GDT: 7/17/09 - DET (48-39) at NYY (51-37) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The second half of the regular season will start with a bang for the Tigers, who will have to face one of the hotter teams in the Majors, at least before this past weekend, on the road for a three-game series starting Friday.

Detroit will travel to the Bronx for its first series in the new Yankee Stadium, the site of what was a venerable launching pad of home run activity during the first half of the season. Yankees players hit 79 homers at the new home ballpark this year through 42 games compared to 47 homers on the road through 45 contests.

Between a 4-0 loss to Atlanta on June 23 and the start of last weekend's series in Anaheim against the Angels, the Yankees went 13-2 while outscoring their opponents by a combined 37 runs. That also included eight straight road victories before New York was swept by Los Angeles this past weekend.

Justin Verlander will pitch in New York on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the work he and Edwin Jackson do or don't receive for the American League All-Star team in St. Louis, and he said he doesn't expect to approach the offensive-friendly ballpark any different than any other stadium.

"You just can't let it get into your head," Verlander said. "If you do give up a cheap home run, you have to put it behind you. Those guys have some great hitters."

Teammate Luke French agrees that his strategy pitching in a perceived hitter's park will remain the same as for any game. He will pitch the opener Friday.

"I'm just hoping to get ground balls, which is what I try to do anyway," French said. "It's going to be exciting and I'll just go at it and take my normal approach."

Detroit manager Jim Leyland is looking forward to seeing the new Yankee Stadium and said that the high number of home run totals there is difficult to ignore.

"There's some truth to [the home run numbers]. Apparently there is a jet stream there," Leyland said. "I'm anxious to see it because it's supposed to be a palace."

However, as the Tigers skipper said, whether home runs are hit depends on who is pitching and the ingame matchups.

"We don't have a lot of left-handed [home run] power, although we do have [Clete] Thomas and [Curtis] Granderson," Leyland said. "We're mostly a right-handed-hitting team."

French said he will prepare for his Friday start by remaining in Detroit and doing some work at Comerica Park over the All-Star break. He believes the key in facing the Yankees is not getting caught up in the mystique.

"I try to approach every outing the same way and this will be no different," he said.

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Pitching matchup

LHP Luke French (1-0, 1.93 ERA)
French picked up is first Major League victory against Kansas City, going 6 1/3 innings while giving up just one run. It was his second start, and fourth appearance overall this year in two stints with Detroit. He also went 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts at Triple-A Toledo this season. French, though, will have his hands full with a Yankees lineup that can punish left-handed pitchers.

NYY: RHP A.J. Burnett (8-4, 3.77 ERA)
Burnett's wildness returned against the Twins in the form of four walks and three wild pitches over 6 1/3 innings. But Burnett managed to limit the damage enough to hold Minnesota to two runs, Burnett is flipping ahead of CC Sabathia in the rotation, leading the Yankees out of the All-Star break so that Sabathia can enjoy an extra day of rest. Despite posting a 5.73 ERA against the Tigers last season, Burnett won both of his starts against them -- but has an 8.03 ERA against them for his career.

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Tidbits

... Edwin Jackson lowered his ERA to 2.52 with his win on Friday. That is he lowest ERA for any Tigers starter prior to the All-Star break since Mark Fydrich compiled a 1.78 ERA in 1976, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
... The Tigers posted a 26-13 record the first 39 home games of 2009. That marks the best 39-game start in Comerica Park history and the best by a Detroit team at home since the 1984 Tigers went 27-12.
... The Class A West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League clinched a playoff berth during the season's first half with a 43-27 record. Second baseman Brandon Douglas (.345) and shortstop Gustavo Nunez (.328) finished the first half second and fifth respectively in the Midwest League and batting.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Saturday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, RHP (10-4, 3.38 ERA) ) at Yankees (C.C Sabathia, 8-6, 3.86 ERA) 1:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, RHP (7-4, 2.52 ERA) ) at Yankees (Joba Chamberlain, 4.2, 4.25 ERA), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .254
Polanco, 2B .256
Cabrera, M, 1B .321
Thames, DH .272
Thomas, C, RF .268
Inge, 3B .268
Anderson, J, LF .250
Laird, C .241
Everett, SS .262

NY Yankees AVG
Jeter, SS .321
Damon, LF .276
Teixeira, 1B .275
Rodriguez, A, 3B .256
Matsui, H, DH .265
Posada, C .285
Cano, 2B .308
Swisher, RF .237
Cabrera, Me, CF .285

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (10) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Swisher.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira. Curtis Granderson scores.

DET 1, NYY 0

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames singles on a line drive to left fielder Johnny Damon.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks. Marcus Thames to 2nd.


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


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge lines out sharply to second baseman Robinson Cano.

DET 1, NYY 0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Derek Jeter flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Johnny Damon walks.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Teixeira singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Johnny Damon to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Rodriguez flies out softly to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

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


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Hideki Matsui singles on a line drive to
right fielder Clete Thomas. Johnny Damon scores. Hideki Matsui to 2nd.
Mark Teixeira advances to 3rd, on throwing error by right fielder Clete
Thomas.

DET 1, NYY 1

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Jorge Posada grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, NYY 1 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Anderson walks.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
With Gerald Laird batting, Josh Anderson steals (13) 2nd base.


B:2 S:2 O:0 -
With Gerald Laird batting, throwing error by A. J. Burnett on the pickoff attempt, Josh Anderson to 3rd.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Alex Rodriguez to first baseman Mark Teixeira.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Nick Swisher.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson hit by pitch.


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Placido Polanco singles on a soft ground
ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Josh Anderson scores. Curtis
Granderson to 3rd.

DET 2, NYY 1

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

DET 2, NYY 1 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Robinson Cano flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Nick Swisher called out on .


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Melky Cabrera flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 2, NYY 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman Alex Rodriguez to first baseman Mark Teixeira.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to left fielder Johnny Damon.


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

DET 2, NYY 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Derek Jeter walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 - Johnny Damon grounds into a force out,
first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Adam Everett. Derek Jeter out
at 2nd. Johnny Damon to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Mark Teixeira flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Rodriguez pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 2, NYY 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Josh Anderson walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to second baseman Robinson Cano.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Adam Everett grounds into double play,
third baseman Alex Rodriguez to second baseman Robinson Cano to first
baseman Mark Teixeira. Josh Anderson out at 2nd.

DET 2, NYY 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Hideki Matsui swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jorge Posada walks.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Robinson Cano singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jorge Posada to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Nick Swisher pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Melky Cabrera flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

DET 2, NYY 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson homers (19) on a fly ball to right center field.
DET 3, NYY 1

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Alex Rodriguez to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera singles on a sharp line
drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd,
center fielder Melky Cabrera to shortstop Derek Jeter.

Miggy was safe on the replay...

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames walks.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks. Marcus Thames to 2nd.


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

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge pops out to third baseman Alex Rodriguez.


DET 3, NYY 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Derek Jeter swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Johnny Damon singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Anderson.


B:1 S:0 O:1 - Mark Teixeira singles on a line drive to
center fielder Curtis Granderson. Johnny Damon scores. Mark Teixeira to
2nd. Missed catch error by left fielder Josh Anderson.
DET 3, NYY 2


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Alex Rodriguez reaches on throwing error by third baseman Brandon Inge.


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

bull, Miggy is the one to drop it!


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Hideki Matsui lines into unassisted double play, second baseman Placido Polanco. Alex Rodriguez doubled off 1st.

DET 3, NYY 2 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Josh Anderson grounds out softly to first baseman Mark Teixeira.


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird singles on a line drive to left fielder Johnny Damon.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Adam Everett lines into double play,
center fielder Melky Cabrera to first baseman Mark Teixeira. Gerald
Laird doubled off 1st.

DET 3, NYY 2 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Lucas French.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Jorge Posada hits a ground-rule double (11) on a line drive to left field.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Robinson Cano pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Nick Swisher swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 - Melky Cabrera singles on a ground ball
to left fielder Josh Anderson. Jorge Posada out at home on the throw,
left fielder Josh Anderson to catcher Gerald Laird.

DET 3, NYY 2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Hughes replaces A. J. Burnett.


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


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Placido Polanco swinging, catcher Jorge Posada to first baseman Mark Teixeira.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Johnny Damon.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames singles on a ground ball to left fielder Johnny Damon. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas swinging.

DET 3, NYY 2 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Fu-Te Ni.


B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Derek Jeter singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Johnny Damon doubles (20) on a fly ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Derek Jeter to 3rd.

RAINING


B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Mark Teixeira homers (22) on a fly ball to right field. Derek Jeter scores. Johnny Damon scores.
NYY 5, DET 3


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Alex Rodriguez grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Hideki Matsui singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Jorge Posada pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Robinson Cano hits a ground-rule double (25) on a line drive to left field. Hideki Matsui to 3rd.


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


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Nick Swisher walks.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Melky Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


NYY 5, DET 3 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge called out on .


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Josh Anderson singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago replaces Adam Everett.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, Josh Anderson advances to 2nd on a balk.


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

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago called out on .

NYY 5, DET 3 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago remains in the game as the shortstop.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Joel Zumaya.

rain delay

Game to resume soon

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Derek Jeter singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Anderson.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Johnny Damon pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Mark Teixeira pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Rodriguez swinging.

NYY 5, DET 3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Brett Gardner replaces left fielder Johnny Damon, batting 2nd, playing center field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from center field to left field for Melky Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Mariano Rivera replaces Phil Hughes.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Nick Swisher.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco doubles (20) on a ground ball to left fielder Melky Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira. Placido Polanco to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Marcus Thames pops out to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Tigers lose 3-5

July 17, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		3	10	3
NY Yankees	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	X		5	13	1

Detroit AB- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .257 Polanco, 2B 5 0 2 1 0 1 1 .259 Cabrera, M, 1B 5 0 2 1 0 0 3 .322 Thames, DH 4 0 2 0 1 0 1 .279 Thomas, C, RF 2 0 0 0 2 1 2 .264 Inge, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .264 Anderson, J, LF 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .253 Laird, C 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .241 Everett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .258 --a-Santiago, PH-SS 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269 Totals 34 3 10 3 5 7 18 a-Struck out for Everett in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Granderson (10, Burnett, A), Polanco (20, Rivera, Ma). HR: Granderson (19, 5th inning off Burnett, A, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Granderson 6; Polanco 3; Cabrera, M 2; Thames 2; Anderson, J; Laird. RBI: Cabrera, M (51), Polanco (41), Granderson (44). 2-out RBI: Polanco. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Inge 2; Cabrera, M; Thomas, C; Santiago; Thames. GIDP: Everett. Team RISP: 1-for-12. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Anderson, J (13, 2nd base off Burnett, A/Posada). FIELDING E: Thomas, C (2, throw), Anderson, J (2, missed catch), Inge (11, throw). Outfield assists: Anderson, J (Posada at home). DP: (Polanco).		NY Yankees AB- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Jeter, SS 4 1 2 0 1 1 0 .323 Damon, LF 4 3 2 0 1 0 2 .278 --Gardner, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 Teixeira, 1B 5 1 3 3 0 0 2 .280 Rodriguez, A, 3B 5 0 0 0 0 1 4 .250 Matsui, H, DH 4 0 2 1 0 1 2 .269 Posada, C 3 0 1 0 1 0 3 .286 Cano, 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .310 Swisher, RF 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 .235 Cabrera, Me, CF-LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 .284 Totals 36 5 13 4 4 5 22 BATTING 2B: Posada (11, Ni), Damon (20, Zumaya), Cano (25, Zumaya). HR: Teixeira (22, 7th inning off Zumaya, 2 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter 2; Damon 3; Teixeira 6; Matsui, H 2; Posada 2; Cano 3; Cabrera, Me. RBI: Matsui, H (41), Teixeira 3 (66). 2-out RBI: Matsui, H. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Posada 2; Cabrera, Me 3. Team RISP: 3-for-12. Team LOB: 11. FIELDING E: Burnett, A (2, pickoff). Outfield assists: Cabrera, Me 2 (Cabrera, M at 2nd base, Laird at 1st base). DP: 2 (Rodriguez, A-Cano-Teixeira, Cabrera, Me-Teixeira).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA French 5.0 5 2 1 3 3 0 1.89 Ni (H, 2) 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2.00 Zumaya (BS, 6)(L, 3-3) 1.0 5 3 3 1 0 1 4.94 Miner 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.83		NY Yankees IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Burnett, A 6.0 6 3 3 5 1 1 3.81 Hughes, P (W, 4-2) 2.0 3 0 0 0 6 0 3.76 Rivera, Ma (S, 24) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.37
Balk: Hughes, P. HBP: Granderson (by Burnett, A). Pitches-strikes: French 93-58, Ni 15-10, Zumaya 36-19, Miner 18-10, Burnett, A 104-57, Hughes, P 40-30, Rivera, Ma 14-9. Groundouts-flyouts: French 2-9, Ni 0-1, Zumaya 2-1, Miner 0-2, Burnett, A 9-6, Hughes, P 0-0, Rivera, Ma 1-2. Batters faced: French 23, Ni 4, Zumaya 9, Miner 4, Burnett, A 27, Hughes, P 9, Rivera, Ma 4. Umpires: HP: Tim Tschida. 1B: Bob Davidson. 2B: Jeff Nelson. 3B: Mark Carlson. Weather: 78 degrees, overcast. Wind: 8 mph, In from CF. T: 3:17 (:57 delay). Att: 46,197. July 17, 2009