GDT: 8/5/10 - DET (53-54) VS CWS (61-46) - 1:05 p.m. ET

Tigers pin hopes on Scherzer to top White Sox

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

The man for whom he had been swapped eight months ago did his unforeseeable bit of haunting. Now, it will be up to Max Scherzer to show the Tigers did right by that trade.

Hanging in the balance could be Detroit's frail hopes in the American League Central race.

The third-place Tigers fell a season-high eight games behind with Wednesday night's 4-1 loss to the White Sox and Edwin Jackson -- the same guy Detroit had sent to Arizona as part of the three-team offseason transaction that delivered Scherzer to Motown.

Flash forward to the recent non-waiver Trade Deadline, with the White Sox turning to the D-backs in their need to compensate for disabled Jake Peavy -- and there was Jackson, injected back into an AL Central race and indirectly calling out Scherzer.

Scherzer, who will be opposed by the resilient Freddy Garcia, can answer that call simply by staying on his recent course. In his last nine starts, the hard-throwing 26-year-old has gone 5-2 while fanning 61 and pitching to a 2.18 ERA in 57 2/3 innings.

For the first time all season, the Tigers will awake Thursday morning under .500. They had actually dipped below that mark by losing the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader but returned to the break-even level with a nightcap victory.

Having once already turned the tide, the White Sox, who were the ones in third place as recently as a month ago, obviously aren't about to let it turn again. Manager Ozzie Guillen's marauders have won 37 of their last 50.

The team's charge has somehow obscured the remarkable story of Garcia, who has fought back from injuries to resume his place among the AL's finest.

This is a guy who recently went 513 days between victories (from April 22, 2007, to Sept. 17, 2008). Now he goes five days between wins -- and his next one will tie John Danks for the team lead with 11.

The confrontations between Garcia and Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge should be sponsored by the "Survivor" TV series. Neither ever wants to give in.

Mocking expectations that he might have to miss six weeks with a broken right hand, Inge was back in 15 days to go 3-for-4 on Wednesday night and drive in the Tigers' only run.

"He's so tough and wants to play so bad," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said in saluting Inge.

White Sox: Sale's a quick learner
Chris Sale, the first player taken in this June's First-Year Player Draft to reach the Majors, was in uniform for his first game, but still looks forward to his debut. The 21-year-old left-hander, who arrived only six weeks after signing his first pro contract, also is the first member of the White Sox since Alex Fernandez in 1990 to reach the Majors in the season in which he was drafted.

Tigers: Boesch not in seventh heaven
Brennan Boesch (0-for-3 on Wednesday) remained stuck on seven hits since the All-Star break -- and since a midseason poll of AL players overwhelmingly chose him as the AL Rookie of the Half-Year.

Worth noting
Back on May 21, White Sox captain Paul Konerko changed to Metallica's "Seek and Destroy" as his intro at-bat song. Since, the Sox have sought out first place by destroying foes at a .667 pace (44-22).



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (7-8, 4.28 ERA)
Scherzer lost his chance at his fourth July win when the Tigers bullpen couldn't hold a ninth-inning lead, but his 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball continued his trend of solid pitching since mid-June. He's 4-2 with a 1.92 ERA in his last eight starts.

WHITE SOX: RHP Freddy Garcia (10-4, 4.73 ERA)
The right-hander has posted a dominant 18-6 career record and 3.74 ERA against the Tigers. Garcia has an 8-3 record at Comerica Park and a lifetime mark of 49-22 in starts made for day games.


From MLB Tigers Game Notes



INJURY UPDATE:
• 2B Carlos Guillen (right calf strain, 15-day DL on July 25),
• RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25),
• LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Thursday, August 5,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (7-8, 4.28 ERA)) VS White Sox (RHP Freddy Garcia (10-4, 4.73 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Friday, August 6,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (12-6, 3.74 ERA)) VS Angels (?HP TBA ( ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Saturday, August 7,
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (6-6, 4.84 ERA)) VS Angels (?HP TBA ( ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, August 8,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (4-10, 5.91 ERA)) VS Angels (?HP TBA ( ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Juan Pierre singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
With Omar Vizquel batting, Juan Pierre steals (41) 2nd base.


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
With Omar Vizquel batting, Juan Pierre caught stealing 3rd base, pitcher Max Scherzer to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Omar Vizquel out swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Rios called out on .

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Will Rhymes singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Rios.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Johnny Damon flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera walks. Will Rhymes to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a ground ball to second baseman Gordon Beckham. Will Rhymes to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Paul Konerko flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Quentin singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Kotsay singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Carlos Quentin to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


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

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Don Kelly lines out to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird walks.


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


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Austin Jackson walks.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Will Rhymes flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Gordon Beckham singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:0 O:1 - Juan Pierre ground bunts into a force
out, pitcher Max Scherzer to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Gordon Beckham
out at 2nd. Juan Pierre to 1st.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Omar Vizquel batting, Juan Pierre caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Omar Vizquel walks.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Alex Rios batting, Omar Vizquel steals (6) 2nd base.


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



Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Johnny Damon out swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Juan Pierre.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch lines into double play, pitcher Freddy Garcia to first baseman Mark Kotsay. Miguel Cabrera out at 1st.

0-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Paul Konerko flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin out swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Mark Kotsay called out on .



Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, pitcher Freddy Garcia to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Don Kelly out swinging.

0-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Alexei Ramirez walks.


B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Ramon Castro doubles (2) on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly. Alexei Ramirez to 3rd.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
With Gordon Beckham batting, wild pitch by Max Scherzer, Alexei Ramirez scores. Ramon Castro to 3rd.

CWS 1, DET 0




B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Gordon Beckham out swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Juan Pierre singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Ramon Castro scores.

CWS 2, DET 0




B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Omar Vizquel singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge. Juan Pierre to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Rios grounds into double play, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Omar Vizquel out at 2nd.



Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Omar Vizquel to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Austin Jackson flies out to left fielder Juan Pierre.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, second baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

CWS 2, DET 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Paul Konerko singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Quentin flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Mark Kotsay out swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
With Alexei Ramirez batting, Paul Konerko caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to second baseman Will Rhymes.





Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Johnny Damon flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch flies out to left fielder Juan Pierre.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Rios. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

CWS 2, DET 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Castro lines out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Gordon Beckham grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.



Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Don Kelly homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.

CWS 2, DET 1




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


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Gerald Laird called out on .


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Thornton replaces Freddy Garcia.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Will Rhymes.


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


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

CWS 2, DET 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the second baseman.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Max Scherzer.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Juan Pierre lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Omar Vizquel out swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Rios out swinging.



Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Johnny Damon walks.


B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera walks. Johnny Damon to 2nd.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch out on foul tip.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: J. Putz replaces Matt Thornton.


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


B:1 S:0 O:3 - Jhonny Peralta grounds into double play,
shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Gordon Beckham to first
baseman Mark Kotsay. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

CWS 2, DET 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Robbie Weinhardt replaces Phil Coke.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Paul Konerko singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Brent Lillibridge replaces Paul Konerko.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Quentin flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch in foul territory.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Mark Kotsay homers (7) on a fly ball to right center field. Brent Lillibridge scores.

CWS 4, DET 1




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


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Ramon Castro lines out to second baseman Ryan Raburn.



Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brent Lillibridge remains in the game as the designated hitter.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Andruw Jones replaces right fielder Carlos Quentin, batting 5th, playing right field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Jenks replaces J. Putz.


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


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Don Kelly singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alex Rios.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago replaces Gerald Laird.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago hit by pitch. Don Kelly to 2nd.


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


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. Don Kelly scores. Ramon Santiago scores.

CWS 4, DET 4




B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Johnny Damon grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

CWS 4, DET 4 after 9 innings

Inning 10
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Alex Avila replaces Ramon Santiago, batting 9th, playing catcher.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Robbie Weinhardt.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Gordon Beckham out swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Juan Pierre flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Omar Vizquel pops out to second baseman Ryan Raburn.



Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Sergio Santos replaces Bobby Jenks.


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


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch out swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

CWS 4, DET 4 after 10 innings

Inning 11
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Rios flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brent Lillibridge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly.


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Andruw Jones singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly. Brent Lillibridge to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Kotsay triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Brent Lillibridge scores. Andruw Jones scores.

CWS 6, DET 4




B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch in foul territory.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ramon Castro grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.



Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge called out on .


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Don Kelly grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila singles on a line drive to right fielder Andruw Jones.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Austin Jackson walks. Alex Avila to 2nd.


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


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, second baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

CWS 6, DET 4 final box score after 11 innings