GDT: 9/1/09 - DET (69-61) VS CLE (58-72) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Carlos Guillen ranks among the longest-tenured Tigers on the team. Technically, he arrived in Detroit before Ivan Rodriguez did after the 2003 season. Yet of all the trades and moves the Tigers have done this summer to try to maintain their playoff hopes, Guillen has been their biggest addition.

He didn't go anywhere, except for a brief stay in Lakeland, Fla. It's that he came back.

Given how much his right shoulder was bothering him early in the year, his return was never an assumption. Now, at least from the left side, he's showing glimpses of the Guillen of old, rather than simply an old Guillen.

"I feel comfortable," Guillen said. "I have to try to stay consistent. I can't give too many at-bats away. Sometimes it happens when you try to do too much."

He has talked often about the risk of players and teammates putting too much pressure on themselves to do too much. He believes that's one reason why the Tigers struggled so much offensively during the 2 1/2 months he was out. Now that he's back, he seems to be doing as much as anybody.

With his two-homer, four-hit game Monday against the Rays, Guillen is batting .287 with a .530 slugging percentage, eight homers and 23 RBIs in 33 games since he came back from the DL. As the Tigers prepare to meet the rebuilding young Indians and fellow Venezuelan Carlos Carrasco, Guillen is a major cog in their offense, whether he's batting in front of Miguel Cabrera or behind him.

Guillen rejoined the Tigers in late July under the conditions that he couldn't yet play the field and he couldn't switch-hit. Now that he has played left field for the last two weeks, he has given the Tigers more flexibility to use hitters such as trade acquisition Aubrey Huff.

Yet while Huff's August slump has dropped his batting average 10 points in the past two weeks and prompted manager Jim Leyland to rest him for the next day or two, Guillen's average is now on the cusp of the .250 mark at .249, despite batting .200 in April and early May.

What pleased Guillen so much about his performance Monday, besides the four-hit game, was the nature of his two homers. He took a James Shields fastball to the opposite field in the first inning, depositing it into the corner in left for a two-run homer, before jumping another Shields fastball and pulling it to right.

"I like the two balls I hit over the fence," Guillen said. "The first one, I had to stay with the pitch, a fastball away. That's the way you're supposed to hit."

Until early August, it was a way he hadn't been hitting since the first half of the 2007 season. Though he hasn't shown much extra-base power yet besides home runs, the ability to hit to both sides of the field with authority is a big step for him and a sign of his health.

He isn't ruling out the possibility that he could switch-hit again before the season is over.

"I don't know," Guillen said. "I was trying last week and I was still feeling it. I want to feel 100 percent."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (10-6, 2.96 ERA)
Before Jackson gets a matchup with his old employers, the Tampa Bay Rays, he'll have another meeting with a Cleveland offense he has handled well this year, giving him a chance at a late-season rebound heading into September. Though he battled blistering temperatures last Wednesday afternoon at Angel Stadium to hit the high 90s on his fastball, it was his secondary stuff that gave reason for encouragement, particularly a nasty biting slider. He took the loss nonetheless with four runs allowed over 6 1/3 innings, including a two-run homer to Torii Hunter.


CLE: RHP Carlos Carrasco (Major League debut)
The right-hander will make his Major League debut for the Indians against the Tigers. Cleveland got Carrasco in the Cliff Lee trade with the Phillies earlier this summer, and now it will get its first look at him. He'll come up from Triple-A Columbus, and the Indians won't have to make a corresponding move since on Sept. 1, teams can expand their rosters to 40.

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Tidbits

... The Tigers will welcome reinforcements from Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, when rosters expand. Right-handers Jeremy Bonderman, Eddie Bonine and Casey Fien will be activated from the DL and called up from Toledo, respectively, to join the Tigers bullpen. Catcher Dusty Ryan, outfielder Wilkin Ramirez and infielder Brent Dlugach will make the trip up, too, and add depth to the Tigers bench.
... Curtis Granderson said he misplayed a line drive to center that seemingly knuckled on him in part because he couldn't track the ball well. He said it looked off the bat like it was going to fall in for a single to left-center, so he was trying to cut it off before it swerved back toward straightaway center. "I've never seen that happen before," Granderson said. "I don't know what happened."
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• 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
• Friday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 15-7, 3.38 ERA) at Rays (Jeff Niemann, 12-5, 3.80 ERA), 7:38 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

INDIANS

1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
3. Shin-Soo Choo, DH
4. Jhonny Peralta, 3B
5. Luis Valbuena, 2B
6. Matt LaPorta, RF
7. Andy Marte, 1B
8. Kelly Shoppach, C
9. Michael Brantley, LF (just called up)

SP: Carlos Carrasco (also just called up)

TIGERS

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

SP: Edwin Jackson

Current Conditions

Comerica Park

Sunny 71 F

Humidity: 38 %

Wind: from the ESE at 5 mph

Barometer: 30.29 in

last updated: 9/1/09 6:05 PM EDT

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore swinging.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera doubles (34) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Asdrubal Cabrera scores.
CLE 1, DET 0

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Luis Valbuena swinging.

CLE 1, DET 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Curtis Granderson doubles (17) on a line
drive to right fielder Matt LaPorta. Curtis Granderson out at 3rd,
right fielder Matt LaPorta to second baseman Luis Valbuena to third
baseman Jhonny Peralta.


B:1 S:1 O:1 - Placido Polanco homers (9) on a line drive to left field.
CLE 1, DET 1


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Carlos Guillen homers (9) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 2, CLE 1


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore.


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


B:3 S:2 O:1 - With Magglio Ordonez batting, Miguel Cabrera steals (4) 2nd base.


B:4 S:2 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 - Aubrey Huff singles on a ground ball to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Miguel Cabrera scores. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.
DET 3, CLE 1

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


B:0 S:1 O:2 - Gerald Laird doubles (20) on a line drive to left fielder Michael Brantley. Magglio Ordonez scores. Aubrey Huff to 3rd. (just missed a homer)

DET 4, CLE 1

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Adam Everett lines out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

DET 4, CLE 1 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Matt LaPorta doubles (8) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Andy Marte swinging.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach walks.


B:1 S:2 O:3 - Michael Brantley grounds into double
play, second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Kelly Shoppach out at 2nd.

DET 4, CLE 1 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Placido Polanco lines into double play,
second baseman Luis Valbuena to first baseman Andy Marte. Curtis
Granderson doubled off 1st.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen walks.



B:3 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

DET 4, CLE 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Grady Sizemore walks.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Grady Sizemore to 3rd.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3 - Jhonny Peralta grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Asdrubal Cabrera out at 2nd.

DET 4, CLE 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez called out on .

B:4 S:0 O:1 - Aubrey Huff walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Brandon Inge homers (26) on a line drive to left field. Aubrey Huff scores.
DET 6, CLE 1

B:0 S:3 O:2 - Gerald Laird swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:2 - Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to left fielder Michael Brantley.


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


B:2 S:2 O:3 - Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Michael Brantley.

DET 6, CLE 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Luis Valbuena lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta on foul tip.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Andy Marte called out on .

DET 6, CLE 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Tomo Ohka replaces Carlos Carrasco.

B:1 S:2 O:1 - Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Carlos Guillen grounds out, second baseman Luis Valbuena to first baseman Andy Marte.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

B:3 S:2 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball
to right fielder Matt LaPorta, deflected by first baseman Andy Marte.
Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:2 - Aubrey Huff doubles (26) on a line drive
to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Miguel Cabrera scores. Magglio
Ordonez scores.
DET 8, CLE 1

B:2 S:1 O:3 - Brandon Inge flies out deep to left fielder Michael Brantley.

DET 8, CLE 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Kelly Shoppach doubles (11) on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Michael Brantley singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Kelly Shoppach to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:0 - Grady Sizemore doubles (20) on a fly
ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Kelly Shoppach scores. Michael
Brantley scores.
DET 8, CLE 3

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

B:1 S:0 O:1 - Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Grady Sizemore to 3rd.


B:0 S:2 O:2 - Shin-Soo Choo flies out to left fielder
Carlos Guillen. Grady Sizemore scores. Fielding error by left fielder
Carlos Guillen.
DET 8, CLE 4

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Luis Valbuena doubles (21) on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Jhonny Peralta to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 - Matt LaPorta pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

DET 8, CLE 4 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to first baseman Andy Marte in foul territory.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to left fielder Michael Brantley.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Andy Marte.

DET 8, CLE 4 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Edwin Jackson.


B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Andy Marte homers (4) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 8, CLE 5

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Michael Brantley lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Grady Sizemore grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 8, CLE 5 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen walks. Placido Polanco to 2nd.



B:0 S:2 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
second baseman Luis Valbuena to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first
baseman Andy Marte. Placido Polanco to 3rd. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.

DET 8, CLE 5 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Clete Thomas replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 5th, playing right field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Zach Miner.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Shin-Soo Choo swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 8, CLE 5 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 - Aubrey Huff walks.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird pops out to first baseman Andy Marte.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett walks. Aubrey Huff to 2nd.


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


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Michael Brantley.

DET 8, CLE 5 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Luis Valbuena swinging.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Andy Marte flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 8, CLE 5 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jensen Lewis replaces Tomo Ohka.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Matt LaPorta.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

DET 8, CLE 5 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces left fielder Carlos Guillen, batting 3rd, playing left field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Brandon Lyon. (going for save 30)


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jamey Carroll replaces Kelly Shoppach.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jamey Carroll called out on .


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Michael Brantley singles on a ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Grady Sizemore grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Michael Brantley to 2nd.



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

Tigers win 8-5

Jackson gets win # 11; Rodney gets save # 30

September 1, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cleveland	1	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0		5	11	0
Detroit	4	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	X		8	13	1

Cleveland AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Sizemore, CF 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 .247 Cabrera, A, SS 5 1 2 0 0 0 2 .316 Choo, DH 4 0 1 1 0 2 2 .301 Peralta, J, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .276 Valbuena, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .242 LaPorta, RF 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .281 Marte, A, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 2 1 .274 Shoppach, C 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 .206 --a-Carroll, J, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .291 Brantley, LF 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .500 Totals 36 5 11 4 2 11 14 a-Struck out for Shoppach in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Cabrera, A (34, Jackson, E), LaPorta (8, Jackson, E), Shoppach (11, Jackson, E), Sizemore (20, Jackson, E), Valbuena (21, Jackson, E). HR: Marte, A (4, 6th inning off Miner, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Sizemore 2; Cabrera, A 3; Choo; Peralta, J; Valbuena 2; LaPorta 2; Marte, A 4; Shoppach 2; Brantley 2. RBI: Choo (72), Sizemore 2 (64), Marte, A (16). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: LaPorta 2; Cabrera, A. GIDP: Brantley; Peralta, J. Team RISP: 3-for-11. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING Outfield assists: LaPorta (Granderson at 3rd base). DP: 2 (Valbuena-Marte, A, Valbuena-Cabrera, A-Marte, A).		Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 5 0 2 0 0 0 3 .257 Polanco, 2B 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 .272 Guillen, C, LF 3 1 1 1 2 0 0 .250 --Raburn, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 Cabrera, M, 1B 5 2 2 0 0 0 3 .336 Ordonez, RF 3 2 1 0 1 1 1 .276 --Thomas, C, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Huff, A, DH 2 1 2 3 2 0 0 .245 Inge, 3B 4 1 1 2 0 1 4 .239 Laird, C 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .225 Everett, SS 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .244 Totals 34 8 13 8 6 3 15 BATTING 2B: Granderson (17, Carrasco, C), Laird (20, Carrasco, C), Huff, A (26, Ohka). HR: Polanco (9, 1st inning off Carrasco, C, 0 on, 1 out), Guillen, C (9, 1st inning off Carrasco, C, 0 on, 1 out), Inge (26, 3rd inning off Carrasco, C, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson 3; Polanco 5; Guillen, C 4; Cabrera, M 2; Ordonez; Huff, A 3; Inge 4; Laird 2; Everett. RBI: Polanco (59), Guillen, C (30), Huff, A 3 (76), Laird (28), Inge 2 (70). 2-out RBI: Laird; Huff, A 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Everett 2; Inge; Ordonez; Granderson. GIDP: Cabrera, M. Team RISP: 3-for-9. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Cabrera, M (4, 2nd base off Carrasco, C/Shoppach). FIELDING E: Guillen, C (2, fielding). DP: 2 (Polanco-Everett-Cabrera, M, Inge-Polanco-Cabrera, M).
Cleveland IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR --ERA- Carrasco, C (L, 0-1) 3.0 9 6 6 3 3 3 18.00 Ohka 4.0 4 2 2 3 0 0 5.97 Lewis, J 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.89		Detroit IP --H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Jackson, E (W, 11-6) 5.0 9 4 4 2 6 0 3.09 Miner 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.66 Seay (H, 24) 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.35 Lyon (H, 10) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.02 Rodney (S, 30) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.22
Pitches-strikes: Carrasco, C 74-45, Ohka 58-31, Lewis, J 11-6, Jackson, E 90-53, Miner 23-14, Seay 16-11, Lyon 11-6, Rodney 23-12. Groundouts-flyouts: Carrasco, C 0-4, Ohka 4-8, Lewis, J 0-3, Jackson, E 4-5, Miner 1-1, Seay 0-2, Lyon 0-1, Rodney 2-0. Batters faced: Carrasco, C 19, Ohka 18, Lewis, J 3, Jackson, E 24, Miner 4, Seay 4, Lyon 2, Rodney 4. Umpires: HP: Tom Hallion. 1B: Phil Cuzzi. 2B: Jerry Crawford. 3B: Brian O'Nora. Weather: 71 degrees, clear. Wind: 1 mph, In from LF. T: 2:55. Att: 24,225. September 1, 2009