out RBI: Anderson, J 3; Santiago 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Granderson 2; Treanor 2; Santiago 2; Guillen; Larish. Team RISP: 4-for-13. Team LOB: 12. FIELDING DP: (Santiago-Polanco-Cabrera, M).
Chi White Sox IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Floyd (W, 1-1) 5.0 5 6 6 7 2 1 6.00 Carrasco 2.0 2 0 0 1 1 0 7.20 Thornton 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 Linebrink 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Miner (L, 1-1) 3.1 9 8 8 3 1 3 9.00 Bonine 2.2 5 2 2 1 4 1 5.68 Rincon 3.0 2 0 0 2 5 0 5.68
WP: Floyd. IBB: Pierzynski (by Bonine). Pitches-strikes: Floyd 98-49, Carrasco 28-19, Thornton 23-15, Linebrink 20-12, Miner 79-47, Bonine 59-35, Rincon 50-30. Groundouts-flyouts: Floyd 6-7, Carrasco 3-2, Thornton 1-0, Linebrink 0-1, Miner 7-2, Bonine 2-2, Rincon 1-3. Batters faced: Floyd 27, Carrasco 9, Thornton 5, Linebrink 4, Miner 21, Bonine 14, Rincon 13. Umpires: HP: Phil Cuzzi. 1B: Ed Hickox. 2B: Jerry Crawford. 3B: Tom Hallion. Weather: 37 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 19 mph, In from LF. T: 3:20. Att: 21,850. April 13, 2009