GDT: 7/24/10 - DET (50-44) VS TOR (48-48) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Porcello, Marcum set to duel after Friday rain

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

When the Tigers opted to send talented young right-hander Rick Porcello to the Minor Leagues on June 20, general manager Dave Dombrowski didn't give a timetable for his return. He simply stated that, for the long-term betterment of Porcello's career, the 21-year-old "needed to get away from here."

Based on the results of his first start back, Dombrowski was right on. And Porcello, who will make his second start since his Minor League demotion against the Blue Jays on Saturday, agrees.

"Early on in the season, I wasn't in a good mindset," said Porcello, who will oppose Shaun Marcum at Comerica Park after Friday night's game was postponed due to rain. "Especially in a couple games, I got hit around, and I started putting too much pressure on myself. It was almost like I was telling myself to try harder and all that stuff, and do better. But a lot of times, with pitching, it kind of takes the opposite effect. So I think going down to [Triple-A] Toledo ... allowed me to be able to kind of smooth out my mechanics and iron out my delivery."

Porcello, who finished third in the voting for American League Rookie of the Year last season, had a dreadful 6.14 ERA and had allowed an opponents' batting average of .324 by the time his 13th start of the season finished up on June 19. But after four starts in the Minors -- where he posted a 3.21 ERA -- Porcello came back and had his best start of the season against the Indians last Saturday, giving up just one run in eight innings while walking none and striking out six in the second game of a doubleheader.

"This year's obviously been a rough one for me," Porcello admitted. "For me, it's been the first one athletically that I've really struggled, ever, in any sport. It's something that's new for me to deal with. Now that I'm dealing with it and I'm trying to overcome that, I think it'll help me in the future [to] limit these types of things. There's always going to be rough patches here and there, but now that I kind of know how to deal with it and I've already been through it, hopefully in the future I'll be able to kind of limit the amount of struggles so that it doesn't linger for a month, two months."

The Tigers have countered a season-high seven-game losing streak with back-to-back victories, the last of which was a 5-2 win over the homer-happy Blue Jays on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Porcello seems to have figured it out since his demotion. But one Major League start is a very small sample size, and Porcello isn't ready to consent to anything.

"I'll never say that I've overcome it and I'm back to everything, because I think it would be kind of a sense of complacency," he said. "I just want to keep after it and keep working hard."

As for Porcello's Saturday opponent, there was a chance earlier this week that Marcum, who came off his disabled-list stint on Sunday, would be pushed back because of a blister in his right middle finger. But Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said: "If it flares up when he gets out there, it's a different ballgame. Right now, he's scheduled to go."

Blue Jays: Home runs part of the culture
No team has cranked balls out of the park this season like the Blue Jays, who easily lead the Majors in home runs with 143. And though that's just part of who they are as an offense, Gaston would also like to see a bit more variety (even though Toronto has hit at least one double in 13 consecutive games). "We have a club that hits home runs," said Gaston, whose team is 4-3 since the All-Star break. "It hasn't been any different since day one. I think the ballgame over in Kansas City where we scored a lot of runs, we still hit a couple home runs, but we still had a couple doubles and singles. That's something we haven't done in a while."

... The Blue Jays kept outfielder Fred Lewis out of the starting lineup on Thursday, after he left Wednesday's game early with a sore right ankle. He's still day to day.

... Toronto called up utility man Mike McCoy and optioned starter Marc Rzepczynski to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Tigers: Perfect 20 for Valverde
After blowing his first save opportunity in a Tigers uniform, Jose Valverde has converted 20 in a row, with his last one coming during Thursday's win against Toronto. The 32-year-old right-hander, whose ERA is now 1.27, has also held opponents scoreless in 38 of his 43 outings.

... The Tigers are 9-2 against the AL East this season, including Thursday's win over Toronto. Their next 10 games will be against AL East teams, including next week's road trip to Tampa Bay and Boston.

... Gerald Laird is batting .340 (32-for-94) lifetime against the Blue Jays with six doubles, three homers and 17 RBIs. He's expected to get his third consecutive start Saturday with Toronto after working well with Porcello last Saturday at Cleveland.

Worth noting
With Friday night's game postponed due to rain, the two teams will play a doubleheader Sunday, with the afternoon game scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m. and the makeup game slated for 6:05 p.m.

... Magglio Ordonez was scheduled to be the designated hitter Friday night for the third time in four days as he deals with a sore right ankle. Manager Jim Leyland said Friday afternoon that he'll keep Ordonez in the DH slot until Ordonez says he feels good enough to play in right field again.

... Tigers prospect left-hander Charlie Furbush, 24, was promoted from Double-A Erie to Triple-A Toledo. It's his second promotion in as many months.

... Austin Jackson's 106 hits this season are already the most by a Tigers rookie since Milt Cuyler notched 122 in 1991.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Rick Porcello (4-7, 5.63 ERA)
Porcello had a stellar return to the big leagues last weekend, tossing eight innings of one-run ball against the Indians, inducing 11 ground-ball outs. Now he'll face a Jays lineup boasting a little more home-run power, with Jose Bautista and Vernon Wells.

BLUE JAYS: RHP Shaun Marcum (8-4, 3.36 ERA)
Over his past five starts, Marcum is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA for the Blue Jays. On Sunday, making his first start after a stint on the 15-day disabled list, the righty held the Orioles to one run on nine hits over five innings en route to a victory.


From MLB Tigers Game Notes


INJURY UPDATE:
3B Brandon Inge (non-displaced fracture of fifth metacarpal in left hand, 15-day DL on July 20), (out 4 to 6 weeks)
RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Sunday, July 25 - DOUBLE HEADER GAME 1
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (5-6, 4.98 ERA)) VS Blue Jays (LHP Brett Cecil (8-5, 3.99 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, July 25 - DOUBLE HEADER GAME 2
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (3-3, 4.50 ERA)) VS Blue Jays (RHP Jesse Litsch (1-4, 5.79 ERA)), 6:05 p.m. ET (NO TV - AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Monday, July 26
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (7-7, 4.43 ERA)) AT Rays (TBA), 7:10 p.m. ET ((FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Tuesday, July 27
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (12-5, 3.76 ERA)) AT Rays (TBA), 7:10 p.m. ET ((FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Toronto AVG
Wise, LF .243
Escobar, Y, SS .252
Bautista, J, RF .238
Wells, V, CF .272
Lind, DH .217
Hill, A, 2B .203
Overbay, 1B .251
Buck, J, C .284
Encarnacion, 3B .242
Totals .246

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .308
Raburn, LF .209
Ordonez, DH .301
Cabrera, M, 1B .347
Boesch, RF .316
Guillen, C, 2B .278
Laird, C .187
Kelly, 3B .217
Worth, SS .274
Totals .272

Current Conditions

Comerica Park

Partly Cloudy 85 F

Humidity: 62 %

Wind: from the NW at 11 mph

Barometer: 29.87 in

last updated: 7/24/10 6:05 PM EDT

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
DeWayne Wise singles on a soft ground ball to second baseman Carlos Guillen.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Yunel Escobar grounds out, shortstop Danny Worth to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. DeWayne Wise to 2nd.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Jose Bautista walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Vernon Wells batting, wild pitch by Rick Porcello, DeWayne Wise to 3rd. Jose Bautista to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Vernon Wells grounds out, shortstop Danny Worth to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. DeWayne Wise scores.

TOR 1, DET 0

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Lind flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

TOR 1, DET 0 AFTER .5 INNING

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson out swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn out swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Bautista.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

TOR 1, DET 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Aaron Hill grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Lyle Overbay grounds out, shortstop Danny Worth to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
John Buck grounds out, shortstop Danny Worth to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


TOR 1, DET 0 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, pitcher Shaun Marcum to first baseman Lyle Overbay.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to pitcher Shaun Marcum.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird singles on a line drive to left fielder DeWayne Wise.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder DeWayne Wise.

TOR 1, DET 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Edwin Encarnacion doubles (12) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
DeWayne Wise grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Edwin Encarnacion to 3rd.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Yunel Escobar grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jose Bautista singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Edwin Encarnacion scores.

TOR 2, DET 0




B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Vernon Wells walks. Jose Bautista to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Lind walks. Jose Bautista to 3rd. Vernon Wells to 2nd.


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


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Aaron Hill pops out to catcher Gerald Laird in foul territory.

TOR 2, DET 0 AFTER 2.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Danny Worth pops out to first baseman Lyle Overbay in foul territory.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Vernon Wells.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn out swinging.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez walks. Austin Jackson to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera doubles (31) on a line
drive to center fielder Vernon Wells. Austin Jackson scores. Magglio
Ordonez out at home on the throw, center fielder Vernon Wells to second
baseman Aaron Hill to catcher John Buck.

TOR 2, DET 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Lyle Overbay flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
John Buck flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Edwin Encarnacion pops out to catcher Gerald Laird in foul territory.

TOR 2, DET 1 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch out swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen doubles (16) on a line drive to center fielder Vernon Wells.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion to first baseman Lyle Overbay.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder DeWayne Wise.

TOR 2, DET 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
DeWayne Wise doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Yunel Escobar singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. DeWayne Wise to 3rd.


B:2 S:2 O:1 - Jose Bautista grounds into a force out,
second baseman Carlos Guillen to shortstop Danny Worth. DeWayne Wise
scores. Yunel Escobar out at 2nd. Jose Bautista to 1st.

TOR 3, DET 1




B:2 S:2 O:1 -
With Vernon Wells batting, Jose Bautista steals (4) 2nd base.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Vernon Wells grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jose Bautista to 3rd.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Rick Porcello intentionally walks Adam Lind.


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


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Aaron Hill grounds into a force out, third baseman Don Kelly to second baseman Carlos Guillen. Adam Lind out at 2nd.

TOR 3, DET 1 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Danny Worth lines out to left fielder DeWayne Wise.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to left fielder DeWayne Wise.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn lines out sharply to third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago replaces Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, Austin Jackson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher John Buck to shortstop Yunel Escobar.


TOR 3, DET 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago remains in the game as the designated hitter.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Magglio Ordonez left the game due to an injured (BROKEN) ankle.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Scott Sizemore replaces second baseman Carlos Guillen, batting 6th, playing second base.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Lyle Overbay lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
John Buck grounds out, shortstop Danny Worth to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Edwin Encarnacion flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

TOR 3, DET 1 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago out swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (32) on a line drive to left fielder DeWayne Wise.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, pitcher Shaun Marcum to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Scott Sizemore singles on a line drive to center fielder Vernon Wells. Miguel Cabrera scores.

TOR 3, DET 2




B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Detroit Tigers second baseman Carlos Guillen left the game due to an injured leg.


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Jason Frasor replaces Shaun Marcum.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird lines out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

TOR 3, DET 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Robbie Weinhardt replaces Rick Porcello.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
DeWayne Wise grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Robbie Weinhardt.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Yunel Escobar grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jose Bautista flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

TOR 3, DET 2 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Don Kelly grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Danny Worth grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Lyle Overbay.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Bautista.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn lines out to right fielder Jose Bautista.

TOR 3, DET 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Vernon Wells reaches on throwing error by third baseman Don Kelly.


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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brad Thomas replaces Robbie Weinhardt.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Lind lines out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:1 O:2 - With Aaron Hill batting, Vernon Wells
picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Brad Thomas to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Danny Worth.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Aaron Hill flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

TOR 3, DET 2 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Scott Downs replaces Jason Frasor.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to left fielder DeWayne Wise.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch walks. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Scott Sizemore out swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

TOR 3, DET 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Lyle Overbay singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.


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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Brad Thomas.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
John Buck out swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Edwin Encarnacion pops out to second baseman Scott Sizemore.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
DeWayne Wise grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


TOR 3, DET 2 AFTER 8.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Kevin Gregg replaces Scott Downs.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Johnny Damon replaces Don Kelly.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Johnny Damon grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Danny Worth flies out to left fielder DeWayne Wise.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Austin Jackson lines out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

TOR 3, DET 2 FINAL BOX SCORE > CLICK HERE <