GDT: 6/24/09 - DET (39-31) vs CHC (34-33) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The list of pitchers age 20 or younger to win 10 games by the All-Star break since World War II starts and ends with Dwight Gooden. The list of those pitchers to win nine by the break adds in such greats as Fernando Valenzuela, Jim Palmer and Don Gullett, according to baseball-reference.com.

Rick Porcello can join the latter group with a win on Wednesday against the Cubs. A couple wins would put him in the Doctor's company.

Porcello's stretch of seven wins in his past nine starts has put him in position where his age is almost an afterthought. Not only is he tied for the Tigers' lead in wins with potential Cy Young Award candidate Justin Verlander, he's tied for fifth in the American League with Verlander and Josh Beckett. Only Roy Halladay, Kevin Slowey, Zack Greinke and Tim Wakefield are ahead of him.

Porcello has driven in as many runs as a hitter (two) as he has allowed earned runs as a pitcher over his past two starts. With Interleague Play bringing the Tigers back to Comerica Park for this series, he doesn't have to worry about picking up a bat, only keeping Cubs bats from getting to him.

Both Porcello and manager Jim Leyland noted the trouble Porcello had keeping his fastball down in his start on Thursday at St. Louis, but he survived with a change of speeds. That type of mix could help him in the long run, including down the stretch this season.

"He's had a little trouble getting the ball down," Leyland said after that game. "With that good sinker, he's got to get it down a little bit better."

That's what seems to make Porcello's season so unique. He continues to learn on the job, which he has to do with just one season of professional baseball under his belt before this year. Yet he's thriving while doing it.

The reasons are numerous, starting with a maturity that seems well beyond his age and continuing with a nasty sinker that's an equalizing pitch. But pitching coach Rick Knapp also believes that Porcello is learning from the pitchers around him, most notably the frontline starters ahead of him in Verlander and Edwin Jackson.

"I think they all three have kind of rubbed off on each other," Knapp said. "They're differing styles. They've all been efficient. I think that they all kind of feed off each other. But for Rick to maybe look into future and see what kind of pitcher he may end up becoming is also huge.

"How much has Rick learned from Justin and Eddie? Well, he's definitely learned the look, the composure part, the attacking part. They walk up and down the dugout and talk to each other whenever, whoever's pitching. They're constantly [learning from] each other. I think good staffs do that."

Despite the problems at the back end of the rotation, Porcello is helping make this a good staff. His most recent win started the Tigers on their current winning streak after four straight losses. Another win would put Detroit's season-high seven-game winning streak within reach.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (8-4, 3.54 ERA)
Porcello allowed three runs -- one earned -- in 5 2/3 innings against the Cardinals on Thursday in St. Louis. He struck out three, walked two and turned a one-run lead over to the Tigers' bullpen, earning his eighth victory in 13 starts. He is 2-1 in four starts in June and has allowed just two earned runs in his last two outings.

CHC: RHP Rich Harden (4-3, 5.27 ERA)
Harden wasn't sharp in his last outing against the Indians. He served up two three-run homers among the seven hits he gave up in five innings. The right-hander said he was falling behind in the count. He also has discovered that he can't get away with any mistakes. "It seems that this year, when I'm leaving the ball up, it's cost me," he said. "If you're going to miss, miss in, miss out, but don't miss over the plate. That has to be my approach out there."

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Tidbits

... Magglio Ordonez will be back in the starting lineup Wednesday against Harden. Ordonez went 0-for-2 with a walk Monday in his first start since last Wednesday, showing some better swings in the process.
... Placido Polanco is 5-for-7 lifetime off Harden with two doubles and two RBIs. Gerald Laird is 0-for-6 off Harden with three strikeouts.
... Fernando Rodney's streak of 14 saves in as many opportunities is the longest streak by a Tigers closer in a single season since Todd Jones converted 19 consecutive chances from June 10 to Aug. 30, 2006.
... Triple-A Toledo left-hander Lucas French was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week for the week ending Sunday. French allowed two runs in 16 innings over two starts with 18 strikeouts, including a 10-strikeout, eight-inning performance Sunday.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-7, 5.62 ERA) vs. Cubs (Ted Lilly, 7-4, 3.04 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 8-3, 3.31 ERA) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, 6-6, 3.18 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Alfredo Figaro, 1-0, 3.60 ERA) at Astros (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Chi Cubs
1. Soriano, A, LF
2. Theriot, SS
3. Lee, D, DH
4. Hoffpauir, M, 1B
5. Bradley, RF
6. Fox, J, 3B
7. Fukudome, CF
8. Soto, C
9. Fontenot, 2B

Tigers
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Marcus Thames, DH
5. Don Kelly, LF
6. Brandon Inge, 3B
7. Magglio Ordonez, RF
8. Gerald Laird, C
9. Adam Everett, SS

Maggs new look! According to FSN Facebook Page

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Alfonso Soriano grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Theriot grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Derrek Lee grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson on foul tip.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco walks.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Marcus Thames flies out to right fielder Milton Bradley.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Micah Hoffpauir singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Milton Bradley walks. Micah Hoffpauir to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Jake Fox grounds into double play, third
baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Micah Hoffpauir
out at 3rd. Milton Bradley out at 2nd. Jake Fox to 1st.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Kosuke Fukudome swinging.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Milton Bradley.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to right fielder Milton Bradley.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Geovany Soto doubles (8) on a line drive to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Mike Fontenot reaches on a fielder's
choice out, second baseman Placido Polanco to third baseman Brandon
Inge. Geovany Soto out at 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 - Alfonso Soriano grounds into double
play, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to
first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Mike Fontenot out at 2nd.

0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Jake Fox to first baseman Micah Hoffpauir.

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

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Curtis Granderson steals (13) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

0-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Theriot singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Derrek Lee walks. Ryan Theriot to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Micah Hoffpauir flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Milton Bradley swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Jake Fox grounds into a force out, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Derrek Lee out at 2nd.

0-0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (15) on a fly ball to left center field.
DET 1, CHC 0

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames flies out to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Don Kelly grounds out, first baseman Micah Hoffpauir to pitcher Rich Harden. (great play, otherwise an extra base hit)

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Jake Fox to first baseman Micah Hoffpauir.

DET 1, CHC 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

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


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Geovany Soto homers (6) on a line drive to left field.
CHC 1, DET 1

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Alfonso Soriano singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Theriot singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Alfonso Soriano to 3rd.


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

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Derrek Lee walks. Ryan Theriot to 2nd. bases loaded

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Micah Hoffpauir swinging.

CHC 1, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird homers (3) on a fly ball to left center field.
DET 2, CHC 1

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett walks.


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

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to shortstop Ryan Theriot.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco singles on a fly ball to left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into a force out,
third baseman Jake Fox to second baseman Mike Fontenot. Placido Polanco
out at 2nd.

DET 2, CHC 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Milton Bradley walks.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Jake Fox singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly. Milton Bradley to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Nate Robertson replaces Rick Porcello.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Kosuke Fukudome singles on a line drive to left fielder Don Kelly. Milton Bradley to 3rd. Jake Fox to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Nate Robertson.



B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Geovany Soto called out on strikes.

B:3 S:1 O:2 - Mike Fontenot grounds into a force out,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett. Milton
Bradley scores. Jake Fox to 3rd. Kosuke Fukudome out at 2nd. Mike
Fontenot to 1st.


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

CHC 2, DET 2 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Dropped foul pop error by catcher Geovany Soto.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Marcus Thames walks.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Don Kelly pops out to shortstop Ryan Theriot.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge walks. Marcus Thames to 2nd.


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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Aaron Heilman replaces Rich Harden.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to right fielder Milton Bradley. Marcus Thames to 3rd. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird lines out to third baseman Jake Fox.




B:2 S:1 O:2 - Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to
third baseman Jake Fox. Marcus Thames scores. Brandon Inge to 3rd.
Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.
DET 3, CHC 2


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks. Brandon Inge scores. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Adam Everett to 2nd.
DET 4, CHC 2

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Placido Polanco grounds into a force
out, shortstop Ryan Theriot to second baseman Mike Fontenot. Curtis
Granderson out at 2nd.

DET 4, CHC 2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half


B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Ryan Theriot walks.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Derrek Lee singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly. Ryan Theriot to 2nd.


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


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


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Micah Hoffpauir lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Milton Bradley walks. Ryan Theriot to 3rd. Derrek Lee to 2nd. (for the 3rd straight inning!)

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Jake Fox out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Ryan Theriot scores.

DET 4, CHC 3

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Kosuke Fukudome grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 4, CHC 3 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Marcus Thames flies out to left fielder Alfonso Soriano.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Don Kelly swinging.

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

DET 4, CHC 3 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Brandon Lyon.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Geovany Soto flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

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

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

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

DET 4, CHC 3 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Ascanio replaces Aaron Heilman.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alfonso Soriano.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Josh Anderson replaces Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Gerald Laird singles on a bunt ground
ball to second baseman Mike Fontenot. Josh Anderson out at 3rd, second
baseman Mike Fontenot to third baseman Jake Fox.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Gerald Laird to 2nd.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Sean Marshall replaces Jose Ascanio.


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

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Carlos Marmol replaces Sean Marshall.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco walks. Gerald Laird to 3rd. Adam Everett to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera walks. Gerald Laird scores. Adam Everett to 3rd. Placido Polanco to 2nd.
DET 5, CHC 3


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


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Marcus Thames called out on strikes.

DET 5, CHC 3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Anderson remains in the game as the right fielder.

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

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Derrek Lee walks.


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


B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Micah Hoffpauir singles on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Derrek Lee to 2nd.

thanks for calling the last ball a strike...

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Milton Bradley swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jake Fox flies out 405 foot to center fielder Curtis Granderson.



B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Kosuke Fukudome called out on strikes.

Tigers win 5-3

June 24, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Chi Cubs	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0		3	11	1
Detroit	0	0	0	1	1	2	0	1	X		5	10	0

Chi Cubs AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Soriano, A, LF 5 0 2 0 0 0 3 .227 Theriot, SS 4 1 2 0 1 1 1 .287 Lee, D, DH 2 0 1 0 3 0 0 .294 Hoffpauir, M, 1B 5 0 2 0 0 1 7 .268 Bradley, RF 2 1 0 0 3 2 4 .241 Fox, J, 3B 4 0 1 1 0 0 6 .300 Fukudome, CF 5 0 1 0 0 2 5 .259 Soto, C 4 1 2 1 0 1 3 .228 Fontenot, 2B 4 0 0 1 0 1 3 .228 Totals 35 3 11 3 7 8 32 BATTING 2B: Soto (8, Porcello). HR: Soto (6, 5th inning off Porcello, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Soriano, A 2; Theriot 2; Lee, D; Hoffpauir, M 2; Fox, J; Fukudome; Soto 6. RBI: Soto (21), Fontenot (27), Fox, J (6). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Fox, J; Hoffpauir, M 2; Soriano, A; Fukudome 2. SF: Fox, J. GIDP: Fox, J; Soriano, A. Team RISP: 1-for-15. Team LOB: 13. FIELDING E: Soto (3, fielding).		Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 4 0 1 1 1 2 3 .263 Polanco, 2B 3 0 1 0 2 0 4 .265 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 1 2 2 1 0 3 .332 Thames, DH 4 1 0 0 1 1 5 .268 Kelly, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .333 Inge, 3B 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 .275 Ordonez, RF 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .275 --1-Anderson, J, PR-RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 Laird, C 4 2 2 1 0 1 3 .226 Everett, SS 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 .263 Totals 33 5 10 5 7 7 21 1-Ran for Ordonez in the 8th. BATTING HR: Cabrera, M (15, 4th inning off Harden, 0 on, 0 out), Laird (3, 5th inning off Harden, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson; Polanco; Cabrera, M 5; Ordonez 2; Laird 5; Everett 2. RBI: Cabrera, M 2 (46), Laird (17), Everett (27), Granderson (42). 2-out RBI: Everett; Granderson; Cabrera, M. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Polanco 3; Cabrera, M; Thames 2. Team RISP: 2-for-8. Team LOB: 11. BASERUNNING SB: Granderson (13, 2nd base off Harden/Soto). FIELDING DP: 2 (Inge-Polanco-Cabrera, M, Inge-Polanco).
Chi Cubs IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Harden (L, 4-4) 5.1 4 4 2 4 3 2 4.95 Heilman 1.2 3 0 0 1 2 0 3.86 Ascanio 0.1 3 1 1 0 0 0 3.52 Marshall 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.36 Marmol 0.1 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.44		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO -HR- ERA Porcello 5.0 7 2 2 4 3 1 3.55 Robertson, N 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7.71 Miner (BS, 2)(W, 5-1) 1.0 1 1 1 1 1 0 4.23 Seay (H, 15) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.68 Lyon (H, 3) 0.2 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.00 Zumaya (H, 5) 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.70 Rodney (S, 15) 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 3.90
Porcello pitched to 2 batters in the 6th. Robertson, N pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. Miner pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. Pitches-strikes: Harden 109-58, Heilman 29-20, Ascanio 9-6, Marshall 3-3, Marmol 16-7, Porcello 97-59, Robertson, N 4-3, Miner 19-9, Seay 5-4, Lyon 16-10, Zumaya 15-11, Rodney 24-14. Groundouts-flyouts: Harden 4-9, Heilman 1-2, Ascanio 0-0, Marshall 0-0, Marmol 0-0, Porcello 11-1, Robertson, N 0-0, Miner 1-1, Seay 0-1, Lyon 1-1, Zumaya 0-1, Rodney 0-1. Batters faced: Harden 24, Heilman 9, Ascanio 3, Marshall 1, Marmol 3, Porcello 24, Robertson, N 1, Miner 5, Seay 1, Lyon 3, Zumaya 4, Rodney 5. Inherited runners-scored: Heilman 2-2, Marshall 2-0, Marmol 2-1, Robertson, N 2-0, Miner 3-1, Seay 2-0, Lyon 2-1. Umpires: HP: Andy Fletcher. 1B: Ted Barrett. 2B: Adrian Johnson. 3B: Tim McClelland. Weather: 87 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, Varies. T: 3:19. Att: 36,438. June 24, 2009