GDT: 8/31/09 - DET (69-60) VS TB (70-59) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland doesn't set many goals when seasons begin. He pretty much sets one each year.

"The one goal I do have," Leyland said Sunday, "is to go into September and still be playing for something."

Consider that goal accomplished.

"That's a good thing," Leyland said. "How it's going to play out, I don't know. But that's kind of what I shoot for as a manager."

As the Tigers wrap up August with Monday's finale to their four-game wraparound series against the Rays, they have a 4 1/2-game lead in the American League Central and momentum seemingly at their backs. They don't have their offense cranking quite as well as they'd like, but they're getting the key hits going.

If the Tigers can get a good outing from Jarrod Washburn and enough key hits of support Monday, they might have enough to take three of four from the defending AL champions.

Part of the reason for Leyland's goal, he admits, is related to attendance. Once kids return to school, teams that are out of contention can have a tough time drawing big crowds. That shouldn't be a concern in Detroit, where the Tigers just crossed the two million mark in attendance for the fifth straight year and the 12th time in franchise history.

One potential attendance draw Monday could be the appearance of wrestling superstar John Cena, who's scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Like many of the fans yet to come over the season's final five weeks, the Tigers will be scoreboard watching. The White Sox and Twins begin a critical series at the Metrodome on Monday night -- a series Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen essentially called a make-or-break set for his team's postseason hopes -- so Detroit will gain on at least one of its two pursuers in the division.

The Tigers will be watching it, but to Leyland, scoreboard watching is automatic.

"When you're managing a game, I think everybody would be lying [if they said they didn't look]," Leyland said. "I mean, the scoreboards are so huge anymore, that everybody knows what's going on in every game. I mean, I know what was going on in the Cleveland-Baltimore game. I watch the Cardinal game for my friend Tony [La Russa]. You take a peek out there. You have your moments when you have time to do that.

"If I said that I didn't see a scoreboard, I'd be lying. But I'm not staring, hoping the White Sox are behind. It's not like that. It has nothing to do with that. But are you aware of stuff? Sure, you're aware of stuff."

Leyland doesn't put much credence into the fact that the Tigers have increased their lead in the past week. Both the White Sox and the Twins, he said, are capable of heating up. He certainly knows that from experience, having watched Minnesota sneak up on Detroit three years ago and swipe the AL Central crown on the final day of the regular season, relegating the Tigers to the Wild Card.

This year, the records don't favor an AL Central team winning the Wild Card, so this is it. But for the next five weeks, Detroit has at least put itself in a position where it pretty much controls its own fate.

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Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Jarrod Washburn (9-7, 3.23 ERA)
After finally making a start on the road for the Tigers and earning his first victory in a Detroit uniform, Washburn returns to Comerica Park, where he has picked up a loss and three no-decisions. His latest start, at Angel Stadium, saw him recover from a three-run homer in the second inning to salvage a quality start with six innings of work. Washburn is 12-3 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 career starts against the Rays, more wins by far than against any other opponent in Washburn's career.


TB: RHP James Shields (8-10, 3.81 ERA)
Shields received some welcome run support Tuesday night in his start against the Blue Jays. The Rays' No. 1 starter coasted en route to his eighth win of the season after the offense scored six runs in the first three innings. Shields can be counted on to give the team at least six innings on most occasions and has appeared more effective recently since finding his changeup. Shields is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers; he is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two career starts at Comerica Park.

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Tidbits

... Placido Polanco is 5-for-11 lifetime off Shields, with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs.
... The Tigers could announce their September callups following Monday's game. They're expected to call up a third catcher, likely Dusty Ryan, along with a few relievers and potentially an extra outfielder such as Wilkin Ramirez.
... Curtis Granderson has reached base safely in eight of his past nine games, batting .323 (10-for-31) over that stretch. However, he's just 1-for-12 (.083) lifetime off Shields.
... Polanco's go-ahead three-run homer Sunday snapped an 0-for-13 streak. Likewise, Aubrey Huff snapped his 0-for-18 skid with a double.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Tuesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 10-6, 2.96 ERA) vs. Indians (David Huff, 8-7, 6.57 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 11-8, 4.27 ERA) vs. Indians (Aaron Laffey, 7-3, 3.40 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Tigers (Nate Robertson, 1-1, 6.84 ERA) vs. Indians (Fausto Carmona, 3-9, 6.20 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. Granderson, CF
   
2. Polanco, 2B
   
3. Guillen, LF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Huff, DH
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Thomas, RF
   
8. Avila, C
   
9. Santiago, SS
   

P: Jarrod Washburn

RAYS

1. Jason Bartlett, SS
   
2. Gabe Kapler, LF
   
3. Ben Zobrist, RF
   
4. Pat Burrell, DH
   
5. Evan Longoria, 3B
   
6. Carlos Pena, 1B
   
7. Manny Aybar, 2B
   
8. Dioner Navarro, C
   
9. B.J. Upton, CF
   

P: James Shields

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Jason Bartlett singles on a fly ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Gabe Kapler walks. Jason Bartlett to 2nd.


B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Ben Zobrist doubles (19) on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Jason Bartlett scores. Gabe Kapler to 3rd.
TB 1, DET 0




B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Pat Burrell doubles (15) on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas. Gabe Kapler scores. Ben Zobrist scores.
TB 3, DET 0




B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Evan Longoria doubles (36) on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Pat Burrell scores.
TB 4, DET 0




B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Carlos Pena homers (38) on a fly ball to right field. Evan Longoria scores.
TB 6, DET 0




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


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Dioner Navarro lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
B. J. Upton grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder B. J. Upton.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Placido Polanco scores. TB 6, DET 2




B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - Aubrey Huff flies into double play,
right fielder Ben Zobrist to first baseman Carlos Pena. Miguel Cabrera
doubled off 1st.

TB 6, DET 2 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Bartlett lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Gabe Kapler pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


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

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge lines out to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila singles on a line drive to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago lines out to center fielder B. J. Upton.

TB 6, DET 2 after 2 inning

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Pat Burrell swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Evan Longoria grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


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

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson lines out to second baseman Willy Aybar.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to left fielder Gabe Kapler, deflected by third baseman Evan Longoria.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to shortstop Jason Bartlett. Placido Polanco to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
third baseman Evan Longoria to second baseman Willy Aybar to first
baseman Carlos Pena. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd.

TB 6, DET 2 after 3 inning

Inning 4
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Willy Aybar walks.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Dioner Navarro singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Willy Aybar to 2nd.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
B. J. Upton flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas. Willy Aybar to 3rd.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bartlett lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Gabe Kapler flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff grounds out, first baseman Carlos Pena to pitcher James Shields.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge walks.


B:3 S:1 O:2 - Clete Thomas grounds into a force out,
first baseman Carlos Pena to shortstop Jason Bartlett. Brandon Inge out
at 2nd. Clete Thomas to 1st.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Avila swinging.

TB 6, DET 2 after 4 inning

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ben Zobrist pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Pat Burrell lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Evan Longoria singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Pena doubles (23) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Evan Longoria scores.
TB 7, DET 2




B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Willy Aybar grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.


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


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.

TB 7, DET 2 after 5 inning

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Dioner Navarro flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
B. J. Upton grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Jason Bartlett homers (12) on a fly ball to left field. TB 8, DET 2




B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Gabe Kapler walks.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Jarrod Washburn.


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


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ben Zobrist lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Akinori Iwamura replaces second baseman Willy Aybar, batting 7th, playing second base.


B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ben Zobrist, deflected by first baseman Carlos Pena.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to shortstop Jason Bartlett.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff reaches on fielding error by center fielder B. J. Upton. Carlos Guillen to 3rd.


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


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas singles on a line drive to center fielder B. J. Upton. Carlos Guillen scores. Aubrey Huff to 2nd.
TB 8, DET 3




B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Avila swinging.

TB 8, DET 3 after 6 inning

Inning 7
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 - Pat Burrell walks.

B:2 S:1 O:0 - Evan Longoria singles on a line drive to
left fielder Carlos Guillen. Pat Burrell to 3rd. Evan Longoria to 2nd
on the throw.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Carlos Pena singles on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas. Pat Burrell scores. Evan Longoria to 3rd.
TB 9, DET 3

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Akinori Iwamura out on a sacrifice fly
to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Evan Longoria scores. Carlos Pena
to 2nd on the throw.
TB 10, DET 3

B:0 S:2 O:1 - On-field Delay.

B:0 S:2 O:1 - Dioner Navarro singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Carlos Pena to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - B. J. Upton grounds into a force out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. Carlos Pena scores. Dioner Navarro out at 2nd. B. Upton to 1st.
TB 11, DET 3

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Jason Bartlett doubles (26) on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. B. Upton to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 - Gabe Kapler grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

TB 11, DET 3 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 - Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to left fielder Gabe Kapler.


B:0 S:2 O:1 - Curtis Granderson grounds into a force out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to second baseman Akinori Iwamura. Ramon Santiago out at 2nd. Curtis Granderson to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Adam Everett replaces Placido Polanco.


B:1 S:3 O:2 - Adam Everett called out on .

B:3 S:1 O:2 - Carlos Guillen homers (8) on a fly ball to right field. Curtis Granderson scores.
TB 11, DET 5

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Marcus Thames replaces Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:3 O:3 - Marcus Thames called out on .

TB 11, DET 5 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Adam Everett remains in the game as the shortstop.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Marcus Thames remains in the game as the first baseman.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces third baseman Brandon Inge, batting 6th, playing third base.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from shortstop to second base for Ramon Santiago.


B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Ben Zobrist singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Pat Burrell swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:3 - Evan Longoria grounds into double play,
second baseman Ramon Santiago to shortstop Adam Everett to first
baseman Marcus Thames. Ben Zobrist out at 2nd.

TB 11, DET 5 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Lance Cormier replaces James Shields.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff lines out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, third baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman Carlos Pena.

TB 11, DET 5 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

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

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


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


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Dioner Navarro pops out to first baseman Marcus Thames in foul territory.

TB 11, DET 5 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Shouse replaces Lance Cormier.


B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:0 S:0 O:0 - Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball
to shortstop Jason Bartlett, deflected by third baseman Evan Longoria.
Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Curtis Granderson grounds into a force
out, second baseman Akinori Iwamura to shortstop Jason Bartlett. Alex
Avila to 3rd. Ramon Santiago out at 2nd. Curtis Granderson to 1st.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
With Adam Everett batting, Alex Avila scores on a balk. Curtis Granderson advances to 2nd on a balk.
TB 11, DET 6

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Adam Everett doubles (17) on a fly ball to left fielder Gabe Kapler. Curtis Granderson scores.
TB 11, DET 7


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen bunt grounds out, third baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman Carlos Pena. Adam Everett to 3rd.


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Russ Springer replaces Brian Shouse.



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

Tigers lose 7-11

August 31, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Tampa Bay	6	0	0	0	1	1	3	0	0		11	14	1
Detroit	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	2		7	13	0

Tampa Bay AB-- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Bartlett, SS 5 2 3 1 0 0 2 .340 Kapler, LF 3 1 0 0 2 0 4 .243 Zobrist, RF 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 .289 Burrell, DH 4 2 1 2 1 2 1 .239 Longoria, 3B 5 3 3 1 0 0 1 .270 Pena, C, 1B 5 2 3 4 0 2 0 .223 Aybar, W, 2B 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .251 --Iwamura, 2B 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .309 Navarro, C 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 .223 Upton, B, CF 4 0 0 1 0 0 3 .239 Totals 39 11 14 11 4 4 13 BATTING 2B: Zobrist (19, Washburn), Burrell (15, Washburn), Longoria (36, Washburn), Pena, C (23, Washburn), Bartlett (26, Perry). HR: Pena, C (38, 1st inning off Washburn, 1 on, 0 out), Bartlett (12, 6th inning off Washburn, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Bartlett 7; Zobrist 3; Burrell 2; Longoria 4; Pena, C 7; Navarro 2. RBI: Zobrist (71), Burrell 2 (52), Longoria (91), Pena, C 4 (96), Bartlett (59), Iwamura (18), Upton, B (41). 2-out RBI: Pena, C; Bartlett. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Kapler 3; Aybar, W. SF: Iwamura. GIDP: Longoria. Team RISP: 6-for-12. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING E: Upton, B (2, fielding). Outfield assists: Zobrist (Cabrera, M at 1st base). DP: 2 (Zobrist-Pena, C, Longoria-Aybar, W-Pena, C).		Detroit AB- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 5 2 0 0 0 0 3 .255 Polanco, 2B 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .271 --a-Everett, PH-SS 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 .243 Guillen, C, LF 5 3 4 4 0 0 1 .249 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .335 --b-Thames, PH-1B 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .242 Huff, A, DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241 Inge, 3B 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 .239 --Raburn, 3B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 Thomas, C, RF 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .250 Avila, C 4 1 2 0 0 2 3 .324 Santiago, SS-2B 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .259 Totals 39 7 13 6 1 7 17 a-Struck out for Polanco in the 7th. b-Struck out for Cabrera, M in the 7th. BATTING 2B: Everett (17, Shouse). HR: Guillen, C 2 (8, 1st inning off Shields, J, 1 on, 1 out; 7th inning off Shields, J, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Polanco 2; Everett 2; Guillen, C 10; Cabrera, M; Thomas, C; Avila 2; Santiago 2. RBI: Guillen, C 4 (29), Thomas, C (36), Everett (38). 2-out RBI: Thomas, C; Guillen, C 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Avila; Thames. GIDP: Cabrera, M. Team RISP: 2-for-8. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING DP: (Santiago-Everett-Thames).
Tampa Bay IP --H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR -ERA- Shields, J (W, 9-10) 7.0 10 5 4 1 6 2 3.86 Cormier 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.03 Shouse 0.2 3 2 2 0 0 0 5.31 Springer 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.66		Detroit IP --H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Washburn (L, 9-8) 5.2 9 8 8 3 2 2 3.55 Perry 2.1 5 3 3 1 1 0 3.96 Ni 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.63
Balk: Shouse. Pitches-strikes: Shields, J 108-68, Cormier 9-6, Shouse 18-13, Springer 8-5, Washburn 99-58, Perry 38-27, Ni 14-9. Groundouts-flyouts: Shields, J 6-8, Cormier 1-2, Shouse 2-0, Springer 0-0, Washburn 5-10, Perry 4-2, Ni 0-2. Batters faced: Shields, J 31, Cormier 3, Shouse 5, Springer 1, Washburn 29, Perry 12, Ni 3. Inherited runners-scored: Springer 1-0, Perry 1-0. Umpires: HP: Brian Gorman. 1B: Gerry Davis. 2B: CB Bucknor. 3B: Mike Everitt. Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 1 mph, L to R. T: 2:50. Att: 26,533. August 31, 2009