GDT140: 9/4/13 - DET (81-58) AT BOS (83-57) - 7:10 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (11-7, 4.44 ERA)

Porcello battled through flu-like symptoms to deliver 5 2/3 quality innings against the Indians his last time out. He should be back to health by the time he takes the mound in Boston looking for his fourth win in five starts.



Red Sox: RHP Ryan Dempster (7-9, 4.75 ERA)

The veteran bounced back nicely from his five-game suspension, giving up five hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings in a win over the White Sox. Dempster is 5-7 with a 4.93 ERA this season at Fenway.





Tigers, Red Sox end series with eye toward postseason
Porcello, Dempster square off in clash of American League titans

By John Schlegel / MLB.com | 9/4/2013 3:06 AM ET

With the American League's top two teams squaring off for the last time in 2013 -- or is it? -- the Red Sox know they'll hold the top spot in the AL hierarchy after Wednesday's game with the Tigers, no matter what happens.

But make no mistake, this is a game that both teams would like to take with them toward October.

With Rick Porcello toeing the rubber for the Tigers and veteran Ryan Dempster taking the ball for the Red Sox, two AL titans will meet once more in September, knowing they might meet again in October. Going in, the Red Sox are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Tigers for what would be the top seed in the playoffs.

The Tigers have already won the regular-season matchup with four victories in the seven-game series, their first season series win over the Red Sox since 2007. But Boston held tight on Tuesday night for its second win of the season over Detroit.

"We try to look at each game as its own," said Red Sox catcher David Ross. "Sometimes lineups are hot; this is definitely a deep lineup they have. Hopefully, we'll be able to figure it out. We've been doing OK all year and we've been playing a lot of hot teams for most of the year, so this is no different. … We've been one of the most consistent teams all year, and I hope it stays that way."

Porcello's history with Boston has been interesting, starting when he was a rookie in 2009 and Kevin Youkilis charged the mound against him at Fenway Park. Porcello, 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox, finally broke a winless streak against them in August 2012, but even then he allowed four runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

More in the present, Porcello has won three of his last four starts and seven of his last eight decisions, posting a 3.36 ERA over his last 10 starts. A win from him would give Detroit five starters with at least 12 victories, something just three teams have boasted in the last 10 years (2011 Rangers, 2010 Rays, 2005 Cardinals).

Dempster, meanwhile, hasn't faced the Tigers since 2006, when he was with the Marlins. The Tigers and the Yankees are the only two Major League teams he has not defeated.

Dempster is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in his last five starts, but he's coming off his first win since July 27.



Tigers: Cabrera returns to lineup
Miguel Cabrera was back in the lineup on Tuesday after missing three games and coming out of the previous two early with an abdominal strain. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

Incidentally, Cabrera is 1-for-4 with a strikeout against Dempster in his career.

• Torii Hunter, who went 1-for-4 on Tuesday, is batting .322 with 18 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 60 RBIs in 99 career games against the Red Sox.

Red Sox: Ellsbury, Salty ailing
Both Jacoby Ellsbury and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were held out of the lineup on Tuesday with injuries, Ellsbury with a sore left thumb and Saltalamacchia with a sore back.

Ellsbury probably will have to play through the pain the remainder of the season, although meeting Porcello might help him feel better if he's good to go on Wednesday. Ellsbury is 6-for-7 with a double and a homer against the Tigers starter.

Saltalamacchia likely will miss a few more days.

• Closer Koji Uehara has retired the last 21 batters he has faced, including setting down the side in order on Tuesday for his 17th save.

Worth noting
• Despite losing 10 of the last 18 games to Detroit, Boston has the Majors' best record against the Tigers since 2008 (26-16).

• The Tigers get a day off on Thursday before they continue their road trip with a weekend visit to Kansas City. The Red Sox will jump right back into action on Thursday, heading to the Bronx for a four-game series against the Yankees.

John Schlegel is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)





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• THU, Sep 5:
OFF DAY


• FRI, Sep 6:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (12-7, 2.68 ERA)) AT
ROYALS: (RHP James Shields (10-8, 3.03 ERA))
8:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Sep 7:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (12-10, 3.59 ERA)) AT
ROYALS: (LHP Danny Duffy (2-0, 1.35 ERA))
7:10  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Sep 8:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (12-7, 3.66 ERA)) AT
ROYALS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
2:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

Detroit - Top of 1st
Ryan Dempster pitching for Boston
A Jackson struck out swinging.
T Hunter grounded out to pitcher.
P Fielder reached on infield single to shortstop.
V Martinez grounded into fielder's choice to second, P Fielder out at second.
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors

Boston - Bottom of 1st
Rick Porcello pitching for Detroit
J Ellsbury lined out to left.
S Victorino struck out looking.
D Pedroia grounded out to shortstop.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

Detroit - Top of 2nd
Ryan Dempster pitching for Boston
A Dirks grounded out to second.
D Kelly popped out to second.
O Infante struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors


Boston - Bottom of 2nd
Rick Porcello pitching for Detroit
D Ortiz grounded out to second.
D Nava singled to left.
M Napoli lined out to center.
S Drew homered to right, D Nava scored.
BOS 2 - 0


D Ross struck out swinging. 0 2
2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors

BOS 2 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 3rd

A Avila struck out swinging.

J Iglesias reached on bunt single to third.

A Jackson singled to right center, J Iglesias to third.

T Hunter grounded out to second, J Iglesias scored, A Jackson to second.
BOS 2 - 1


P Fielder homered to right, A Jackson scored.
DET 3 - 2

V Martinez grounded out to second. 3 2
3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors

Boston - Bottom of 3rd

W Middlebrooks grounded out to second.

J Ellsbury homered to right.
TIED  3 - 3

S Victorino hit by pitch.

D Pedroia grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, S Victorino out at second.
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors

TIED  3 - 3 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 4th

A Dirks struck out swinging.

D Kelly reached on infield single to pitcher.

O Infante doubled to left, D Kelly to third.

A Avila walked.

J Iglesias grounded into fielder's choice to third, D Kelly scored, A Avila out at second, O Infante to third.
DET 4 - 3

A Jackson fouled out to right.
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors


Boston - Bottom of 4th

D Ortiz homered to right.
TIED 4 - 4

D Nava struck out looking.

M Napoli struck out looking.

S Drew walked.

D Ross singled to center, S Drew to third. 

W Middlebrooks grounded out to shortstop.
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors

TIED 4 - 4 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 5th

T Hunter lined out to second.

P Fielder walked.

V Martinez lined out to left.

A Dirks popped out to second.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors

Boston - Bottom of 5th

DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: R Santiago replaces J Iglesias, batting 9th, playing shortstop.

J Ellsbury lined out to left.

S Victorino singled to center.

S Victorino stole second, S Victorino safe at third on throwing error by catcher A Avila.

D Pedroia lined out to left, S Victorino scored.
BOS 5 - 4

D Ortiz grounded out to first.
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors

BOS 5 - 4 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 6th

D Kelly struck out looking.

O Infante struck out swinging.

A Avila struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors


Boston - Bottom of 6th

D Nava walked.

M Napoli doubled to left, D Nava to third.

S Drew intentionally walked.

OFFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Pinch hitter M Carp replaces D Ross.


M Carp walked, D Nava scored, M Napoli to third, S Drew to second.
BOS 6 - 4


PITCHING CHANGE: A Alburquerque relieved R Porcello.

W Middlebrooks hits a grand slam home run to left, M Napoli, S Drew and M Carp scored.

BOS 10 - 4

J Ellsbury struck out swinging.

S Victorino hit by pitch.

PINCH-RUNNER Q Berry ran for S Victorino.

D Pedroia struck out looking.

D Ortiz doubled to deep center, Q Berry scored.
BOS 11 - 4

D Nava homered to right, D Ortiz scored.
BOS 13- 4

PITCHING CHANGE: J Bonderman relieved A Alburquerque.

M Napoli struck out swinging.

BOS 13 - 4 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 7th
PITCHING CHANGE: Brandon Workman pitching for Boston

Q Berry remains in the game in right field.


DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: J McDonald at second base replacing D. Pedroia.

DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: R Lavarnway catching.

DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: B Workman relieved R Dempster.

R Santiago singled to left center.

A Jackson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Santiago out at second.

T Hunter struck out swinging.

P Fielder grounded out to second.


Boston - Bottom of 7th
Jeremy Bonderman pitching for Detroit

N Castellanos in left field.

D Worth at third base.

M Tuiasosopo at first base.

A Dirks in right field.

D Kelly in center field.

S Drew doubled to deep center.

PINCH RUNNER: X Bogaerts in for S Drew.

R Lavarnway hits a home run to deep left, X Bogaerts scored.
BOS 15 - 4

W Middlebrooks doubled to deep center.

J Ellsbury lined out to center, W Middlebrooks to third.

Q Berry singled to right, W Middlebrooks scored.
BOS 16 - 4

J McDonald struck out swinging.

D Ortiz homered to right, Q Berry scored.
BOS 18 - 4

PITCHING CHANGE: E Reed replaces J Bonderman.

D Nava grounds out to third.


BOS 18 - 4 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 8th
Franklin Morales pitching for Boston

B Snyder in left field.

Q Berry in center field.

D Nava in right field.

X Bogaerts at shortstop.

F Morales relieved B Workman.

V Martinez flied out to center.

A Dirks struck out swinging.

D Kelly struck out swinging.


Boston - Bottom of 8th

H Perez at second base.

B Holaday catching.

M Napoli homered to right.
BOS 19 - 4

X Bogaerts grounded out to third.

R Lavarnway singled to center.

W Middlebrooks singled to left, R Lavarnway to second.

B Snyder struck out swinging.

Q Berry singled to center, R Lavarnway scored, W Middlebrooks to second.
BOS 20 - 4

J McDonald struck out looking.

BOS 20 - 4 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 9th
Rubby De La Rosa pitching for Boston

R De La Rosa relieved F Morales.

H Perez flied out to right.

B Holaday singled to right.

R Santiago flied out to right.

D Worth struck out swinging.


TIGERS LOSE 4-20

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Dempster
L: Porcello


GAME INFO

Porcello pitched to 4 batters in the 6th.

IBB: Drew (by Porcello).
HBP: Victorino (by Porcello), Victorino (by Alburquerque).
Pitches-strikes: Porcello 102-62, Alburquerque 27-18, Bonderman 27-17, Reed, E 27-19, Dempster 100-64, Workman 14-10, Morales, F 14-9, De La Rosa, R 13-11.
Groundouts-flyouts: Porcello 6-0, Alburquerque 0-0, Bonderman 0-0, Reed, E 2-0, Dempster 6-1, Workman 2-0, Morales, F 0-1, De La Rosa, R 0-2.
Batters faced: Porcello 26, Alburquerque 6, Bonderman 8, Reed, E 8, Dempster 26, Workman 4, Morales, F 3, De La Rosa, R 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Alburquerque 3-3.
Umpires: HP: Jeff Kellogg. 1B: Mike Muchlinski. 2B: Eric Cooper. 3B: Paul Schrieber.
Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 11 mph, Out to RF.
T: 3:33.
Att: 33,720.
Venue: Fenway Park.
September 4, 2013
Compiled by MLB Advanced Media