GDT: 8/12/09 - DET (59-53) AT BOS (64-48) - 7:10 p.m. ET

BOSTON -- Armando Galarraga has been ailing on the mound his past
couple of starts. Now, his actual ailment is putting his pitching
status in question. And if that status wasn't already a concern to the
Tigers, it really is now.

Galarraga has
spent the past two nights watching the Tigers from his hotel room,
sidelined by some sort of flu bug or sinus infection that has sapped
him of energy. He threw a little bit on the side Tuesday, but not a
full between-starts session, and it didn't last long.

"He's sick," manager Jim Leyland said.

After Tuesday's 7-5 loss, pitching coach Rick Knapp said there was no news on Galarraga's status. If
Galarraga can't go, Knapp said, the Tigers will essentially go with a
bullpen start, in which several relievers cover the innings.

The Tigers had a potential spot starter in Chris Lambert, called up last week from the rotation at Triple-A Toledo to pitch in relief in Detroit. But
Rick Porcello's ejection from Tuesday's game after a second-inning
fracas resulting from his pitch off Kevin Youkilis' back forced Lambert
into action for five innings Tuesday night. That other former starter in the Tigers bullpen, Zach Miner, pitched two innings Monday.

Detroit optioned Lambert to Toledo after Tuesday's game and recalled reliever Freddy Dolsi.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, will start Josh Beckett on Wednesday.

Thus, the Tigers are in a bit of a spot. And a halfway healthy Galarraga might have to pitch them out of it.

It
wouldn't be the first time for that, even recently. The Tigers needed
Galarraga to take on innings two starts ago after Detroit's bullpen
pitched 12 innings over the previous two nights. The second-year
right-hander gave up eight runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings Aug. 2 at
Cleveland.

This one wouldn't be so
much a matter of taking on innings, but avoiding an early exit. He
lasted at least six innings in six consecutive starts before
that loss to the Indians, then lasted five innings and 109 pitches in
his last start Friday against the Twins, thanks in part to five walks. His difficulty attacking hitters has been a source of concern for Leyland.

The Red Sox are the same team that expended 105 pitches out of Edwin Jackson on Monday.

"The
guys that get pitch counts up are the guys that foul balls off,"
Leyland said. "They're not working him. They're trying to hit him. You can't work pitchers that throw strikes. Those guys are veteran hitters who can see the ball out of the hand. If it's a ball, they take it."

Another concern will be the status of Miguel Cabrera,
who left Tuesday's game with a bruised left hand thanks to a
hit-by-pitch from Junichi Tazawa. Cabrera said after the game that the
ball hit him around the base of his left thumb, which was sore. If he's
pain-free, he hopes to play.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (6-10, 5.23 ERA)
Leyland
said Friday he has concerns about Galarraga, whose struggles to attack
hitters over his past two starts have stymied what had been a midsummer
roll in an otherwise frustrating season. Galarraga has been knocked out
before the end of the sixth inning in his past two outings, and he was
nearly chased in the second inning of his last start before lasting
five innings over 109 pitches on Friday against the Twins. His
nibbling at the fringes of the strike zone lately make this a tough
matchup for Galarraga in Boston, though he posted a quality start
against the Red Sox in defeat on June 3 at Comerica Park.

BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.12 ERA)
The
ace right-hander continues to come up large for the Red Sox. In his
last start, Beckett fired seven shutout innings against the Yankees,
taking a no-decision in a game the Red Sox lost in 15 innings. That,
following a win over the Orioles in which he also pitched seven
scoreless frames. Beckett has been nothing short of brilliant at Fenway
Park this season, going 7-0 with a 2.58 ERA in 10 starts. This is
Beckett's first start against the Tigers since June 3, when he had a
no-hitter going for 6 2/3 innings. Beckett won that game, giving up two
hits and three runs, none of which were earned. He walked two and
struck out nine.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tidbits

... Look for Alex Avila to catch again Wednesday.
Leyland has indicated he'd like Avila to catch Porcello and Galarraga,
and Gerald Laird to catch Jackson, Justin Verlander and Jarrod
Washburn.
... Lambert's five innings marked the longest relief
outing for the Tigers since Roman Colon pitched 5 1/3 innings at Kansas
City on May 25, 2006, after Mike Maroth left in the first inning with an injury.
... Seventeen of Curtis Granderson's 23 home runs this season have come on the road, tops among American League players.
... Placido Polanco's 12-game hitting streak is his longest since hitting safely in 14 straight games from May 25-June 15, 2005.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
•

On radio

• /
• XM Channel Schedule
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• 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
• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 8-5, 2.79 ERA) vs. Royals (Luke Hochevar, 6-5, 5.38 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

starting lineups:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .260
Polanco, 2B .279
Thomas, C, LF .261
Thames, DH .257
Guillen, C, 1B .232
Ordonez, RF .272
Avila, C .545
Inge, 3B .253
Everett, SS .240

pitcher: Miner


Boston AVG
Ellsbury, CF .300
Pedroia, 2B .299
Bay, LF .255
Ortiz, D, DH .220
Lowell, 3B .297
Drew, J, RF .251
Kotchman, 1B .281
Varitek, C .223
Green, N, SS .236

pitcher: Beckett

Current Conditions

Fenway Park

Cloudy 68 F

Humidity: 87 %

Wind: from the ENE at 8 mph

Barometer: 30.05 in

last updated: 8/12/09 6:05 PM EDT

Inning 1
Top Half

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


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


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

0-0

Bottom Half

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


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Dustin Pedroia flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bay walks.



B:3 S:2 O:3 -
David Ortiz grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Carlos Guillen.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman Mike Lowell to first baseman Casey Kotchman.


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


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Mike Lowell homers (14) on a fly ball to left field.
BOS 1, DET 0




B:0 S:1 O:1 -
J. D. Drew grounds out softly, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Carlos Guillen.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Casey Kotchman pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


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

BOS 1, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Casey Kotchman.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett called out on strikes.

BOS 1, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Nick Green strikes out swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jacoby Ellsbury grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Carlos Guillen.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Dustin Pedroia doubles (33) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jason Bay homers (24) on a fly ball to left field. Dustin Pedroia scores.
BOS 3, DET 0

B:0 S:3 O:3 - David Ortiz swinging.

BOS 3, DET 0 after 3 innings

at 50 pitches, pitch count probably around 60...

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Placido Polanco swinging.


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


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

BOS 3, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:2 S:1 O:0 -
J. D. Drew singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Mike Lowell to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Casey Kotchman grounds into double play,
shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Carlos Guillen. Mike Lowell to 3rd. J. D. Drew out at 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Varitek walks. Mike Lowell on 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Nick Green flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

BOS 3, DET 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.
BOS 3, DET 1

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on strikes.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila pops out to third baseman Mike Lowell in foul territory.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Mike Lowell to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

BOS 3, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Dustin Pedroia flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bay doubles (22) on a fly ball to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
David Ortiz singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jason Bay to 3rd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Freddy Dolsi replaces Zach Miner.

Zach threw 82 pitches as an emergency starter!

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Lowell singles on a soft line drive to second baseman Placido Polanco. Jason Bay scores. David Ortiz to 2nd.
BOS 4, DET 1

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
J. D. Drew walks. David Ortiz to 3rd. Mike Lowell to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Casey Kotchman singles on a line drive
to center fielder Curtis Granderson. David Ortiz scores. Mike Lowell to
3rd. J. Drew to 2nd.
BOS 5, DET 1

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Jason Varitek walks. Mike Lowell scores. J. D. Drew to 3rd. Casey Kotchman to 2nd.
BOS 6, DET 1

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


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Nick Green batting, passed ball by Alex Avila, J. D. Drew scores. Casey Kotchman to 3rd. Jason Varitek to 2nd.
BOS 7, DET 1


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Nick Green reaches on throwing error by third baseman Brandon Inge. Casey Kotchman scores. Jason Varitek to 3rd.
BOS 8, DET 1

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jacoby Ellsbury strikes out swinging.

BOS 8, DET 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out softly, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Casey Kotchman.


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


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Mike Lowell to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

BOS 8, DET 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces second baseman Placido Polanco, batting 2nd, playing second base.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Dustin Pedroia grounds out softly to first baseman Carlos Guillen.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Bay doubles (23) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:2 O:1 - David Ortiz walks.


B:2 S:2 O:3 - Mike Lowell grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first
baseman Carlos Guillen. David Ortiz out at 2nd.

BOS 8, DET 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Chris Woodward replaces third baseman Mike Lowell, batting 5th, playing third base.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Clete Thomas pops out to third baseman Chris Woodward in foul territory.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames homers (13) on a fly ball to left field.
BOS 8, DET 2


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into double
play, shortstop Nick Green to second baseman Dustin Pedroia to first
baseman Casey Kotchman. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd.

BOS 8, DET 2 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 6th, playing left field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Freddy Dolsi.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
J. D. Drew swinging.


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


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Jason Varitek grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Carlos Guillen.

BOS 8, DET 2 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Josh Reddick replaces center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, batting 1st, playing center field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Hideki Okajima replaces Josh Beckett.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Alex Avila grounds out to first baseman Casey Kotchman.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.

BOS 8, DET 2 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Fu-Te Ni.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Nick Green doubles (18) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Josh Reddick flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Dustin Pedroia flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bay walks.



B:1 S:2 O:3 -
David Ortiz lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

BOS 8, DET 2 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ramon Ramirez replaces Hideki Okajima.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.


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



B:1 S:2 O:2 - Clete Thomas grounds into a force out,
first baseman Casey Kotchman to shortstop Nick Green. Ramon Santiago
out at 2nd. Clete Thomas to 1st.



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

Tigers lose 2-8

August 12, 2009

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

Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .257 Polanco, 2B 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277 --Santiago, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 Thomas, C, LF-RF 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .257 Thames, DH 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .257 Guillen, C, 1B 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 .241 Ordonez, RF 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .270 --Raburn, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 Avila, C 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 Inge, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .251 Everett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .237 Totals 29 2 3 2 1 10 4 BATTING HR: Guillen, C (3, 5th inning off Beckett, 0 on, 0 out), Thames (13, 7th inning off Beckett, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Thames 4; Guillen, C 5. RBI: Guillen, C (16), Thames (28). GIDP: Ordonez. Team LOB: 2. FIELDING E: Inge (13, throw). PB: Avila (1). DP: 2 (Everett-Polanco-Guillen, C, Inge-Santiago-Guillen, C).		Boston AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Ellsbury, CF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .297 --Reddick, CF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208 Pedroia, 2B 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .298 Bay, LF 3 2 3 2 2 0 0 .261 Ortiz, D, DH 4 1 1 0 1 1 3 .220 Lowell, 3B 4 2 3 2 0 0 2 .303 --Woodward, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232 Drew, J, RF 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .252 Kotchman, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .280 Varitek, C 2 0 0 1 2 1 0 .222 Green, N, SS 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .236 Totals 34 8 11 6 6 5 13 BATTING 2B: Pedroia (33, Miner), Bay 2 (23, Miner, Dolsi), Green, N (18, Perry). HR: Lowell (14, 2nd inning off Miner, 0 on, 0 out), Bay (24, 3rd inning off Miner, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Pedroia 2; Bay 8; Ortiz, D; Lowell 6; Drew, J; Kotchman; Green, N 2. RBI: Lowell 2 (59), Bay 2 (81), Kotchman (44), Varitek (45). 2-out RBI: Bay 2; Lowell; Kotchman; Varitek. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Green, N; Ellsbury; Ortiz, D. GIDP: Kotchman; Lowell. Team RISP: 4-for-12. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING DP: (Green, N-Pedroia-Kotchman).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Miner (L, 5-3) 4.2 7 5 5 2 3 2 4.95 Dolsi 1.1 3 3 1 3 1 0 1.69 Ni 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.37 Perry 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.69		Boston IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Beckett (W, 14-4) 7.0 3 2 2 1 6 2 3.10 Okajima 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.00 Ramirez, R 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.32
HBP: Santiago (by Ramirez, R). Pitches-strikes: Miner 82-48, Dolsi 44-25, Ni 13-10, Perry 33-22, Beckett 97-67, Okajima 13-10, Ramirez, R 19-11. Groundouts-flyouts: Miner 5-6, Dolsi 3-0, Ni 1-1, Perry 0-3, Beckett 8-7, Okajima 1-0, Ramirez, R 1-0. Batters faced: Miner 22, Dolsi 10, Ni 3, Perry 5, Beckett 24, Okajima 3, Ramirez, R 4. Inherited runners-scored: Dolsi 2-2. Umpires: HP: Jerry Crawford. 1B: Scott Barry. 2B: Phil Cuzzi. 3B: Brian O'Nora. Weather: 68 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, In from RF. T: 2:57. Att: 38,124. August 12, 2009