GDT: 7/26/09 - DET (52-44) VS CWS (50-48) - 8:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- If Tigers rookie Rick Porcello is a pitcher tiring down the stretch, he sure isn't acting like one. If anything, he might be fighting too much energy.

If he doesn't have adrenaline when he takes the mound Sunday night, it would be a shock.

Whether Porcello was simply shaking off rust from his long break between starts or showing initial signs of fatigue from his innings workload, Sunday will be a new test for him. As the bright lights of national television cover Comerica Park for the ESPN Sunday Night broadcast, Porcello will be pitching with a chance to finish off a four-game series sweep of the White Sox and build the Tigers' lead in the American League Central to four games.

"All three of those games were pretty darn exciting," Porcello said after Saturday's 4-3 comeback victory. "It's a little different feel, especially when you're facing your division rival. It's pretty cool. I haven't really been a part of anything like this, with this intensity. It's exciting. I'm going to go out there [Sunday] and do my part to help us."

The only race Porcello can compare to what he's watching now is high school, when he was trying to pitch his team through the New Jersey state tournament. It had a championship feel to it.

"This is a similar feeling, times 10," Porcello said. "It's magnified. The AL Central is a little bigger than a high school state championship."

Add in a chance for double-digit victories on the year, and it's a pressure-packed outing for the 20-year-old with the scintillating sinker. But he wouldn't have gotten this far without a penchant for answering the pressure.

Another victory will make Porcello just the fourth pitcher since 1987 to win double-digit games at age 20 or younger, joining a group that includes Felix Hernandez, CC Sabathia and Rick Ankiel. No Tigers hurler has done it since Dave Rozema in 1977.

Without Porcello's production, the Tigers aren't in a position to lead the division in the first place. His poise in tough games has drawn raves since he earned a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. When the Tigers took him, they knew they'd have to watch his innings over the course of the season and his arm over the second half.

Now, the second half is here. After Porcello's first start in 2 1/2 weeks saw him give up five runs in as many innings to the Mariners last Tuesday, he goes into Sunday on his normal four days' rest, with a normal routine of work in between outings. He did the same routine he has with each normal turn this year, throwing on the side and working with pitching coach Rick Knapp.

It wasn't fatigue that challenged Porcello his last outing, he said, but speed. The quicker he tried to pitch, the more he seemed to fall out of form.

"There were certain hitters I saw everything mechanical was good, and I looked sharp," Porcello said. "And then other guys, I'd kind of rush to the plate and leave some balls up, which has happened. When I've struggled this year is when I try to get too quick, not just staying back and going easy with it."

Porcello wants easy this time. Considering the setting, the atmosphere and the opportunity, he can be excused if it isn't easy to relax.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (9-6, 4.40 ERA)
Porcello showed the rust of nearly two weeks off when he took the mound Tuesday against the Mariners. He allowed five runs on nine hits and was inconsistent with his pitches. He'll be facing the White Sox for the first time in his career.

CWS: LHP Clayton Richard (3-3, 5.00 ERA)
Richard threw a career-best eight innings Tuesday against the Rays. He exited the game with a 2-1 lead but didn't earn the win after Bobby Jenks blew his third save of the season in the ninth inning. The one run Richard allowed was the fewest since shutting out the Brewers over five innings on June 20. Richard has made two appearances (one start) against the Tigers this season and has struggled. He's surrendered three runs on seven hits and five walks over five innings of work.

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Tidbits

... The Tigers will be back on national television two Sundays from now. Their Aug. 9 game against the Twins will be the weekly Sunday afternoon broadcast on TBS, though it'll be shown locally on FSN Detroit. Game time remains 1:05 p.m. ET.
... According to Elias Sports Bureau, Justin Verlander became the first Major League starter in 24 years to load the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning or later and get out of it without allowing a run when he pulled off the feat Friday afternoon. Then-Mariners hurlder Mike Moore was the last to do it, on Sept. 16, 1985.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-8, 4.82 ERA) at Rangers (Tommy Hunter, 2-1, 2.17 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Lucas French, 1-1, 2.22 ERA) at Rangers (Vicente Padilla, 7-5, 4.67 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 11-5, 3.12 ERA) at Rangers (Scott Feldman, 9-3, 3.59 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:


WHITE SOX

1. Scott Podsednik, CF
   
2. Alexei Ramirez, SS
   
3. Jermaine Dye, RF
   
4. Jim Thome, DH
   
5. Paul Konerko, 1B
   
6. A.J. Pierzynski, C
   
7. Carlos Quentin, LF
   
8. Chris Getz, 2B
   
9. Gordon Beckham, 3B
   

P: Clayton Richard

TIGERS

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

P: Rick Porcello

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Scott Podsednik singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Alexei Ramirez singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Scott Podsednik to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jermaine Dye walks. Scott Podsednik to 3rd. Alexei Ramirez to 2nd.

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


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Jim Thome grounds into a force out,
first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Adam Everett. Scott Podsednik
scores. Alexei Ramirez scores. Jermaine Dye out at 2nd. Jim Thome
advances to 1st, on throwing error by shortstop Adam Everett.

CWS 2, DET 0


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Paul Konerko homers (19) on a fly ball to left field. Jim Thome scores.
CWS 4, DET 0

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

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Quentin grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 4, DET 0

Bottom Half

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


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


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .

CWS 4, DET 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Chris Getz flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Gordon Beckham homers (4) on a line drive to left field.
CWS 5, DET 0

Rick better get it together!


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Scott Podsednik grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Alexei Ramirez grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 5, DET 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jermaine Dye.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames flies out to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.



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


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko.


CWS 5, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jermaine Dye flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Jim Thome called out on .

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Paul Konerko hits a ground-rule double (19) on a line drive to left field.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.



CWS 5, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:1 S:0 O:2 - With Placido Polanco batting, Curtis
Granderson picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Clayton
Richard to first baseman Paul Konerko to second baseman Chris Getz.


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

CWS 5, DET 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

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


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Chris Getz flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn in foul territory.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Gordon Beckham walks.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
With Scott Podsednik batting, Gordon Beckham steals (4) 2nd base.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Scott Podsednik grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 5, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Quentin. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

home run time Thames...




B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames lines out sharply to center fielder Scott Podsednik. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.



B:3 S:2 O:2 - Ryan Raburn grounds into a force out,
second baseman Chris Getz to shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Magglio Ordonez
scores. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd. Ryan Raburn to 1st.
CWS 5, DET 1




B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds into a force out, third baseman Gordon Beckham to second baseman Chris Getz. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

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


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


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

CWS 5, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

That will be all for Rick... he is at 93 pitches.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird lines out sharply to third baseman Gordon Beckham.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Paul Konerko.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Clayton Richard. Curtis Granderson to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Jermaine Dye.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 5 innings

Rick's still in there!

Inning 6
Top Half

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

B:2 S:1 O:1 - A. J. Pierzynski reaches on fielding
error by left fielder Ryan Raburn. Pierzynski advances to 2nd, on
missed catch error by left fielder Ryan Raburn.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Rick Porcello.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. A. J. Pierzynski to 3rd.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Chris Getz lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Marcus Thames walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.



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


B:1 S:2 O:3 - Ryan Raburn grounds into double play,
third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko. Magglio
Ordonez out at 3rd.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Gordon Beckham walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Zach Miner to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Gordon Beckham to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:0 O:2 -
With Jermaine Dye batting, wild pitch by Zach Miner, Gordon Beckham to 3rd.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye walks.



B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jim Thome walks. Jermaine Dye to 2nd.



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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Casey Fien replaces Zach Miner.

good luck Fien! Go get em out!




B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Paul Konerko pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

great job on your ML debut!

CWS 5, DET 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.


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


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
A. J. Pierzynski walks.


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


B:1 S:0 O:3 - Chris Getz grounds into double play,
shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. A. J.
Pierzynski out at 2nd.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from center field to left field for Scott Podsednik.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Dewayne Wise replaces left fielder Carlos Quentin, batting 7th, playing center field.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Paul Konerko.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Dewayne Wise.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to left fielder Scott Podsednik.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Gordon Beckham lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Scott Podsednik strikes out swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Alexei Ramirez pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Tony Pena replaces Clayton Richard.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Dewayne Wise.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Marcus Thames swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to third baseman Gordon Beckham in foul territory.

Tigers lose 1-5

July 26, 2009

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

Chi White Sox AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Podsednik, CF-LF 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .309 Ramirez, A, SS 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .275 Dye, RF 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .285 Thome, DH 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 .250 Konerko, 1B 4 1 2 2 0 0 3 .288 Pierzynski, C 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .306 Quentin, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .224 --Wise, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .192 Getz, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263 Beckham, 3B 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 .289 Totals 31 5 5 4 6 3 11 BATTING 2B: Konerko (19, Porcello). HR: Konerko (19, 1st inning off Porcello, 1 on, 1 out), Beckham (4, 2nd inning off Porcello, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Podsednik; Ramirez, A; Konerko 6; Beckham 4. RBI: Thome (59), Konerko 2 (66), Beckham (26). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Pierzynski; Podsednik; Getz; Konerko 2. S: Podsednik. GIDP: Getz. Team RISP: 0-for-7. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Beckham (4, 2nd base off Porcello/Laird). FIELDING DP: (Beckham-Konerko). Pickoffs: Richard (Granderson at 1st base).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .255 Polanco, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262 Ordonez, RF 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .261 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .330 Thames, DH 3 0 0 0 1 1 3 .266 Raburn, LF 3 0 0 1 1 0 3 .243 Inge, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .256 Laird, C 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .235 Everett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 Totals 31 1 5 1 2 4 13 BATTING TB: Granderson; Ordonez 2; Cabrera, M 2. RBI: Raburn (27). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Laird. GIDP: Raburn. Team RISP: 0-for-5. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Granderson (5, 2nd base by Richard/Pierzynski). PO: Granderson (1st base by Richard). FIELDING E: Everett (9, throw), Raburn 2 (4, fielding, missed catch). DP: (Everett-Cabrera, M).
Chi White Sox IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Richard (W, 4-3) 8.0 5 1 1 2 3 0 4.65 Pena, To 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.03		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello (L, 9-7) 5.1 5 5 5 2 1 2 4.62 Miner 1.1 0 0 0 3 0 0 4.67 Fien 2.1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.00
WP: Richard, Miner. Pitches-strikes: Richard 113-72, Pena, To 14-9, Porcello 98-56, Miner 34-13, Fien 29-17. Groundouts-flyouts: Richard 10-11, Pena, To 0-2, Porcello 11-4, Miner 2-2, Fien 2-3. Batters faced: Richard 30, Pena, To 3, Porcello 24, Miner 7, Fien 7. Inherited runners-scored: Miner 1-0, Fien 3-0. Umpires: HP: Tim Timmons. 1B: Rob Drake. 2B: Brian Gorman. 3B: Mark Wegner. Weather: 73 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, Out to LF. T: 2:33. Att: 38,255. July 26, 2009