GDT GM 2: 7/24/09 - DET VS CWS - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The good news for the Tigers is that they won't have to face Mark Buehrle this weekend. All he did Thursday was pitch a perfect game against the Rays, so his turn in the rotation won't come back around until the White Sox have left town.

The way the Tigers have been pressing at the plate lately, though, it's hard to tell if missing Buehrle matters. This weekend's series against the White Sox certainly does, even if the Tigers try to downplay it a bit.

"They're pitching pretty well. We're pitching pretty well," manager Jim Leyland said. "But we're going to have to swing the bats better no matter who we play. It doesn't matter whether it's the White Sox, the Indians, the Texas Rangers, whoever it is. We have to do better offensively."

The Tigers are a team that's pressing heading into a series that could easily be pressure-packed between the AL Central co-leaders, even with more than two months left in the season.

Leyland usually says at this time of the year that a pennant race doesn't begin until September rolls around with a team within five or so games of the lead. But that didn't stop him from watching Wednesday's White Sox-Rays game with particular attention after the Tigers had just lost.

By contrast, Leyland didn't have much of a chance to watch Buehrle send down all 27 Rays he faced Thursday. Their games wrapped up almost simultaneously, with Buehrle finishing off his gem just as Leyland was discussing his team's third 2-1 defeat in the last four days, this time to the Mariners.

The net effect of the two games is a virtual tie atop the division. Technically, Detroit leads by a mere percentage point, because Chicago has one more win and one more loss.

"They're important games," Verlander said. "All these games from the start of the season are important. You can't value one more than the other. It does decide more on the standings. It makes for interesting baseball. We've just got to win."

To do that, they've got to hit. And that has been a big problem for them.

"If you're talking about the pennant race," Lyealnd said, "it's not a critical series. But whether you're playing in April or May, the idea is that you come out and try to win as many games as you can. We've got to do a little bit better offensively, that's for sure."

Four of the Tigers' five losses since the All-Star break have been by 2-1 scores. In those, Detroit's offense has been held in check by starters CC Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain, Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn.

Their opponent in Friday's first game, Jose Contreras, held the Tigers to a lone run in their meeting June 8 at U.S. Cellular Field. If his pitches are working again, they'll have a hard time hitting.

"Everybody's pitching well against us," Leyland said Friday. "You have to sometimes hit good pitching."

By comparison, their second-game foe, Bartolo Colon, owns an 8-9 record and a 5.28 ERA for his career against Detroit, including 81 hits over 56 1/3 career innings at Comerica Park.

Right now, however, the Tigers are focused on themselves.

"I think if we play good, if we play aggressive, if we play like we can, we can beat those guys," Miguel Cabrera said.
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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Eddie Bonine (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
Bonine will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo between games to make his first start for the Tigers since last summer. The man with the nasty knuckler opened the season in Detroit's bullpen and gave up 16 hits over eight innings before being optioned out in late April. He missed time last month because of the passing of his mom, but has slowly worked his way back with a string of effective starts for the Mud Hens.

CWS: RHP Bartolo Colon (3-6, 4.23 ERA)
Colon has been bothered by inflammation in his left knee and has not been on the mound at the big league level since June 7 against Cleveland. Colon also has a 1-5 record in his last seven starts, but the burly right-hander has an 8-9 lifetime record against the Tigers. Colon has a 4-4 mark with a 6.23 ERA at Comerica Park.

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Tidbits

... The Tigers could have some extra help as soon as Friday, depending on what the Tigers decide to do with Carlos Guillen. Detroit sent special assistant Dick Egan to Toledo Thursday to watch Guillen in his latest Minor League rehab game for the Mud Hens. It's possible the Tigers could call him up this weekend, though the switch-hitter seemingly still is struggling to hit right-handed. He batted left-handed against a left-handed pitcher in Wednesday's game against Syracuse.
... The Tigers will have to make a roster move between games to make room for Bonine, who will then be optioned back to Triple-A Toledo Saturday. Most likely, they'll send down a reliever Friday and bring another one back the next day.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 7-5, 2.52 ERA) vs. White Sox (Gavin Floyd, 8-6, 4.40 ERA), 4:05 p.m. ET Fox
• Sunday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 9-6, 4.40 ERA) vs. White Sox (Clayton Richard, 3-3, 5.00 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET ESPN
• Monday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-8, 4.82 ERA) at Rangers (Tommy Hunter, 2-1, 2.17 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Chi White Sox AVG
Podsednik, LF .305
Ramirez, A, SS .279
Dye, RF .291
Thome, DH .252
Konerko, 1B .292
Getz, 2B .263
Beckham, 3B .285
Wise, CF .196
Castro, R, C .225


Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .257
Polanco, 2B .268
Ordonez, RF .257
Cabrera, M, 1B .326
Guillen, C, DH .202
Thames, LF .265
Inge, 3B .258
Santiago, SS .254
Ryan, D, C .125

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Jermaine Dye grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alexei Ramirez out at 2nd.

0-0

Bottom Half

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


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco hit by pitch.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
With Magglio Ordonez batting, Bartolo Colon picks off Placido Polanco at 1st on throw to Paul Konerko.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jim Thome homers (17) on a fly ball to left center field. CWS 1, DET 0




B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Paul Konerko grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Chris Getz singles on a soft ground ball to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gordon Beckham singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Chris Getz to 3rd.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Dewayne Wise batting, Gordon Beckham caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Dusty Ryan to shortstop Ramon Santiago.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Dewayne Wise strikes out swinging.




CWS 1, DET 0 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Jermaine Dye.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.
CWS 1, DET 1


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Marcus Thames pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to left fielder Scott Podsednik.

CWS 1, DET 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Castro singles on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Thames.


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Scott Podsednik grounds into a force
out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. Ramon
Castro out at 2nd. Scott Podsednik to 1st.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Scott Podsednik to 2nd.



B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye homers (22) on a fly ball to left field. Scott Podsednik scores.
CWS 3, DET 1




B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Jim Thome called out on strikes.

CWS 3, DET 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago bunt grounds out, pitcher Bartolo Colon to first baseman Paul Konerko.


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


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS 3, DET 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Paul Konerko walks.


B:0 S:2 O:1 - Chris Getz grounds into a force out,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Paul
Konerko out at 2nd. Chris Getz to 1st.



B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Injury Delay.

B:3 S:1 O:3 - Gordon Beckham grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Chris Getz out at 2nd.

CWS 3, DET 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Jermaine Dye.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (21) on a line drive to right fielder Jermaine Dye.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.

CWS 3, DET 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Dewayne Wise pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Castro called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Scott Podsednik singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
With Alexei Ramirez batting, Scott Podsednik caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Dusty Ryan to second baseman Placido Polanco.

CWS 3, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Marcus Thames singles on a ground ball to left fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Scott Podsednik. Marcus Thames to 2nd.



B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Dusty Ryan singles on a ground ball to center fielder Dewayne Wise. Marcus Thames scores. Brandon Inge to 2nd.
CWS 3, DET 2


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson walks. Brandon Inge to 3rd. Dusty Ryan to 2nd.



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


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Placido Polanco grounds into a force
out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Chris Getz. Brandon
Inge scores. Dusty Ryan to 3rd. Curtis Granderson out at 2nd. Placido
Polanco to 1st.
CWS 3, DET 3


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko in foul territory.

CWS 3, DET 3 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez flies out to left fielder Marcus Thames.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye swinging.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Jim Thome walks.


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

CWS 3, DET 3 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Jermaine Dye.

B:1 S:0 O:3 - Marcus Thames grounds into double play,
shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman
Paul Konerko. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd.

CWS 3, DET 3 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning7
Top Half


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Clete Thomas replaces left fielder Marcus Thames, batting 6th, playing left field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Eddie Bonine.


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


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Gordon Beckham walks. Chris Getz to 2nd.



B:0 S:0 O:1 - Dewayne Wise out on a sacrifice bunt,
catcher Dusty Ryan to second baseman Placido Polanco. Chris Getz to
3rd. Gordon Beckham to 2nd.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Castro swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Scott Podsednik swinging.

CWS 3, DET 3 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Jermaine Dye.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago hit by pitch.


B:0 S:2 O:3 - Dusty Ryan grounds into double play,
second baseman Chris Getz to shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman
Paul Konerko. Ramon Santiago out at 2nd.

CWS 3, DET 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

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


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jim Thome swinging.

CWS 3, DET 3 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Scott Linebrink replaces Bartolo Colon.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson called out on strikes.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to left fielder Scott Podsednik.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (12) on a ground ball to left fielder Scott Podsednik. Placido Polanco to 3rd.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Scott Linebrink intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera loading the bases.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Thornton replaces Scott Linebrink.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Carlos Guillen.


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


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks. Placido Polanco scores. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

DET 4, CWS 3

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Tony Pena replaces Matt Thornton.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko in foul territory.

DET 4, CWS 3 after 8 innings

ya should have tried for the walk, Inge!

Inning 9
Top Half

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


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


B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Paul Konerko swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Chris Getz swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Gordon Beckham grounds out sharply, pitcher Fernando Rodney to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Tigers win 4-3!

July 24, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Chi White Sox	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	8	0
Detroit	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	1			4	8	0

Chi White Sox AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Podsednik, LF 4 1 1 0 0 1 3 .304 Ramirez, A, SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .279 Dye, RF 4 1 1 2 0 1 1 .290 Thome, DH 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 .253 Konerko, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .289 Getz, 2B 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .266 Beckham, 3B 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .286 Wise, CF 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .192 Castro, R, C 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 .228 Totals 30 3 8 3 3 9 11 BATTING HR: Thome (17, 2nd inning off Bonine, 0 on, 0 out), Dye (22, 3rd inning off Bonine, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Podsednik; Ramirez, A; Dye 4; Thome 4; Getz 2; Beckham; Castro, R. RBI: Thome (58), Dye 2 (62). 2-out RBI: Dye 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wise; Podsednik 2. S: Wise. GIDP: Dye; Beckham. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING CS: Podsednik (8, 2nd base by Bonine/Ryan, D), Beckham (4, 2nd base by Bonine/Ryan, D). FIELDING DP: 2 (Ramirez, A-Getz-Konerko, Getz-Ramirez, A-Konerko). Pickoffs: Colon, B (Polanco at 1st base).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .255 Polanco, 2B 3 1 1 1 0 0 2 .269 Ordonez, RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .257 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .326 Guillen, C, DH 3 1 2 1 0 1 1 .216 --a-Raburn, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .248 Thames, LF 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .267 --Thomas, C, LF 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .255 Inge, 3B 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .258 Santiago, SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250 Ryan, D, C 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .158 Totals 29 4 8 4 3 4 15 a-Struck out for Guillen, C in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Cabrera, M (21, Colon, B), Ordonez (12, Linebrink). HR: Guillen, C (1, 2nd inning off Colon, B, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Polanco; Ordonez 2; Cabrera, M 2; Guillen, C 5; Thames; Inge; Ryan, D. RBI: Guillen, C (7), Ryan, D (2), Polanco (46), Thomas, C (26). 2-out RBI: Thomas, C. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Guillen, C; Ordonez; Inge 2. GIDP: Thames; Ryan, D. Team RISP: 1-for-7. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING PO: Polanco (1st base by Colon, B). FIELDING DP: 2 (Inge-Polanco-Cabrera, M 2).
Chi White Sox IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Colon, B 7.0 6 3 3 1 2 1 4.19 Linebrink (L, 2-5) 0.1 2 1 1 1 1 0 2.62 Thornton 0.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.85 Pena, To 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.17		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Bonine 6.0 7 3 3 2 4 2 7.07 Seay 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 3.06 Lyon (W, 4-4) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.50 Rodney (S, 21) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.73
IBB: Cabrera, M (by Linebrink). HBP: Polanco (by Colon, B), Santiago (by Colon, B). Pitches-strikes: Colon, B 85-57, Linebrink 17-9, Thornton 13-7, Pena, To 3-2, Bonine 81-53, Seay 18-11, Lyon 11-8, Rodney 12-8. Groundouts-flyouts: Colon, B 10-8, Linebrink 0-0, Thornton 0-0, Pena, To 0-1, Bonine 9-3, Seay 1-0, Lyon 1-1, Rodney 1-0. Batters faced: Colon, B 27, Linebrink 4, Thornton 2, Pena, To 1, Bonine 23, Seay 5, Lyon 3, Rodney 3. Inherited runners-scored: Thornton 3-1, Pena, To 3-0. Umpires: HP: Brian Gorman. 1B: Tim Timmons. 2B: Jeff Kellogg. 3B: Mark Wegner. Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, R to L. T: 2:31. Att: 39,375. July 24, 2009