GDT: 5/27/09 - DET (25-19) AT KC (23-23) - 2:10 p.m. ET

KANSAS CITY -- Justin Verlander has emerged from the trials of his first real struggles in the Major Leagues last year. Rick Porcello still hasn't really encountered that yet.

Chances are, he eventually will. But the way Porcello's going, the Tigers hope that's down the line a bit.

Not since Fernando-mania took Los Angeles in 1981 has a pitcher age 20 or younger won more than four consecutive starts while allowing one run or none in each start. Fernando Valenzuela posted seven such outings to start his big league career that season.

Nobody else since at least 1954 has posted such a streak longer than four starts, according to research on baseball-reference.con and retrosheet.org. If Porcello can repeat his roll in Wednesday afternoon's series finale against the Royals, he'll get there.

It's a high standard for someone so young. But if anything has stood out more than Porcello's performance this season, it's poise under that kind of pressure.

"If you really think about it, coupled with his ability, I think that's why the Tigers drafted the guy," manager Jim Leyland said. "I think they felt all along that this was a special human being, not only a potential special pitcher. This was a different guy. They come along now and then. This was a different guy.

"But he's still a kid, 20 years old. We're going to watch him, and we're going to take our time with him."

Porcello will have his growing pains, eventually. His previous outing here last month was one of them. Mark Teahen's two-run homer in the opening inning and Alberto Callaspo's solo shot in the second put him behind early, but Porcello lasted six innings with just 85 pitches. He had the misfortune of pitching opposite Zack Greinke that night, and Greinke's complete-game three-hitter basically gave him no chance.

Porcello's next outing after that was his roughest, 3 2/3 innings with six runs against the Yankees. Not only has he not lost since, he has given up a total of three runs over his ensuing 24 innings. Only two of his 18 hits allowed in that stretch have gone for extra bases, both of them doubles.

Porcello has shown an ability to adjust his game to hitters according to their early innings approach, from changing speeds to dropping in breaking balls to hammering opponents with sinkers. But the key to it has been an ability to work ahead in counts.

"Each game, you can pick up something," Porcello said after beating Colorado Friday night at Comerica Park. "You learn a little bit of something about yourself and other hitters. We're definitely making some progress. I feel good out there, and [catcher] Gerald [Laird] has been calming me down and really taking care of me out there. Guys in the field have been playing great. So it kind of makes it easy for you to go out there and just know that you can let them hit it, and guys are going to make plays for you."


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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (5-3, 3.55 ERA)
Porcello is already just the sixth pitcher since 1900 to pitch four straight starts and allow one or no runs before his 21st birthday, joining the illustrious group of Kerry Wood, Fernando Valenzuela, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Chief Bender. None of those outings for Porcello came against the Royals, who beat him in Kansas City last month when the right-hander allowed four earned runs over six innings, including two home runs.

KC: RHP Kyle Davies (2-3, 4.78 ERA)
Davies is coming off a good six-inning effort against the Cardinals. He held St. Louis to just three hits and two runs but lost because the Royals were shut out. Davies' command wobbled a bit in the first inning, when he gave up both of his runs, but he then retired 15 straight batters. For the most part, he kept his pitches down in St. Louis on his way to picking up seven strikeouts. In his other start against the Tigers this year, Davies was hammered for seven runs in 5 1/3 innings, giving up two homers.

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Tidbits

... Magglio Ordonez has a 12-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .349 (15-for-43).
... Miguel Cabrera is 6-for-20 (.300) lifetime off Davies with two home runs.
... Curtis Granderson is 4-for-13 (.308) off Davies with two home runs, a triple and five RBIs.
... Brandon Inge is batting .333 (27-for-81) on the road, compared with .222 (16-for-72) at Comerica Park this season.
... Detroit is 23-9 at Kauffman Stadium since the start of the 2006 season.
... The Tigers are 12-4 in day games this season, including 4-2 on the road in the afternoon.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-4, 5.74 ERA) at Orioles (Koji Uehara, 2-3, 4.09 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Dontrelle Willis, 1-1, 3.57 ERA) at Orioles (Brad Bergesen, 1-2, 5.49 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 5-2, 3.55) at Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 4-4, 4.90), 7:05 p.m. ET

Mostly Cloudy


40 percent chance of showers

High 68 degrees


Northwest Wind at 10mph

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Anderson, J, LF .272
Polanco, 2B .265
Ordonez, DH .265
Cabrera, M, 1B .377
Granderson, CF .244
Inge, 3B .281
Laird, C .248
Raburn, RF .222
Everett, SS .296

Kansas City AVG
Maier, CF .324
DeJesus, D, LF .238
Butler, 1B .284
Guillen, RF .298
Jacobs, DH .262
Teahen, 3B .262
Callaspo, 2B .308
Buck, C .235
Hernandez, L, SS .182

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Josh Anderson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jose Guillen.


B:1 S:0 O:0 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Josh Anderson steals (10) 2nd base.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Kyle Davies picks off Josh Anderson at 2nd on throw to Luis Hernandez.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder David DeJesus.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Jose Guillen.

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Mitch Maier grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
David DeJesus triples (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Billy Butler singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Anderson. David DeJesus scores.


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


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Mike Jacobs walks. Billy Butler to 2nd.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Mark Teahen swinging.

KC 1-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (10) on a fly ball to left field.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Guillen.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Jose Guillen.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Kyle Davies to first baseman Billy Butler. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Ryan Raburn batting, Curtis Granderson steals (7) 3rd base.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier. Curtis Granderson scores.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.


Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Alberto Callaspo flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
John Buck swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Luis Hernandez swinging.

4 for

2-1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Anderson singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Mark Teahen.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Jose Guillen.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Mitch Maier. Josh Anderson to 3rd.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
second baseman Alberto Callaspo to shortstop Luis Hernandez to first
baseman Billy Butler. Magglio Ordonez out at 2nd.


Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
David DeJesus singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Josh Anderson.


B:1 S:2 O:3 - Billy Butler grounds into double play,
shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. David DeJesus out at 2nd.

2-1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:0 S:1 O:2 - Brandon Inge grounds into double play,
shortstop Luis Hernandez to second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first
baseman Billy Butler. Curtis Granderson out at 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird pops out to first baseman Billy Butler in foul territory.


Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Jose Guillen grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Mike Jacobs grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Rick Porcello.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Mark Teahen homers (6) on a fly ball to left field.


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

Tied 2-2 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to left fielder David DeJesus.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Kyle Davies to first baseman Billy Butler. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Josh Anderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier. Ryan Raburn scores.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Josh Anderson scores.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Billy Butler.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Billy Butler.


Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
John Buck flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Luis Hernandez grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Mitch Maier grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.




5-2 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.


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


B:3 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird reaches on fielding error by third baseman Mark Teahen. Curtis Granderson scores. Gerald Laird to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Billy Butler. Gerald Laird to 3rd.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to shortstop Luis Hernandez. Gerald Laird scores.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Horacio Ramirez replaces Kyle Davies.


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


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Josh Anderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier. Adam Everett to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Roman Colon replaces Horacio Ramirez.


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


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to left fielder David DeJesus. Adam Everett scores. Josh Anderson to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into a force
out, third baseman Mark Teahen to second baseman Alberto Callaspo.
Placido Polanco out at 2nd.


Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
David DeJesus grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Billy Butler grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Jose Guillen flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

8-2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, first baseman Billy Butler to pitcher Roman Colon.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to left fielder David DeJesus.


Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Rick Porcello.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Mike Jacobs strikes out swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Teahen singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Josh Anderson.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Alberto Callaspo flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.


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


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


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
John Buck walks. Mark Teahen to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Luis Hernandez singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Raburn. Mark Teahen scores. John Buck to 3rd.


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


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Mitch Maier pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

8-3 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Kyle Farnsworth replaces Roman Colon.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Billy Butler.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn called out on strikes.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.


Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
David DeJesus pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.


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


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jose Guillen strikes out swinging.

8-3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Juan Cruz replaces Kyle Farnsworth.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Josh Anderson pops out to second baseman Alberto Callaspo.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to first baseman Billy Butler in foul territory.


Bottom Half

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


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Mike Jacobs swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Teahen singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Alberto Callaspo singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Mark Teahen to 2nd.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
John Buck swinging.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Luis Hernandez swinging.

WIN 8-3

May 27, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	0	2	0	0	3	3	0	0	0		8	12	0
Kansas City	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0		3	8	1

Detroit AB- R- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Anderson, J, LF 5 1 4 1 0 0 0 .302 Polanco, 2B 5 1 2 3 0 0 1 .269 Ordonez, DH 5 0 1 0 0 0 2 .263 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .374 Granderson, CF 2 2 1 0 2 0 0 .247 Inge, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .274 Laird, C 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 .242 Raburn, RF 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 .250 Everett, SS 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 .297 Totals 35 8 12 7 2 2 10 BATTING HR: Cabrera, M (10, 2nd inning off Davies, 0 on, 0 out), Polanco (1, 5th inning off Davies, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Anderson, J 4; Polanco 5; Ordonez; Cabrera, M 4; Granderson; Raburn 2; Everett. RBI: Cabrera, M (37), Raburn (11), Anderson, J (10), Polanco 3 (21), Everett (17). 2-out RBI: Raburn; Everett; Polanco. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ordonez. S: Laird; Everett. GIDP: Cabrera, M; Inge. Team RISP: 4-for-8. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Anderson, J (10, 2nd base off Davies/Buck), Granderson (7, 3rd base off Davies/Buck). PO: Anderson, J (2nd base by Davies). FIELDING DP: (Everett-Polanco-Cabrera, M).		Kansas City AB- R- H- -RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Maier, CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .293 DeJesus, D, LF 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .244 Butler, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .283 Guillen, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .288 Jacobs, DH 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .257 Teahen, 3B 4 2 3 1 0 1 2 .274 Callaspo, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .306 Buck, C 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .226 Hernandez, L, SS 4 0 1 1 0 2 2 .200 Totals 34 3 8 3 2 9 11 BATTING 3B: DeJesus, D (4, Porcello). HR: Teahen (6, 4th inning off Porcello, 0 on, 2 out). TB: DeJesus, D 4; Butler; Teahen 6; Callaspo; Hernandez, L. RBI: Butler (21), Teahen (17), Hernandez, L (1). 2-out RBI: Teahen; Hernandez, L. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Teahen; Maier; Hernandez, L. GIDP: Butler. Team RISP: 2-for-6. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING E: Teahen (3, fielding). DP: 2 (Callaspo-Hernandez, L-Butler, Hernandez, L-Callaspo-Butler). Pickoffs: Davies (Anderson, J at 2nd base).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello (W, 6-3) 6.0 4 2 2 1 4 1 3.48 Seay 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 0 5.14 Zumaya 1.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.07 Rodney 1.0 2 0 0 0 3 0 3.32		Kansas City IP-- H-- R -ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Davies (L, 2-4) 5.2 10 8 5 2 1 2 5.09 Ramirez, H 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7.36 Colon 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Farnsworth 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.71 Cruz, J 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.00
Ramirez, H pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. Pitches-strikes: Porcello 82-53, Seay 11-8, Zumaya 19-12, Rodney 29-19, Davies 91-55, Ramirez, H 2-1, Colon 12-7, Farnsworth 14-8, Cruz, J 10-7. Groundouts-flyouts: Porcello 11-3, Seay 0-1, Zumaya 1-2, Rodney 0-0, Davies 9-6, Ramirez, H 0-0, Colon 2-2, Farnsworth 1-1, Cruz, J 0-3. Batters faced: Porcello 22, Seay 3, Zumaya 6, Rodney 5, Davies 27, Ramirez, H 1, Colon 5, Farnsworth 3, Cruz, J 3. Inherited runners-scored: Zumaya 1-1, Ramirez, H 1-0, Colon 2-1. Umpires: HP: Bill Hohn. 1B: Bruce Dreckman. 2B: Paul Emmel. 3B: Angel Campos. Weather: 64 degrees, overcast. Wind: 7 mph, L to R. T: 2:41. Att: 16,568. May 27, 2009