GDT: 5/3/09 - DET (12-11) VS CLE (9-15) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- One of these days, Curtis Granderson is going to feel comfortable at the plate again, and then he'll be really dangerous. As it is, he's sharing his discomfort with the pitchers he's facing.

Defending American League Cy Young Award-winner Cliff Lee, who can probably relate, is up next in Sunday's rubber match against the Indians.

"It's just a weird spiral right now," Granderson said after his go-ahead two-run homer Saturday, "and I'm not sure what to make of it. I'm still just trying to even everything back out."

After an up-and-down April, the two-time American League triples champion has no three-baggers to date, and only one double. But his eight home runs lead the team, and left him only one off the AL lead entering Saturday night.

"I don't know what's going on there," Granderson said. "I don't know if I'm pleased with it or not, because some other numbers aren't very good. "

Granderson's batting .333 (9-for-27) against left-handed pitchers through Saturday, but more than a hundred points lower against righties. His longest streak of hitless games is two, yet the first two games of this series marked just the second bunch of consecutive multi-hit efforts.

As manager Jim Leyland said earlier in the week, Granderson's a hitter in search of consistency.

"[I'm] trying to find ways to get the ball to land and hit it where they're not as of right now," Granderson said.

The home runs are pretty good on that mark.

"I'll definitely take it," Granderson said, "but I'm still not in a groove each at-bat. It's just consistency. I'm trying to get it back, but in no panic by any means. It's May 2, so there's still plenty of baseball to go."

Granderson's career average in April is more than a dozen points under his overall clip, so that isn't exactly new. It's the summer months, June and July especially, when he heats up.

Saturday's home run was partly a matter of knowing his opponent after a few years as division rivals. Rafael Betancourt had held Granderson to two singles and a walk in eight previous at-bats, but with nothing hit hard until Granderson's long opposite-field single in their wild extra-inning game last July 30. But when Granderson stepped to the plate following Josh Anderson's pinch-hit single leading off the bottom of the eighth, he knew what to expect.

"You know exactly what you're going to get with fastballs," Granderson said, "but you just never could really get a good swing on them. ... The fact that I was able to get a good swing on [Betancourt] today, I'm still amazed."

Granderson's success against lefties this year isn't quite as amazing, despite his record. When Granderson has been off at the plate over his career, he has always used at-bats against left-handers as a way to get his timing back, forcing himself to watch the pitch longer and stay disciplined. Granderson's a respectable 8-for-28 (.286) lifetime against Lee.

"The aggressiveness I have towards the lefties, I've got to bring it back toward the righties," Granderson said. "And that's the thing I'm battling with a little bit right now, too."



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (1-2, 6.75 ERA)
Verlander has pitched well off and on this season, but his last start marked the first time good results and good performance matched up. His seven-plus scoreless innings against the Yankees saw him strike out nine while not walking a batter and scattering seven singles. Considering his struggles against New York over the last couple of years, it was an impressive performance, but his next start against Cleveland at Comerica Park will pit him against a division rival who has roughed him up over the years.

CLE: LHP Cliff Lee (1-3, 3.94 ERA)
Facing a potent Red Sox lineup on Monday, Lee was brilliant for eight innings in which he allowed just five hits and nothing more. He struck out five batters and induced two double plays, but all he had to show for his efforts was a no-decision. This was Lee truly in the form that made him a Cy Young winner last season, and his improvement is best demonstrated by the fact that his ERA, which was at 12.60 after his Opening Day debacle in Texas, is now under four. He says the key is mixing up his pitches earlier in the game and in the count, getting results out of his breaking ball.


Tidbits

... Brandon Inge has reached base safely in each of Detroit's 23 games this season, the fifth-longest such streak by a Tigers player since records date back to 1954. If he gets on base safely Sunday, he'll tie Leon Roberts' 24-game streak from 1975.
... Saturday's attendance of 34,646 was the Tigers' second-largest of the season, trailing only the April 10 home opener.
... Inge and Armando Galarraga earned Tigers Player and Pitcher of the Month honors for April, as selected by writers on the beat. Inge hit .319 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs for the month, while Galarraga went 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in four April starts.
... Inge is 12-for-30 (.400) lifetime off Lee, with two home runs and seven RBIs.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 1-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Twins (LHP Francisco Liriano, (0-4, 6.04 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 1-3, 6.23 ERA) vs. Twins (Nick Blackburn, 2-1, 4.02 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-1, 3.07 ERA) AT. White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 4-0, 3.30 ERA), 8:11 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

INDIANS

1. Grady Sizemore, CF
   
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
   
3. Victor Martinez, 1B
   
4. Shin-Soo Choo, LF
   
5. Mark DeRosa, 3B
   
6. David Dellucci, DH
   
7. Kelly Shoppach, C
   
8. Matt LaPorta, RF (Major League debut)
   
9. Luis Valbuena, 2B
   

P: Cliff Lee

TIGERS

1. Granderson, CF
   
2. Polanco, 2B
   
3. Ordonez, RF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Guillen, LF
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Raburn, DH
   
8. Everett, SS
   
9. Sardinha, C
   

P: Verlander

Inning 1
Top Half

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Victor Martinez lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to third baseman Mark DeRosa in foul territory.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to right fielder Matt LaPorta. Placido Polanco to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera reaches on a fielder's
choice out, third baseman Mark DeRosa to catcher Kelly Shoppach.
Placido Polanco out at home. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Mark DeRosa pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
David Dellucci swinging.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Brandon Inge homers (8) on a fly ball to left center field.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Mark DeRosa to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
With Dane Sardinha batting, Adam Everett steals (1) 2nd base.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Dane Sardinha called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Luis Valbuena to first baseman Victor Martinez.

1-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Kelly Shoppach hit by pitch.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Injury Delay.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Matt LaPorta called out on .

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Luis Valbuena walks. Kelly Shoppach to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Grady Sizemore called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a line drive
to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Kelly Shoppach scores. Luis
Valbuena to 3rd. Asdrubal Cabrera to 2nd on the throw.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Victor Martinez swinging.



tied 1-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

1-1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Mark DeRosa called out on .

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
David Dellucci swinging.

9 for

tied 1-1

Bottom Half

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

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

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Everett singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Dane Sardinha flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

tied 1-1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Justin Verlander.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Luis Valbuena called out on .

10 for

tied 1-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco lines out to third baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into a force
out, second baseman Luis Valbuena to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Curtis
Granderson out at 2nd. Magglio Ordonez to 1st.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

1-1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Justin Verlander.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

tied 1-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, second baseman Luis Valbuena to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to catcher Kelly Shoppach in foul territory.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.

1-1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Shin-Soo Choo walks.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Mark DeRosa doubles (5) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Shin-Soo Choo to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Justin Verlander intentionally walks David Dellucci.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta called out on .

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Luis Valbuena grounds into a force out, fielded by shortstop Adam Everett. David Dellucci out at 2nd.

11 for

tied 1-1

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Dane Sardinha doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Matt LaPorta. Dane Sardinha scores.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Luis Valbuena to first baseman Victor Martinez. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Curtis Granderson scores.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

3-1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Josh Anderson replaces left fielder Carlos Guillen, batting 5th, playing left field.

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

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera lines out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Shin-Soo Choo walks. Victor Martinez to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Bobby Seay.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Mark DeRosa lines out sharply to shortstop Adam Everett.

3-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Masa Kobayashi replaces Cliff Lee.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Dane Sardinha swinging.

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

3-1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Joel Zumaya.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
David Dellucci swinging.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Kelly Shoppach grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Matt LaPorta pops out to catcher Dane Sardinha in foul territory.

WIN 3-1

May 3, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cleveland	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	3	0
Detroit	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	X		3	12	0

Cleveland AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Sizemore, CF 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .240 Cabrera, SS 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 .329 Martinez, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .388 Choo, LF 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 .262 DeRosa, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .235 Dellucci, DH 3 0 0 0 1 3 0 .500 Shoppach, C 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 .222 LaPorta, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .000 Valbuena, 2B 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 .000 Totals 30 1 3 1 4 12 16 BATTING 2B: DeRosa (5, Verlander). TB: Cabrera; Martinez; DeRosa 2. RBI: Cabrera (14). 2-out RBI: Cabrera. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Martinez 2; Valbuena 2; DeRosa. Team RISP: 1-for-7. Team LOB: 7.		Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 5 1 2 1 0 1 1 .270 Polanco, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .265 Ordonez, RF 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .253 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 3 0 0 0 2 .393 Guillen, LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 7 .198 --Anderson, J, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 Inge, 3B 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 .316 Raburn, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .091 Everett, SS 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .269 Sardinha, D, C 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .167 Totals 36 3 12 3 1 6 18 BATTING 2B: Sardinha, D (1, Lee), Granderson (2, Lee). HR: Inge (8, 2nd inning off Lee, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Granderson 3; Polanco; Ordonez 2; Cabrera, M 3; Inge 4; Everett 2; Sardinha, D 2. RBI: Inge (19), Granderson (18), Ordonez (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Guillen 2; Granderson; Raburn 2. Team RISP: 2-for-10. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Everett (1, 2nd base off Lee/Shoppach).
Cleveland IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Lee (L, 1-4) 7.0 12 3 3 1 4 1 3.92 Kobayashi 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.15		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Verlander (W, 2-2) 7.0 2 1 1 3 11 0 5.66 Seay (H, 8) 0.2 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.16 Zumaya (H, 1) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Rodney (S, 6) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.50
IBB: Dellucci (by Verlander). HBP: Shoppach (by Verlander). Pitches-strikes: Lee 114-72, Kobayashi 13-8, Verlander 121-75, Seay 17-10, Zumaya 2-1, Rodney 12-8. Groundouts-flyouts: Lee 6-11, Kobayashi 0-1, Verlander 4-6, Seay 0-2, Zumaya 0-1, Rodney 1-1. Batters faced: Lee 34, Kobayashi 3, Verlander 27, Seay 4, Zumaya 1, Rodney 3. Inherited runners-scored: Zumaya 2-0. Umpires: HP: Scott Barry. 1B: Eric Cooper. 2B: Mike Reilly. 3B: Laz Diaz. Weather: 66 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, Out to LF. T: 2:37. Att: 27,411. May 3, 2009