GDT: 5/8/10 - DET (16-13) at CLE (10-17) - 1:05 p.m. ET

Saturday offers fresh slate for Tribe, Tigers

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

When the rains came Friday night in Cleveland, they washed away the latest sins of the Tigers' starting rotation.

But the raindrops merely mixed with the Indians' frustration. And the lead to the sob story was Grady Sizemore.

The cloudburst, with Detroit holding a 7-6 lead after four innings, pardoned Jeremy Bonderman, who had joined his fellow starters in digging recent early holes. Giving up one run in the first and five more in the third, Bonderman raised to 18 the number of runs off Tigers starters within the first three innings of the past four games.

But, of course, all that went down the rain-drain. And on Saturday, Justin Verlander can make it right.

Also washing down that drain was a rare offensive outburst by the Indians. They have scored six runs in only six prior games that were played to conclusion. And here they had six after three ... gone.

As was Sizemore's first home run in 134 at-bats and 253 days since last Aug. 27. "Sorry, Grady" just doesn't seem to cut it.

Travis Hafner had also homered. The last time Cleveland's two marquee players had both hit homers that counted in the same game? July 26 of last season.

The doomed game loomed as the ideal forum for Kerry Wood's comeback appearance, but now that, too, has been held over. The closer had been activated prior to the game after completing his rehab from a strained muscle under his right shoulder.

Wood is an important piece, and every member of the Tribe is happy to have him back. But they all concede he is not a finishing piece. With weak offensive support for a scuffling pitching staff, the Indians have had only seven save opportunities all season.

Only the Oakland A's have had fewer, but at least they have converted all six. Indians relievers have blown three of the seven.

To ward off unrealistically high expectations, Wood said, "I'm not going to change how we're doing as a team."

He certainly couldn't do anything about the weather.

Tigers: Jackson avoids going hitless
Not everybody was bummed out by Friday's rainout that nixed all stats. Detroit rookie Austin Jackson (0-for-3) was spared what shaped up as only the fourth hitless game of his 29-game career. Impressive, indeed.

... Johnny Damon was back in the lineup -- going 2-for-2 as the designated hitter -- after having been forced by right-calf spasms out of Wednesday's game in Minnesota.

Indians: Wood returns as planned
How about some props for Lonnie Soloff, the Indians' head athletic trainer. When Wood went on the DL, Soloff said he would miss "six to eight weeks from when the MRI was taken" on March 18. Wood returned on day No. 50 after that MRI date, seven weeks later.

... Justin Masterson goes for his second win in 16 Cleveland starts on Saturday.

Worth noting
The Tigers' lack of punch from the left side could be a key to Masterson finally breaking through. Left-handed hitters have been beating him up at a 24-for-58 (.414) rate.



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, 4.50 ERA)
What used to be a house of horrors for Verlander in Cleveland became a springboard for him around this point last year, when some minor mechanical tweaks and an acrobatic catch by Curtis Granderson put him in line for a complete-game victory. Verlander beat the Indians four times last year and hasn't lost to the Tribe since 2008. He took a no-decision against Cleveland on the season's opening weekend.

CLE: RHP Justin Masterson (0-3, 5.40 ERA)
One reason why Masterson has not been quite as effective as a starter as the Indians hope is his struggles early in the game. He has a 10.80 ERA and a .423 average against in his five first innings this season. The first time through the lineup, the opposition is batting .333 (14-for-42) off him. The second time through, they are batting .421 (16-for-38). Early, middle or late in games, left-handers continue to be Masterson's nemesis. They are batting .414 (24-for-58) with a 1.148 OPS against him.


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday, May 9:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (1-2, 6.47 ERA)) at Indians (RHP Mitch Talbot (3-2, 2.88 ERA)), 1:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Monday, May 10:
Tigers (LHP Dontrelle Willis (1-1, 3.99 ERA)) vs Yankees (RHP Sergio Mitre (0-0, 2.79 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Tuesday, May 11:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (2-3, 7.50 ERA)) vs Yankees (RHP Javier Vazquez (1-3, 9.78 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Wednesday, May 12:
Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 5.74 ERA)) vs Yankees (RHP Phil Hughes (4-0, 1.69 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson swinging.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Johnny Damon walks.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out softly, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to first baseman Matt LaPorta. Johnny Damon to 2nd.


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



Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Grudzielanek pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Grady Sizemore swinging.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo swinging.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Avila called out on .



Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Travis Hafner called out on .


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Austin Kearns swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta swinging.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago bunt grounds out, pitcher Justin Masterson to first baseman Matt LaPorta.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
With Johnny Damon batting, Austin Jackson steals (6) 2nd base.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Johnny Damon called out on .

0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Luis Valbuena lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Lou Marson called out on .

0-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to left fielder Austin Kearns. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to shortstop Luis Valbuena. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila pops out to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek.


B:1 S:0 O:2 - Scott Sizemore doubles (5) on a line
drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Miguel Cabrera scores. Brennan
Boesch scores. Brandon Inge scores.

DET 3, CLE 0


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.

DET 3, CLE 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Grudzielanek lines out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore walks.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo walks. Grady Sizemore to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Travis Hafner singles on a ground ball to left fielder Johnny Damon. Grady Sizemore scores. Shin-Soo Choo to 2nd.

DET 3, CLE 1



B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Austin Kearns batting, wild pitch by Justin Verlander, Shin-Soo Choo to 3rd. Travis Hafner to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Austin Kearns swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 3, CLE 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Austin Jackson lines out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Johnny Damon walks.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Johnny Damon to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
shortstop Luis Valbuena to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to first
baseman Matt LaPorta. Magglio Ordonez out at 2nd.



Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Luis Valbuena walks.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
With Matt LaPorta batting, Luis Valbuena caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alex Avila to second baseman Scott Sizemore.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Lou Marson called out on .

DET 3, CLE 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out to first baseman Matt LaPorta.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Austin Kearns.

DET 3, CLE 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Mark Grudzielanek singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
With Grady Sizemore batting, throwing error by Justin Verlander on the pickoff attempt, Mark Grudzielanek to 2nd.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore called out on .


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo walks.


B:3 S:2 O:1 - Travis Hafner singles on a sharp ground
ball to pitcher Justin Verlander. Mark Grudzielanek to 3rd. Shin-Soo
Choo to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Austin Kearns singles on a ground ball
to center fielder Austin Jackson. Mark Grudzielanek scores. Shin-Soo
Choo scores. Travis Hafner to 2nd.

DET 3, CLE 3

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Jhonny Peralta grounds into a force out,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Scott Sizemore. Travis
Hafner to 3rd. Austin Kearns out at 2nd. Jhonny Peralta to 1st.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Luis Valbuena grounds out, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 3, CLE 3 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Kerry Wood replaces Justin Masterson.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore called out on .

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Austin Kearns.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Austin Jackson doubles (9) on a line drive to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez walks. Austin Jackson to 3rd. Johnny Damon to 2nd.

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


B:1 S:0 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive
to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Austin Jackson scores. Johnny Damon
scores. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.

DET 5, CLE 3


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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Tony Sipp replaces Kerry Wood.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch swinging.

DET 5, CLE 3 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Justin Verlander.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Matt LaPorta swinging.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Lou Marson swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Mark Grudzielanek singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Grady Sizemore swinging.

DET 5, CLE 3 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to first baseman Matt LaPorta.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Scott Sizemore walks.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Scott Sizemore to 3rd.


B:2 S:2 O:2 - Austin Jackson reaches on force attempt,
fielding error by shortstop Luis Valbuena. Scott Sizemore scores. Ramon
Santiago to 2nd.

DET 6, CLE 3




B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Johnny Damon swinging.

DET 6, CLE 3 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Johnny Damon, batting 2nd, playing left field.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Shin-Soo Choo singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Travis Hafner doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Shin-Soo Choo to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Austin Kearns out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Shin-Soo Choo scores. Travis Hafner to 3rd.

DET 6, CLE 4


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Luis Valbuena swinging.

DET 6, CLE 4 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Hector Ambriz replaces Tony Sipp.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to first baseman Matt LaPorta.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch doubles (6) on a fly ball to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge walks.


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


B:2 S:2 O:3 - Alex Avila grounds into double play,
second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to shortstop Luis Valbuena to first
baseman Matt LaPorta. Brandon Inge out at 2nd.

DET 6, CLE 4 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Joel Zumaya.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Matt LaPorta grounds out sharply, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Russell Branyan replaces Lou Marson.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Russell Branyan swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Mark Grudzielanek grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 6, CLE 4 final score

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