GDT: 4/27/09 - DET (10-8) VS NYY (9-9) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Sooner or later, somebody is going to make an authoritative move in the tightly bunched American League Central. With an eight-game homestand on the horizon, the Tigers hope to be that club.

As they prepare to take on the Yankees on Monday night at Comerica Park, the Tigers are looking to build on a 4-1 home record. The schedule-maker sent Detroit on the road for 13 of the first 18 games, but now the Tigers are ready to settle in for a long stint without having to live out of their suitcases.

"We've been playing hard and we've been in a lot of games and given ourselves a chance to win," outfielder Josh Anderson said. "If we just stay with that approach, I think we're going to [have] some real good stretches where you can really help yourselves in the standings."

In the AL Central, the Royals haven't been a contender since 2003. But through the opening month, Kansas City has been riding the 1-2 rotation punch of Gil Meche and Zack Greinke to stay right with the Tigers and White Sox. Only Cleveland has struggled along, well below .500, and many believe the Indians have enough talent to right themselves over the long haul.

"It looks like it's going to be a great race in this division," Anderson said.

Having played the fewest home games of any AL Central team, the Tigers now have a chance to fatten up on the home cooking and perhaps serve notice to all those pesky divisional foes.

Detroit survived with 13 of 18 on the road to start the season, including 5-4 on the just concluded trip. Now the Tigers feel like there's an opportunity to thrive before they next hit the road on May 6.

"Anytime you can come out of a road trip with a winning record, that's a plus," third baseman Brandon Inge said. "I'm happy because we've been playing some good ballclubs. It was pretty evenly matched and we just came out on top."

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (0-2, 9.00 ERA)
Verlander's stuff continues to impress, but his results remain disappointing. The right-hander's struggles rolled on in his last start on Wednesday, when the Angels scored seven runs on nine hits over five innings. While Verlander's command was strong, the Angels fouled off numerous pitches to extend their at-bats and wait for pitches they could line into the gaps or ground through the infield. The Yankees pose another challenge for Verlander, who gave up five earned runs on seven hits over 1 2/3 innings in his only meeting with the Bronx Bombers last year.

NYY: LHP CC Sabathia (1-1, 4.81 ERA)
Sabathia gets the ball for his fourth start as a Yankee on Monday, looking for better results than in his last outing vs. the A's. On Wednesday in New York, Sabathia was unable to hold leads twice and allowed seven runs -- six earned -- in a laborious 6 2/3 innings. Sabathia has never been a strong April performer but said that his struggles of late have been attributable to trying to be too fine and hit the corners instead of working the plate in thirds. Sabathia lasted only four innings and allowed a career-high nine runs in an April 16 start vs. the Tigers last year, his only start against them. He is 13-9 with a 4.70 ERA in 26 career starts vs. Detroit.

Tidbits

... Carlos Guillen, who continues to nurse an Achilles problem, was not in the lineup on Sunday. "He's hurting a little bit," manager Jim Leyland said. "It's a nagging thing. We just can't seem to get rid of it."
... Dontrelle Willis made a rehab start for Double-A Erie on Sunday. Over six innings, Willis allowed three hits and two earned runs. He fanned six and walked three.
... Anderson had three hits on Sunday, which represented a season high.
... Detroit allowed six walks on Sunday, matching a season high.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Tuesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 1-1, 2.77 ERA) vs. Yankees (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Yankees (Joba Chamberlain, 0-0, 3.94 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day

STARTING LINEUPS:

NY Yankees AVG
Jeter, SS .299
Damon, LF .311
Teixeira, 1B .218
Matsui, DH .280
Cano, 2B .373
Swisher, RF .286
Cabrera, M, CF .303
Molina, J, C .273
Pena, 3B .154

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .250
Polanco, 2B .257
Ordonez, RF .257
Cabrera, M, 1B .382
Guillen, DH .222
Laird, C .340
Inge, 3B .323
Raburn, LF .000
Everett, SS .278

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Derek Jeter called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Johnny Damon flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

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

0-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco doubles (8) on a ground ball to left fielder Johnny Damon.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Placido Polanco scores.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Carlos Guillen grounds into a force out,
third baseman Ramiro Pena to second baseman Robinson Cano. Miguel
Cabrera out at 2nd.

1-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Hideki Matsui flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Robinson Cano singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Nick Swisher swinging.

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


Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to left fielder Johnny Damon.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:3 - Ryan Raburn grounds into double play,
third baseman Ramiro Pena to second baseman Robinson Cano to first
baseman Mark Teixeira. Brandon Inge out at 2nd.

1-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Jose Molina singles on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Ramiro Pena called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Derek Jeter grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Jose
Molina out at 2nd. Derek Jeter to 1st.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Johnny Damon flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

1-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco pops out to shortstop Derek Jeter.

1-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Mark Teixeira singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Hideki Matsui singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Mark Teixeira to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Nick Swisher swinging.

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



1-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen called out on .

1-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jose Molina swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ramiro Pena singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Derek Jeter grounds out, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Ramiro Pena to 2nd.

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

8

1-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Nick Swisher.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge hit by pitch.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - With Ryan Raburn batting, Brandon Inge
picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher CC Sabathia to first
baseman Mark Teixeira to shortstop Derek Jeter.

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

1-0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Teixeira flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Hideki Matsui swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Robinson Cano lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

9 for

1-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher CC Sabathia.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Johnny Damon. Curtis Granderson scores.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Placido Polanco scores.

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

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to right fielder Nick Swisher.

4-0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Nick Swisher pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Melky Cabrera grounds out, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Jose Molina flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

at 99 pitches

4-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird bunt grounds out, third baseman Ramiro Pena to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Injury Delay.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to third baseman Ramiro Pena.

4-0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Ramiro Pena singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Derek Jeter singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Ramiro Pena to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Justin Verlander.

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

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Mark Teixeira flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Hideki Matsui swinging.

4-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Ramiro Pena to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

4-0 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Bobby Seay.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Robinson Cano doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Nick Swisher singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Robinson Cano scores.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Melky Cabrera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Nick Swisher to 3rd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jorge Posada replaces Jose Molina.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Jorge Posada grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Nick Swisher scores. Melky Cabrera out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ramiro Pena flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

WIN 4-2

April 27, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2		2	10	0
Detroit	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	X		4	6	0

NY Yankees AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Jeter, SS 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .296 Damon, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .292 Teixeira, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .220 Matsui, DH 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .278 Cano, 2B 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .380 Swisher, RF 4 1 1 1 0 2 3 .284 Cabrera, M, CF 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .297 Molina, J, C 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .280 --a-Posada, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279 Pena, 3B 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .235 Totals 36 2 10 1 0 10 20 a-Grounded into a double play for Molina, J in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Cano (5, Rodney). TB: Jeter; Teixeira; Matsui; Cano 3; Swisher; Cabrera, M; Molina, J; Pena 2. RBI: Swisher (14). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M; Damon; Matsui. GIDP: Posada. Team RISP: 1-for-9. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING DP: (Pena-Cano-Teixeira). Pickoffs: Sabathia (Inge at 1st base).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .250 Polanco, 2B 4 2 2 1 0 0 0 .269 Ordonez, RF 3 1 1 2 0 1 1 .260 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 .380 Guillen, DH 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .212 Laird, C 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 Inge, 3B 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .328 Raburn, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 Everett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 Totals 28 4 6 4 0 7 3 BATTING 2B: Polanco 2 (9, Sabathia, Sabathia). HR: Ordonez (2, 6th inning off Sabathia, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson; Polanco 4; Ordonez 4; Cabrera, M; Inge. RBI: Cabrera, M (14), Polanco (13), Ordonez 2 (9). 2-out RBI: Cabrera, M. GIDP: Raburn. Team RISP: 2-for-3. Team LOB: 1. BASERUNNING CS: Inge (2, 2nd base by Sabathia/Molina, J). PO: Inge (1st base by Sabathia). FIELDING DP: (Inge-Polanco-Cabrera, M).
NY Yankees IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Sabathia (L, 1-2) 8.0 6 4 4 0 7 1 4.73		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Verlander (W, 1-2) 7.0 7 0 0 0 9 0 6.75 Seay (H, 7) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Rodney 1.0 3 2 2 0 0 0 5.63
Verlander pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. HBP: Inge (by Sabathia). Pitches-strikes: Sabathia 99-70, Verlander 110-79, Seay 13-8, Rodney 11-8. Groundouts-flyouts: Sabathia 9-7, Verlander 3-9, Seay 0-2, Rodney 2-1. Batters faced: Sabathia 29, Verlander 28, Seay 3, Rodney 5. Inherited runners-scored: Seay 2-0. Umpires: HP: Jim Joyce. 1B: Derryl Cousins. 2B: Brian Runge. 3B: Brian Knight. Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 19 mph, R to L. T: 2:19. Att: 28,784. April 27, 2009