GDT: 9/6/09 - DET (74-61) at TB (72-63) - 1:38 p.m. ET

ST. PETERSBURG -- Usually, after breaking up with a significant other, you want to be looking your best when you see that person the next time -- if for nothing else, at least so they can see what they're missing.

In the series finale against the Rays on Sunday, Jackson will be making his first start against the Rays -- the team that traded him after three years this offseason.

But even though he's having the season of his life, Jackson isn't thinking about any sort of revenge, and he isn't really gleaming about the fact that he's facing them with an 11-6 record and a 3.09 ERA in 27 starts this season.

"It's going to be fun," Jackson said. "It's like high school all over again. In high school, you always pitch against your friends, so it will feel like high school all over again. I'm expecting it to be fun. There's no added pressure or anything. I'm not going to try to overdo it just because it's my old team. But I'm definitely going to have fun."

Jackson took a look around Tropicana Field when the Tigers arrived in St. Petersburg on Friday, and he found it all relatively the same -- except for two championship banners from last season that now hang high above the left-field stands.

"It definitely feels good to be a part of history," said Jackson, who finally got his American League championship ring before Saturday's game. "For the Rays, it was the first time they have one up, and you can always say you were part of that team."

Jackson was a big part of that team, as he went 14-11 with a 4.42 ERA in 32 games (31 starts) in 2008. The 25-year-old pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings against the Red Sox in the AL Championship Series and gave up a run in two innings in a World Series loss to the Phillies.

Then, that December, the Rays -- with a seemingly crowded starting rotation -- shipped him to Detroit for young outfielder Matt Joyce, who's hit .188 in 11 games for Tampa Bay this season.

"When you have to make those kind of choices -- and you have a glut, actually -- in advance you have to make some kind of decisions," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "You can look at the ascension of E.J., and you can look at the ascension of [Jeff] Niemann also, which might have been inhibited by the fact that E.J. would've been here also. You can't have everything all the time that you'd like. There are certain moves that you have to make."

Jackson said he still keeps in touch with a lot of his ex-teammates, especially Saturday starter James Shields, who spent a lot of time with him when the Rays were in Detroit last week.

"I can't wait, I'm stoked," Shields said. "He's had an unbelievable season this year. He's one of my best friends in baseball, so I'm pretty excited to watch him pitch. He's kind of pumped up about pitching against us. He definitely still wishes he could be here, but he's moving on, obviously."

Yeah, you can say that.

After compiling a 5.50 ERA his first three years with the Dodgers, then a 5.08 ERA in three seasons with the Rays, Jackson's ERA is now fourth in the AL, and 19 of his 27 games this season have ended in quality starts.

But despite his success, he isn't bitter about his latest exit.

"I was appreciative for the time I had to play here," Jackson said. "Another stage in my career. It wasn't the first time I had gotten traded, so it's not like I was heartbroken. It's a business. That's part of the game. I wasn't surprised that I was traded. My name's been in trade rumors probably since I've gotten to Tampa Bay, so eventually you knew something was going to stick some day."


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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (11-6, 3.09 ERA)
With a month to go in what has been a breakout season for Jackson, the right-hander finally gets a matchup against the team that traded him to Detroit during the offseason for outfielder Matt Joyce. Jackson's recent struggles -- including a .302 opponents' batting average and an .889 opponents' OPS since the All-Star break and a start on Tuesday against the Indians in which he allowed four runs over five innings -- prompted manager Jim Leyland to plan a chat with Jackson, but the righty said he feels strong going into the stretch run.

TB: RHP Wade Davis (Major League debut)
Davis, one of Tampa Bay's most highly touted prospects, will make his Major League debut on Sunday, having been called up from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday. The 23-year-old right-hander, a third-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, was 10-8 with a 3.40 ERA with 140 strikeouts and just 36 walks for Durham this season. He was also the 2007 Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Davis boasts a low-90s fastball to go with a strong curveball and developing changeup. Maddon also likes his competitiveness. Rays fans have been waiting a while to see him pitch. On Sunday, they'll finally get the chance.

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Tidbits

... In what was his last start for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Dontrelle Willis gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and two walks while striking out five and throwing 101 pitches (60 for strikes). The Mud Hens' season ends Monday. Willis, 1-4 with a 7.49 ERA in seven starts for the Tigers this year, could be activated off the disabled list soon. But that has yet to be decided.
... Fernando Rodney, who had pitched in four of the previous six days, wasn't available on Saturday, and Leyland said it's possible he won't use him on Sunday either, which would give him at least three days of rest with Monday's off-day.
... The Tigers recalled utility man Don Kelly from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. The 29-year-old, who played every position except pitcher and catcher for the Mud Hens, will serve as an extra left-handed hitter off the bench.
... The Tigers likely won't be calling up any more players this month, but Toledo manager Larry Parrish will join the club at some point. Parrish managed the Tigers part of 1998 and all of '99.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 12-8, 4.18 ERA) at Royals (Brian Bannister, 7-12, 4.73 ERA), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 16-7, 3.29 ERA) at Royals (Robinson Tejeda, 1-1, 3.61 ERA), 8:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .255
Santiago, 2B .264
Guillen, C, LF .249
Cabrera, M, 1B .338
Huff, A, DH .243
Ordonez, RF .282
Inge, 3B .233
Laird, C .220
Everett, SS .241

Tampa Bay AVG
Bartlett, SS .334
Crawford, LF .305
Zobrist, RF .283
Pena, C, 1B .229
Burrell, DH .239
Longoria, 3B .279
Iwamura, 2B .297
Navarro, C .225
Perez, F, CF .333

Inning 1
Top Half

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


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


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen called out on .

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

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


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Carl Crawford pops out softly to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


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

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera called out on .


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff homers (14) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 1, TB 0


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.


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

DET 1, TB 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Pena pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Pat Burrell flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Evan Longoria homers (28) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 1, TB 1




B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Akinori Iwamura lines out to shortstop Adam Everett.

DET 1, TB 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to shortstop Jason Bartlett.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Fernando Perez.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson lines out to second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

DET 1, TB 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:1 O:0 - Fernando Perez singles on a bunt ground
ball to catcher Gerald Laird, deflected by third baseman Brandon Inge.
Dioner Navarro to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Jason Bartlett singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Dioner Navarro to 3rd. Fernando Perez to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:2 - Carl Crawford grounds into double play,
shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Dioner Navarro scores. Fernando Perez to 3rd.
Jason Bartlett out at 2nd.
TB 2, DET 1

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
With Ben Zobrist batting, wild pitch by Edwin Jackson, Fernando Perez scores.

TB 3, DET 1


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Ben Zobrist pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

TB 3, DET 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Fernando Perez.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to center fielder Fernando Perez.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Pena swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Pat Burrell flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


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

TB 3, DET 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff lines out to shortstop Jason Bartlett.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Fernando Perez.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.


B:2 S:0 O:3 - Gerald Laird grounds into a force out,
shortstop Jason Bartlett to second baseman Akinori Iwamura. Magglio
Ordonez out at 2nd.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Akinori Iwamura singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Fernando Perez pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Jason Bartlett grounds into a force out, fielded by second baseman Ramon Santiago. Akinori Iwamura out at 2nd.

TB 3, DET 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, first baseman Carlos Pena to pitcher Wade Davis.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (18) on a line drive to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.


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


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


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Evan Longoria. Curtis Granderson out at 3rd.

TB 3, DET 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ben Zobrist doubles (20) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Edwin Jackson intentionally walks Carlos Pena.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Pat Burrell walks. Ben Zobrist to 3rd. Carlos Pena to 2nd.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Evan Longoria swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Akinori Iwamura flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

TB 3, DET 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff flies out to left fielder Carl Crawford.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, second baseman Akinori Iwamura to first baseman Carlos Pena.


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

TB 3, DET 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Dioner Navarro pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Fernando Perez grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jason Bartlett grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

TB 3, DET 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Lance Cormier replaces Wade Davis.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Placido Polanco replaces Gerald Laird.


B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to center fielder Fernando Perez.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Clete Thomas replaces Adam Everett.


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


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


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, Placido Polanco steals (6) 2nd base.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to shortstop Jason Bartlett.

TB 3, DET 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco remains in the game as the second baseman.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Alex Avila replaces Clete Thomas, batting 9th, playing catcher.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Carl Crawford swinging.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ben Zobrist walks.


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


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Pena swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Pat Burrell grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

TB 3, DET 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Grant Balfour replaces Lance Cormier.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: J. Howell replaces Grant Balfour.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Marcus Thames replaces Aubrey Huff.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Wilkin Ramirez replaces Marcus Thames.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Russ Springer replaces J. Howell.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to right fielder Ben Zobrist. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Wilkin Ramirez to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ryan Raburn replaces Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge hits a grand slam (27) to left field. Miguel Cabrera scores. Wilkin Ramirez scores. Ryan Raburn scores.
DET 5, TB 3

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco triples (4) on a line drive to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Randy Choate replaces Russ Springer.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Alex Avila swinging.



B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

DET 5, TB 3 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Wilkin Ramirez remains in the game as the designated hitter.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the right fielder.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Edwin Jackson.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Evan Longoria flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Akinori Iwamura grounds out, pitcher Brandon Lyon to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Gregg Zaun replaces Dioner Navarro.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Gregg Zaun called out on .


WIN 5-3 AND SWEEP THE RAYS!

September 6, 2009

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

Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 5 0 1 0 0 2 2 .254 Santiago, 2B-SS 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .259 Guillen, C, LF 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .245 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .336 Huff, A, DH 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 .244 --c-Thames, PH-DH 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247 --1-Ramirez, W, PR-DH 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .286 Ordonez, RF 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .285 --2-Raburn, PR-RF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .271 Inge, 3B 4 1 1 4 0 3 1 .233 Laird, C 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .219 --a-Polanco, PH-2B 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .277 Everett, SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 --b-Thomas, C, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .245 --Avila, C 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .302 Totals 34 5 7 5 3 13 10 a-Singled for Laird in the 8th. b-Struck out for Everett in the 8th. c-Walked for Huff, A in the 9th. 1-Ran for Thames in the 9th. 2-Ran for Ordonez in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Granderson (18, Davis, W). 3B: Polanco (4, Springer). HR: Huff, A (14, 2nd inning off Davis, W, 0 on, 1 out), Inge (27, 9th inning off Springer, 3 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson 2; Huff, A 4; Ordonez 2; Inge 4; Polanco 4. RBI: Huff, A (77), Inge 4 (74). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M; Santiago; Granderson. Team RISP: 2-for-7. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING SB: Polanco (6, 2nd base off Cormier/Navarro). FIELDING DP: (Everett-Santiago-Cabrera, M).		Tampa Bay AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Bartlett, SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .333 Crawford, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .303 Zobrist, RF 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .283 Pena, C, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .228 Burrell, DH 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .237 Longoria, 3B 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .279 Iwamura, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .296 Navarro, C 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .226 --a-Zaun, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 Perez, F, CF 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .333 Totals 32 3 6 1 3 5 13 a-Struck out for Navarro in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Zobrist (20, Jackson, E). HR: Longoria (28, 2nd inning off Jackson, E, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Bartlett; Zobrist 2; Longoria 4; Iwamura; Navarro; Perez, F. RBI: Longoria (100). 2-out RBI: Longoria. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Iwamura 2. GIDP: Crawford. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 5.
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Jackson, E (W, 12-6) 8.0 6 3 3 3 4 1 3.10 Lyon (S, 3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.91		Tampa Bay IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Davis, W 7.0 3 1 1 1 9 1 1.29 Cormier (H, 4) 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.86 Balfour 0.0 0 1 1 1 0 0 4.77 Howell 0.0 0 1 1 1 0 0 2.97 Springer (BS, 2)(L, 0-3) 0.0 3 2 2 0 0 1 4.05 Choate 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.05
Balfour pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. Howell pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. Springer pitched to 3 batters in the 9th. WP: Jackson, E. IBB: Pena, C (by Jackson, E). Pitches-strikes: Jackson, E 126-81, Lyon 12-8, Davis, W 105-67, Cormier 17-13, Balfour 5-1, Howell 6-2, Springer 12-9, Choate 7-6. Groundouts-flyouts: Jackson, E 9-11, Lyon 1-1, Davis, W 4-8, Cormier 0-2, Balfour 0-0, Howell 0-0, Springer 0-0, Choate 0-0. Batters faced: Jackson, E 32, Lyon 3, Davis, W 25, Cormier 5, Balfour 1, Howell 1, Springer 3, Choate 2. Inherited runners-scored: Howell 1-0, Springer 2-2, Choate 1-0. Umpires: HP: Laz Diaz. 1B: Eric Cooper. 2B: Mike Reilly. 3B: Chuck Meriwether. Weather: 72 degrees, dome. Wind: Indoors. T: 2:48. Att: 28,059. September 6, 2009

We're all behind our baseball team
Go Get 'Em Tigers
World Series bound and pickin' up steam
Go Get 'Em Tigers

There'll be joy in Tigertown
We'll sing you songs
When the Bengals bring the pennant
Home where it belongs
We're all behind our baseball team
Go Get 'Em
Detroit Tigers
Go Get 'Em Tigers

We're all behind our baseball team
Go Get 'Em
Detroit Tigers
Go Get 'Em Tigers