GDT: 8/11/09 - DET (59-52) AT BOS (63-48) - 7:10 p.m. ET

BOSTON -- This wasn't exactly the way the Tigers would have liked to see Junichi Tazawa's first Major League start.

Detroit was one of the handful of teams interested in the Japanese youngster as he burned through hitters in Japan's industrial leagues. Though the Tigers haven't been active in recent years in signing Japanese players, they liked Tazawa a lot, and they wouldn't have had to pay a posting fee to sign him like Major League clubs pay for players who reach pro level in Japan. But the Red Sox won him over with a three-year Major League contract and a chance to pitch for the same franchise where Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima have starred.

Signing Tazawa would have given the Tigers some valuable young pitching depth in a system that hasn't have an abundance of it past Rick Porcello. Instead, they'll get to see whether Tazawa is ready for the big leagues by stepping to the plate against him. In return, however, the Red Sox will have to deal with Porcello, Detroit's own bright young pitching star.

Though Tazawa spent most of the season pitching in the Eastern League, the Tigers' Double-A Erie players never saw him because of the order of Portland's rotation. None of the current Tigers, including former SeaWolves catcher Alex Avila, have seen this 23-year-old right-hander aside from his televised extra-inning relief appearance Friday against the Yankees in defeat.

Still, the Tigers front office and scouting department obviously know him.

"I'm not surprised by his success," team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said.

Tazawa went 9-5 with a 2.57 ERA at Portland, allowing 80 hits over 98 innings with 26 walks and 88 strikeouts. He was called up last month for two starts at Triple-A Pawtucket, both of them losses, before being promoted to Boston last week, when Boston designated veteran John Smoltz for assignment.

There's no hubbub about a gyroball like what followed Daisuke Matsuzaka. But there's the belief in a good, solid pitcher with talent.

It'll be a good matchup for Porcello, and it becomes a potentially huge matchup after the Red Sox took Monday's series opener and chased Edwin Jackson after four innings for the second time in three outings.

After strong fears that Porcello was running out of gas a few weeks ago, his past two starts have shown signs of a second wind. His first career outing at Fenway will be another addition to his career highlights, almost as big as Tazawa's first start in any big league park will be for him.

A win at Fenway against a lineup that knocked him out in the fifth inning in June would be even bigger for Porcello.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (10-7, 4.30 ERA)
A better tempo, renewed sinker and improved command of secondary pitches has Porcello heating up just in time for the stretch run, something the Tigers couldn't have planned better if they tried. His two runs allowed over 5 2/3 innings his previous outing, on Thursday against Baltimore, didn't show how effective he was early, when he no-hit the Orioles through the first four innings. Porcello will need his sinker working to keep his game from getting away from him at Fenway Park, where he has never pitched. Porcello gave up three runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings against the Red Sox June 2 at Comerica Park.

BOS: RHP Junichi Tazawa (0-1, 10.80 ERA)
The right-hander will have the comfort of being able to prepare a little more for his second Major League appearance then his debut on Friday at Yankee Stadium. In that one, Tazawa -- on the same day he was promoted to the Majors -- was called on in the 14th inning to pitch at Yankee Stadium. After escaping a jam in his first inning, he gave up a walk-off two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez in the 15th. Tazawa will now move to his more natural role of starter, replacing Smoltz in the rotation. In 20 Minor League starts this season, Tazawa went 9-7 with a 2.55 ERA. This will be his Fenway Park debut. The 23-year-old Tazawa never pitched pro baseball before this season. He put up dazzling numbers in the industrial leagues in Japan.

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Tidbits

... The Tigers have lost their past five games against Red Sox dating back to May 8, 2008.
... Avila will be back in the Tigers' lineup the next couple nights to catch Porcello and Armando Galarraga. It will be Avila's first game action since Friday.
... Magglio Ordonez is batting .347 (109-for-314) in 84 career games against the Red Sox, the second-best average among active hitters. That includes a .384 average at Fenway Park. Ordonez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple Monday.
... Typhoon Morakot left death and destruction in its path across Taiwan, but Fu-Te Ni said his friends and family have thankfully survived the storm with their health and their homes intact.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Wednesday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 6-10, 5.23 ERA) at Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 13-4, 3.12 ERA), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 12-6, 3.45 ERA) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 1-2, 5.33 ERA), 1:35 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 3.12 ERA) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 11-7, 2.43 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:


Detroit
CF Curtis Granderson
2B Placido Polanco
LF Clete Thomas
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Carlos Guillen
RF Magglio Ordoñez
C Alex Avila
3B Brandon Inge
SS Ramon Santiago

P Rick Porcello (10-7, 4.30 ERA)

Boston
Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Martinez, V, 1B
Youkilis, 3B
Ortiz, D, DH
Bay, LF
Drew, J, RF
Varitek, C
Green, N, SS

Current Conditions

Fenway Park

Fog 68 F

Humidity: 90 %

Wind: from the E at 13 mph

Barometer: 29.80 in

last updated: 8/11/09 5:45 PM EDT

Inning 1
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to shortstop Nick Green.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas singles on a line drive to left fielder Jason Bay. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera hit by pitch. Placido Polanco to 3rd. Clete Thomas to 2nd.

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


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Carlos Guillen reaches on force attempt,
throwing error by shortstop Nick Green. Placido Polanco scores. Clete
Thomas to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.
DET 1, BOS 0

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into a force
out, shortstop Nick Green to second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Clete
Thomas scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd.
Magglio Ordonez to 1st.
DET 2, BOS 0

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Alex Avila walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd. (bases loaded)

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to
left fielder Jason Bay. Miguel Cabrera scores. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.
Alex Avila to 2nd.
DET 3, BOS 0


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Dustin Pedroia to first baseman Victor Martinez.

DET 3, BOS 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Jacoby Ellsbury singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas.



B:1 S:0 O:2 - Dustin Pedroia grounds into double play,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jacoby Ellsbury out at 2nd.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Victor Martinez strikes out swinging.

DET 3, BOS 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Dustin Pedroia to first baseman Victor Martinez.


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


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Injury Delay. (hand bothering Miggy)

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging.

DET 3, BOS 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the first baseman.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Kevin Youkilis hit by pitch.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
On-field Delay.

Yoouk charges Rick, and a bench clearing fight starts. Youk was thrown to the ground by Rick!!! Porcello is furious!

Rick and Youk are out of the game.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello ejected by HP umpire Brian O'Nora.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis ejected by HP umpire Brian O'Nora.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Chris Lambert replaces Rick Porcello.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Mike Lowell replaces Kevin Youkilis.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
David Ortiz singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Mike Lowell to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jason Bay homers (23) on a fly ball to left field. Mike Lowell scores. David Ortiz scores.
DET 3, BOS 3

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
J. D. Drew walks.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
On-field Delay.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona ejected by 2B umpire Scott Barry.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Varitek walks.

only good thing is Lambert was a starter in Toledo, get your game together Lambert!

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


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Jacoby Ellsbury grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Ryan Raburn.

DET 3, BOS 3 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Mike Lowell remains in the game as the third baseman.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera left the game due to an injured hand/wrist.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out sharply to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.




B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez triples (2) on a line drive to right fielder J. D. Drew.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Alex Avila called out on .


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge called out on .

DET 3, BOS 3 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Dustin Pedroia walks.

dang it throw strikes!!!


B:0 S:2 O:2 - Victor Martinez grounds into double
play, shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco to
first baseman Ryan Raburn. Dustin Pedroia out at 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Mike Lowell homers (12) on a fly ball to left field.
BOS 4, DET 3

Sure changed the game losing RP!


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
David Ortiz flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.


BOS 4, DET 3 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago flies out sharply to right fielder J. D. Drew.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.
(nothing like swinging at ball 4)


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Placido Polanco swinging.




BOS 4, DET 3 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Bay lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
J. D. Drew flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.




B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Jason Varitek singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Nick Green swinging.

BOS 4, DET 3 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Clete Thomas swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to catcher Jason Varitek in foul territory.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

BOS 4, DET 3 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury flies out softly to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Dustin Pedroia walks.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Victor Martinez batting, Dustin Pedroia steals (15) 2nd base.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Victor Martinez flies out sharply to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Dustin Pedroia to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Lowell homers (13) on a fly ball to left field. Dustin Pedroia scores.
BOS 6, DET 3

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
David Ortiz flies out sharply to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

BOS 6, DET 3 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Cabrera replaces Junichi Tazawa.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Mike Lowell to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Avila hits a ground-rule double (3) on a line drive down the right-field line.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge called out on strikes.
(I think a little league pitcher could strike out Inge right now!)




B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder J. D. Drew.

BOS 6, DET 3 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jason Bay lines out to left fielder Clete Thomas.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
J. D. Drew grounds out, pitcher Chris Lambert to first baseman Ryan Raburn.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Varitek swinging.

BOS 6, DET 3 after 6 innings

GROUNDS CREW PREPARING FIELD FOR PLAY ... START TIME +/_ 20 MINUTES

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Takashi Saito replaces Fernando Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out sharply to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder J. D. Drew.


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

BOS 6, DET 3 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Chris Lambert.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Nick Green pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury reaches on throwing error by pitcher Ryan Perry. Jacoby Ellsbury to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Injury Delay. (POLLY HAS SOMETHING IN HIS EYE)


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Dustin Pedroia batting, Jacoby Ellsbury steals (52) 3rd base.



B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Dustin Pedroia walks.


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



B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Victor Martinez batting, Jacoby Ellsbury scores on a balk. Dustin Pedroia advances to 2nd on a balk.
BOS 7, DET 3




B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Victor Martinez grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Ryan Raburn. Dustin Pedroia to 3rd.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Mike Lowell pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

BOS 7, DET 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Daniel Bard replaces Takashi Saito.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn swinging.


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


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

BOS 7, DET 3 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Ryan Perry.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
David Ortiz swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Bay singles on a pop up to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - J. D. Drew grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Ramon Santiago to first
baseman Ryan Raburn. Jason Bay out at 2nd.

BOS 7, DET 3 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jonathan Papelbon replaces Daniel Bard.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Alex Avila doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Jason Bay.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge on foul tip.


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


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson homers (23) on a fly ball to right field. Alex Avila scores.
BOS 7, DET 5





B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

TIGERS LOSE 5-7

August 11, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2		5	7	1
Boston	0	3	1	0	2	0	1	0	X		7	7	1

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 5 1 1 2 0 1 0 .260 Polanco, 2B 5 1 1 0 0 2 0 .279 Thomas, C, LF 3 1 1 0 1 2 0 .261 Cabrera, M, 1B 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 .328 --a-Raburn, PH-1B 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .256 Guillen, C, DH 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 .232 Ordonez, RF 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 .272 Avila, C 3 1 2 0 1 1 1 .545 Inge, 3B 4 0 1 1 0 3 3 .253 Santiago, SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .246 Totals 35 5 7 5 2 13 12 a-Struck out for Cabrera, M in the 2nd. BATTING 2B: Avila 2 (4, Cabrera, F, Papelbon). 3B: Ordonez (2, Tazawa). HR: Granderson (23, 9th inning off Papelbon, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Granderson 4; Polanco; Thomas, C; Ordonez 3; Avila 4; Inge. RBI: Guillen, C (15), Ordonez (36), Inge (64), Granderson 2 (54). 2-out RBI: Inge; Granderson 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Santiago 3; Inge. Team RISP: 2-for-11. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING E: Perry (1, throw). DP: 3 (Santiago-Polanco-Raburn, Polanco-Santiago-Raburn, Santiago-Polanco-Cabrera, M).		Boston AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Ellsbury, CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .300 Pedroia, 2B 1 1 0 0 3 0 1 .299 Martinez, V, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .281 Youkilis, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311 --1-Lowell, PR-3B 3 3 2 3 0 0 1 .297 Ortiz, D, DH 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .220 Bay, LF 4 1 2 3 0 0 0 .255 Drew, J, RF 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .251 Varitek, C 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 .223 Green, N, SS 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .236 Totals 28 7 7 6 5 5 9 1-Ran for Youkilis in the 2nd. BATTING HR: Bay (23, 2nd inning off Lambert, 2 on, 0 out), Lowell 2 (13, 3rd inning off Lambert, 0 on, 2 out; 5th inning off Lambert, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Ellsbury; Lowell 8; Ortiz, D; Bay 5; Varitek. RBI: Bay 3 (79), Lowell 3 (57). 2-out RBI: Lowell 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Lowell. GIDP: Pedroia; Martinez, V; Drew, J. Team RISP: 2-for-5. Team LOB: 3. BASERUNNING SB: Pedroia (15, 2nd base off Lambert/Avila), Ellsbury (52, 3rd base off Perry/Avila). CS: Drew, J (3, 2nd base by Lambert/Avila). FIELDING E: Green, N (14, throw).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 0 4.34 Lambert (L, 0-1) 5.0 5 5 5 4 3 3 14.85 Perry 1.0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3.79 Seay 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.53		Boston IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Tazawa (W, 1-1) 5.0 4 3 1 2 6 0 4.05 Cabrera, F (H, 1) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Saito (H, 2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.07 Bard, D 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.88 Papelbon 1.0 2 2 2 0 3 1 2.17
Porcello pitched to 1 batter in the 2nd. Balk: Perry. HBP: Youkilis (by Porcello), Cabrera, M (by Tazawa). Pitches-strikes: Porcello 15-8, Lambert 81-47, Perry 20-9, Seay 8-7, Tazawa 98-63, Cabrera, F 15-11, Saito 11-8, Bard, D 12-10, Papelbon 24-17. Groundouts-flyouts: Porcello 2-0, Lambert 4-7, Perry 1-2, Seay 2-0, Tazawa 3-6, Cabrera, F 1-1, Saito 0-2, Bard, D 0-1, Papelbon 0-0. Batters faced: Porcello 4, Lambert 22, Perry 5, Seay 3, Tazawa 23, Cabrera, F 4, Saito 3, Bard, D 3, Papelbon 5. Inherited runners-scored: Lambert 1-1. Ejections: Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello ejected by HP umpire Brian O'Nora (2nd); Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis ejected by HP umpire Brian O'Nora (2nd); Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona ejected by 2B umpire Scott Barry (2nd). Umpires: HP: Brian O'Nora. 1B: Jerry Crawford. 2B: Scott Barry. 3B: Phil Cuzzi. Weather: 68 degrees, overcast. Wind: 10 mph, Out to LF. T: 3:11 (1:21 delay). Att: 38,013. August 11, 2009