GDT: 5/10/09 - DET (16-13) AT CLE (11-20) - 1:05 p.m. ET

CLEVELAND -- The Tigers entered the season with the potential for a solid pitching staff if some of their key youngsters could emerge. Now that Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson seem to have broken out, it could be young Rick Porcello's turn.

Not since 1990, back at old Municipal Stadium, have the Tigers swept a three-game series in Cleveland -- the same season that Cecil Fielder broke the 50-homer milestone. The Tigers have managed just three wins at Progressive Field in each of the previous two seasons, a total they could match already with a win in Sunday's series finale.

If Porcello picks up where he left off earlier this week, however, Detroit could end up with one of their more dominant series -- from a pitching standpoint -- in recent years. In so doing, the Tigers could end up with a statement series for a pitching staff that was a question mark when the team broke camp little more than a month ago.

It was a staff that could be good if some things and some pitchers broke right. In key spots, those factors are turning in the Tigers' favor.

"We think we've got some pretty good arms we're throwing out there," manager Jim Leyland said.

The Tigers haven't given up a run since the White Sox tacked on a final run on Thursday night, 22 innings ago. The back-to-back shutouts constitute Detroit's first such streak since 2006, and they match the Tigers' season total from all of last year. Now comes a 20-year-old right-hander who took a big step his last time out, on Wednesday night, with seven scoreless innings on four hits against the Twins en route to a 9-0 blanking at Comerica Park.

Sunday is the kind of matchup in which Porcello's competitive instinct gives him a chance to hold down a sputtering Indians offense once and for all. Like so many experiences for the rookie already this season, this is a new one.

Porcello's last outing proved that he can make adjustments. This is his chance to show that he can stick with them.

"Each start, you get a little bit more comfortable, learn a little bit more and have a little bit better game plan," Porcello said.

Porcello's game plan for Sunday will likely involve a bit of what made Verlander and Jackson so successful in the first two games. If he can stay ahead of hitters and spot his sinker for strikes, much like he did his last time out, Porcello can get a good number of ground balls for a defense that has been effective this series.

"I've been working in the bullpen on staying back and staying controlled through the windup," Porcello said after his last start.



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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (2-3, 4.71 ERA)
The key to Porcello in good outings and bad over his first five Major League starts has been his ability to throw his sinker for strikes. When he does, he can get quick groundouts and avoid the kind of big hits that inflate his run total in a hurry. When he doesn't, he falls behind in the count and leaves himself to challenge hitters with his secondary pitches. His last start was very much a case of the former, as he held the Twins to four singles over seven innings with three walks and three strikeouts. He'll try for more of the same in his first meeting with the Indians.

CLE: RHP Anthony Reyes (1-0, 6.84 ERA)
Though he pitched well against Toronto in his last start, Reyes earned a no-decision after the Tribe's bullpen blew the lead. Reyes yielded three runs on six hits across six innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter. Reyes has now earned no-decisions in each of his last four outings.

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Tidbits

...The only two American League cities where the Tigers have gone longer without completing a three-game sweep are Oakland (1959 was the last time) and Boston (1964).
... Detroit is 9-0 on Saturdays and Sundays this season.
... The Tigers drafted Reyes in 2002, but he didn't sign. He defeated Detroit in Game 1 of the 2006 World Series, but he gave up seven runs over 5 2/3 innings in his lone regular-season start against the Tigers.
... Second baseman Placido Polanco has an eight-game hitting streak, during which he is batting .313 (10-for-32).
... First baseman Miguel Cabrera is batting .328 (39-for-119) with 11 homers and 28 RBIs in 29 career games against the Indians.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga, 3-2, 4.08 ERA) at Twins (RHP Kevin Slowly, 4-1, 5.50 ERA), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (LHP Dontrelle Willis, 0-2, 9.38 ERA in 2008) at Twins (LHP Glen Perkins, 1-2, 3.73 ERA), 8:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Mark DeRosa to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Victor Martinez.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to pitcher Rick Porcello. Asdrubal Cabrera to 2nd.

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

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Mark DeRosa grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

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

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Jeff Larish homers (2) on a fly ball to right center field.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Ben Francisco.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Ben Francisco. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Adam Everett out on a sacrifice fly to
left fielder Ben Francisco. Magglio Ordonez scores. Brandon Inge to
3rd. Gerald Laird to 2nd on the throw.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Brandon Inge scores. Gerald Laird scores.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, pitcher Anthony Reyes to first baseman Victor Martinez.

4-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
David Dellucci grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Kelly Shoppach singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Grady Sizemore singles on a soft fly
ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jhonny Peralta scores. Kelly
Shoppach to 2nd.

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

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

4-1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Clete Thomas walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
third baseman Mark DeRosa to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to first
baseman Victor Martinez. Clete Thomas out at 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jeff Larish swinging.

4-1

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Victor Martinez walks.

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

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Mark DeRosa flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


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

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
David Dellucci grounds out softly, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

4-1 after 3 innings

Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.

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

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Gerald Laird grounds into double play,
shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to first
baseman Victor Martinez. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Brandon Inge out at
2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Magglio Ordonez scores.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
With Curtis Granderson batting, Adam Everett caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Kelly Shoppach to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

5-1

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Ben Francisco singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
With Jhonny Peralta batting, Ben Francisco steals (6) 2nd base.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta called out on .

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Kelly Shoppach on foul tip.

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

5-1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to left fielder Ben Francisco.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
pitcher Anthony Reyes to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to first
baseman Victor Martinez. Clete Thomas out at 2nd.

5-1

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

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

5-1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jensen Lewis replaces Anthony Reyes.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jeff Larish pops out to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

5-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Rick Porcello.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Mark DeRosa grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
David Dellucci singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Ben Francisco swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. David Dellucci to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Kelly Shoppach lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

5-1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett pops out to first baseman Victor Martinez.

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

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.

5-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Zach Miner.

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

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Victor Martinez swinging.

5-1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Tony Sipp replaces Jensen Lewis.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas pops out to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera.

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

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
With Jeff Larish batting, wild pitch by Tony Sipp, Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Jeff Larish walks.

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

B:3 S:1 O:3 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into double
play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to
first baseman Victor Martinez. Jeff Larish out at 2nd.

5-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Josh Anderson replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 6th, playing left field.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Mark DeRosa swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Garko replaces David Dellucci.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Garko pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

5-1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Garko remains in the game as the designated hitter.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Herges replaces Tony Sipp.

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett doubles (5) on a fly ball to left fielder Ben Francisco.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

5-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Brandon Lyon.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ben Francisco grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Kelly Shoppach grounds out softly, pitcher Fernando Rodney to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

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


B:0 S:1 O:2 - Asdrubal Cabrera doubles (6) on a fly
ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jhonny Peralta scores. Grady
Sizemore to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.
B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Victor Martinez batting, wild pitch by Fernando Rodney, Grady Sizemore scores. Asdrubal Cabrera to 3rd.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Victor Martinez walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Josh Barfield replaces Victor Martinez.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

WIN 5-3

CLEVELAND!

May 10, 2009

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

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 5 0 1 2 0 1 1 .254 Polanco, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .270 Thomas, LF-RF 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .333 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 1 3 .378 Larish, DH 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 .208 Ordonez, RF 3 2 2 0 1 0 2 .241 --Anderson, J, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327 Inge, 3B 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .280 Laird, C 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .215 Everett, SS 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 .281 Totals 30 5 9 5 6 5 11 BATTING 2B: Ordonez (1, Reyes), Everett (5, Herges). HR: Larish (2, 2nd inning off Reyes, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson; Polanco; Thomas; Larish 4; Ordonez 3; Inge; Everett 3. RBI: Larish (3), Everett 2 (12), Granderson 2 (21). 2-out RBI: Granderson 2; Everett. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Granderson. SF: Everett. GIDP: Cabrera, M 2; Laird; Ordonez. Team RISP: 3-for-7. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Everett (1, 2nd base by Reyes/Shoppach).		Cleveland AB -R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Sizemore, CF 4 1 1 1 1 2 1 .227 Cabrera, 2B 5 0 2 1 0 0 2 .319 Martinez, 1B 3 0 0 0 2 1 1 .376 --1-Barfield, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 Choo, RF 4 0 0 0 1 2 3 .264 DeRosa, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .238 Dellucci, DH 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .267 --a-Garko, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 Francisco, LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .247 Peralta, SS 4 2 3 0 0 1 1 .229 Shoppach, C 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .218 Totals 36 3 9 2 4 9 17 a-Popped out for Dellucci in the 8th. 1-Ran for Martinez in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Cabrera (6, Rodney). TB: Sizemore; Cabrera 3; Dellucci; Francisco; Peralta 3; Shoppach. RBI: Sizemore (23), Cabrera (16). 2-out RBI: Sizemore; Cabrera. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: DeRosa; Cabrera; Sizemore; Shoppach; Choo. Team RISP: 2-for-9. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Francisco (6, 2nd base off Porcello/Laird). FIELDING DP: 4 (DeRosa-Cabrera-Martinez, Peralta-Cabrera-Martinez 2, Reyes-Cabrera-Martinez).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello (W, 3-3) 5.0 5 1 1 2 5 0 4.28 Miner 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.29 Seay 1.2 0 0 0 0 3 0 1.80 Lyon 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.97 Rodney 1.0 2 2 2 2 0 0 5.25		Cleveland IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Reyes (L, 1-1) 5.0 7 5 5 4 3 1 7.20 Lewis, J 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.86 Sipp 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.00 Herges 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.00
WP: Rodney, Sipp. Pitches-strikes: Porcello 95-54, Miner 13-8, Seay 22-16, Lyon 2-2, Rodney 28-18, Reyes 87-51, Lewis, J 33-19, Sipp 30-17, Herges 23-15. Groundouts-flyouts: Porcello 7-3, Miner 1-1, Seay 0-2, Lyon 0-1, Rodney 2-1, Reyes 9-2, Lewis, J 1-5, Sipp 2-1, Herges 0-1. Batters faced: Porcello 22, Miner 5, Seay 5, Lyon 1, Rodney 7, Reyes 22, Lewis, J 7, Sipp 4, Herges 4. Umpires: HP: Fieldin Culbreth. 1B: Chad Fairchild. 2B: Jim Wolf. 3B: Brian O'Nora. Weather: 55 degrees, sunny. Wind: 15 mph, L to R. T: 3:03. Att: 25,705. May 10, 2009 Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner