GDT 10/3/09 - DET (85-75) VS CWS (78-82) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- If the Tigers are going to control their own division destiny now, they'll have to win out. They'll have to start it Saturday against the White Sox with a pitcher who hasn't started a game at any level in three months.

If that doesn't rattle some nerves, it takes a special kind of calm. But for what it's worth, rookie right-hander Alfredo Figaro said he doesn't get nervous before a ballgame.

"I've never been nervous about a game in my life. I like the game," Figaro said Friday night, after Detroit's 8-0 loss to Chicago put a lot more meaning onto his third Major League start. "I know we need the game."

The Tigers' magic number remains at two for the third straight day. They need any combination of two victories over the White Sox or two losses from the Twins, but Leyland told his players after Friday's loss not to expect the latter.

Leyland bristled at the question of whether he would talk to his players about their situation.

"That all sounds good. That's all storybook stuff," Leyland said. "It's good reading material. But what does a manager need to tell a team that needs to win two games to win the division title? If they don't know that, then we've got a real big problem. This is not Knute Rockne. This is professional baseball."

Figaro doesn't expect to feel pressure now, and Leyland hopes he doesn't. But if the game starts to get away from him, Leyland said he won't be afraid to make a change.

"If it looks like he is [nervous], we'll get him out of there early," Leyland said. "We'll be able to afford to, because our bullpen's in good shape. So we'll watch it close. If we feel we have to do something early, we will.

"But I don't know. I think he has a chance to pitch a good game."

In other words, Zach Miner won't be sitting easy in the Tigers' bullpen. Nor might a few other Detroit relievers. With Justin Verlander now all but certain to pitch Sunday unless a Tigers win and Twins loss Saturday to Zack Greinke and the Royals seals the race, Leyland probably won't worry about saving a lot of relief arms for that game.

With Detroit's rotation stretched thin once again, Leyland turned to Figaro essentially out of necessity. Of the other pitchers on the staff who have started a game for the Tigers this year but aren't in the rotation, neither Armando Galarraga nor Jeremy Bonderman are healthy enough to be stretched out to start, and Leyland long ago decided that he couldn't afford to take Miner out of the bullpen and lose his versatility.

That left Figaro, who made his Major League debut in June with five innings in a win over Milwaukee, then was roughed up at Houston a week later. He went on the disabled list soon after with a sprained right wrist, and didn't resume pitching again until the end of August.

He wasn't even among the Tigers' September callups when rosters first expanded. Not until injuries to Nate Robertson, Galarraga and Jarrod Washburn forced the Tigers to move Eddie Bonine to the rotation did Figaro join the team, called back after he returned home to the Dominican Republic to prepare for winter ball.

At his best, Figaro is a deceptively powerful pitcher for his small frame, firing mid-90s fastballs and pounding the strike zone. When the Astros hit him, they let him fall behind with fastball command struggles, then pounced on his breaking ball.

Nobody knows for sure which Figaro will emerge, and it'll be intriguing to watch how long the Tigers wait him out on the mound to find out. But Leyland can say with certainty that it probably won't matter unless the Tigers can hit better.

"I know he's going to compete. I know he's not afraid," Leyland said. "But we still have to score some runs."

The latter might be Leyland's bigger fear, that the same offense that came through in clutch situations Monday and Tuesday night against the Twins has hit a lull at the worst possible time. They were held to two hits off Jake Peavy Friday night, but they also struggled against Twins right-hander Scott Baker on Thursday.

Leyland can go to Miner early if need be, but he can't do much for his offense if they can't produce rallies.

"It's simple: We've got to score runs," Leyland said. "There's no secret here. We have to score runs. Go up, have good at-bats, get some hits, hit some tweeners, get guys running around the bases. If we don't, we'll get beat. There's no excuses, nothing strange about it."

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Pitching matchup


DET: RHP Alfredo Figaro (2-1, 5.74 ERA)
With Monday's rainout pushing back Rick Porcello to the point where he couldn't pitch Saturday on his regular rest, Figaro will make a one-time return to the rotation for a critical next-to-last game of the regular season. He hasn't started at any level since he took the loss June 28 at Houston, a week after he won his Major League debut with five effective innings and seven strikeouts against the Brewers. Still, his 2 2/3 innings of relief last Saturday against the White Sox showed he has his stuff back after missing the better part of two months with a sprained right wrist. He's a high-strikeout hurler with a fastball in the mid-90s, but he has to mix in his breaking ball effectively to make things work.


CWS: RHP Freddy Garcia (2-4, 4.78 ERA)
Garcia appeared on his way to producing his seventh consecutive quality start on Saturday night, until he hit a road block in the seventh inning against Detroit. He entered the frame holding a 5-3 lead, but allowed singles to four of the five batters he faced in the inning. By the time the inning ended, Detroit had turned a two-run deficit into a two-run lead, and Garcia was saddled with the loss. He lasted 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts. Garcia lost to Detroit for the first time since Sept. 2, 2005, a span of eight starts. Lifetime against the Tigers, he is 15-5 with a 3.63 ERA in 24 starts.

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Tidbits

... Though rookie Alex Avila caught Figaro several times at Double-A Erie, Leyland said Gerald Laird will catch him Saturday.
... Magglio Ordonez is batting .444 (16-for-36) during a 10-game hitting streak. He's 12-for-43 (.279) lifetime off fellow Venezuelan Garcia.
... Aubrey Huff is 10-for-24 for his career off Garcia, but he's also in an 0-for-9 slump and has been sitting in some games against right-handers in recent days.
... Miguel Cabrera needs four hits to join Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg as the only Tigers to post 200 hits, a .300 average, 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in the same season. Greenberg did it in both 1935 and '37.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 18-9, 3.45 ERA) vs. White Sox (John Danks, 13-10, 3.69 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Chi White Sox AVG
Podsednik, CF .306
Beckham, 3B .272
Pierzynski, C .303
Konerko, DH .278
Quentin, LF .235
Kotsay, 1B .287
Rios, RF .243
Ramirez, A, SS .274
Lillibridge, 2B .146

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .249
Polanco, 2B .287
Ordonez, RF .301
Cabrera, M, 1B .327
Guillen, C, LF .246
Huff, A, DH .240
Inge, 3B .231
Laird, C .228
Everett, SS .236

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Scott Podsednik singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Gordon Beckham called out on .


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With A. J. Pierzynski batting, Scott Podsednik steals (30) 2nd base.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
A. J. Pierzynski lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Paul Konerko lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Brent Lillibridge.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Quentin homers (21) on a line drive to left center field.
CWS 1, DET 0

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Mark Kotsay walks.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Alex Rios singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Mark Kotsay to 2nd.


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


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
With Brent Lillibridge batting, Mark Kotsay steals (3) 3rd base. Alex Rios steals (23) 2nd base.



B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Brent Lillibridge walks.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Alfredo Figaro.



B:0 S:2 O:2 - Scott Podsednik grounds into a force out, second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett. Mark Kotsay scores. Alex Rios to 3rd. Brent Lillibridge out at 2nd. Scott Podsednik to 1st.
CWS 2, DET 0


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Pitcher Change: Armando Galarraga replaces Fu-Te Ni.


B:2 S:0 O:3 - Gordon Beckham flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

CWS 2, DET 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Quentin.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge :K: swinging. (AS USUAL)

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

strikes out the frickn side, come on guys, stop this crap!

CWS 2, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
A. J. Pierzynski pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Paul Konerko swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin hit by pitch.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
With Mark Kotsay batting, Carlos Quentin steals (3) 2nd base.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Mark Kotsay walks.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Rios doubles (31) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Carlos Quentin scores. Mark Kotsay to 3rd.
CWS 3, DET 0


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Armando Galarraga intentionally walks Alexei Ramirez.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Brent Lillibridge flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


CWS 3, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Adam Everett swinging.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to third baseman Gordon Beckham. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.



B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to second baseman Brent Lillibridge on the infield fly rule.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Miguel Cabrera batting, wild pitch by Freddy Garcia, Curtis Granderson to 3rd. Placido Polanco to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

CWS 3, DET 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Gordon Beckham flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 3, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen pops out to second baseman Brent Lillibridge.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Aubrey Huff grounds out, second baseman Brent Lillibridge to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

CWS 3, DET 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Paul Konerko walks.


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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Armando Galarraga.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Carlos Quentin hit by pitch. Paul Konerko to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:2 - Mark Kotsay grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Paul Konerko to 3rd. Carlos Quentin out at 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Rios singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Paul Konerko scores.
CWS 4, DET 0




B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Alexei Ramirez batting, Alex Rios steals (24) 2nd base.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Perry intentionally walks Alexei Ramirez.






B:1 S:0 O:3 - Brent Lillibridge grounds into a force
out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Alexei
Ramirez out at 2nd.

CWS 4, DET 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


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

CWS 4, DET 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen in foul territory.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Gordon Beckham grounds out, pitcher Ryan Perry to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
A. J. Pierzynski called out on .

CWS 4, DET 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to center fielder Scott Podsednik.

CWS 4, DET 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Paul Konerko pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Mark Kotsay swinging.


Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff flies out to left fielder Carlos Quentin.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge called out on .


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

CWS 4, DET 0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Ryan Perry.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Alex Rios grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brent Lillibridge singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Alexei Ramirez to 3rd.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
With Scott Podsednik batting, Brent Lillibridge steals (6) 2nd base.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Lyon intentionally walks Scott Podsednik.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Gordon Beckham swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:3 - A. J. Pierzynski grounds into a force
out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Scott
Podsednik out at 2nd.

CWS 4, DET 0 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Adam Everett doubles (21) on a line drive to right fielder Alex Rios.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Alex Rios. Adam Everett to 3rd.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Tony Pena replaces Freddy Garcia.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Quentin. Adam Everett scores. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.
CWS 4, DET 1




B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out sharply to shortstop Alexei Ramirez.


B:0 S:0 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Brent Lillibridge to first
baseman Mark Kotsay. Placido Polanco out at 2nd.

CWS 4, DET 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Brandon Lyon.


B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Paul Konerko walks.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Dewayne Wise replaces Paul Konerko.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Carlos Quentin doubles (14) on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Dewayne Wise to 3rd.


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


B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Fernando Rodney intentionally walks Mark Kotsay. (bases loaded)




B:3 S:2 O:0 - Alex Rios singles on a fly ball to
center fielder Curtis Granderson. Dewayne Wise scores. Carlos Quentin
to 3rd. Mark Kotsay to 2nd.
CWS 5, DET 1




B:0 S:0 O:1 - Alexei Ramirez grounds into a force out,
shortstop Adam Everett to catcher Gerald Laird. Carlos Quentin out at
home. Mark Kotsay to 3rd. Alex Rios to 2nd. Alexei Ramirez to 1st.


B:1 S:1 O:3 - Brent Lillibridge grounds into double
play, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alexei Ramirez out at 2nd.

CWS 5, DET 1 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Dewayne Wise remains in the game as the designated hitter.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Thornton replaces Tony Pena.


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen walks.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Aubrey Huff.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn called out on .


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Scott Podsednik.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Gerald Laird batting, Carlos Guillen advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

Pussy cats lose 1-5 to White Sux

October 3, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Chi White Sox	0	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	1		5	9	0
Detroit	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		1	7	0

Chi White Sox AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Podsednik, CF 4 0 1 1 1 0 2 .306 Beckham, 3B 5 0 0 0 0 2 6 .269 Pierzynski, C 5 0 0 0 0 1 4 .300 Konerko, DH 3 1 0 0 2 1 1 .277 --1-Wise, PR-DH 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .221 Quentin, LF 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 .239 Kotsay, 1B 2 1 0 0 3 1 2 .284 Rios, RF 5 0 4 3 0 0 0 .247 Ramirez, A, SS 3 0 1 0 2 1 5 .275 Lillibridge, 2B 4 0 1 0 1 0 8 .151 Totals 34 5 9 5 9 6 28 1-Ran for Konerko in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Rios (31, Galarraga), Quentin (14, Rodney). HR: Quentin (21, 2nd inning off Figaro, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Podsednik; Quentin 6; Rios 5; Ramirez, A; Lillibridge. RBI: Quentin (56), Podsednik (48), Rios 3 (71). 2-out RBI: Rios 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Konerko; Beckham; Lillibridge 3; Pierzynski 2. GIDP: Kotsay; Lillibridge. Team RISP: 3-for-15. Team LOB: 13. BASERUNNING SB: Rios 2 (24, 2nd base off Perry/Laird, 2nd base off Figaro/Laird), Podsednik (30, 2nd base off Figaro/Laird), Quentin (3, 2nd base off Galarraga/Laird), Lillibridge (6, 2nd base off Lyon/Laird), Kotsay (3, 3rd base off Figaro/Laird). FIELDING DP: (Ramirez, A-Lillibridge-Kotsay).		Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .249 Polanco, 2B 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .288 Ordonez, RF 4 0 2 0 0 0 4 .303 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 .325 Guillen, C, LF 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .244 Huff, A, DH 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .241 --a-Raburn, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .281 Inge, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .230 Laird, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .225 Everett, SS 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .237 Totals 33 1 7 1 2 8 16 a-Struck out for Huff, A in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Everett (21, Garcia, F). TB: Granderson; Polanco 2; Ordonez 2; Huff, A; Everett 2. RBI: Polanco (72). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M 2; Laird. GIDP: Cabrera, M. Team RISP: 2-for-7. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING DP: 2 (Polanco-Everett-Cabrera, M, Everett-Polanco-Cabrera, M).
Chi White Sox IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Garcia, F (W, 3-4) 7.0 6 1 1 1 7 0 4.34 Pena, To (H, 13) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.99 Thornton 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.74		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Figaro (L, 2-2) 1.1 3 2 2 2 2 1 6.35 Ni 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.64 Galarraga 2.1 1 2 2 3 1 0 5.64 Perry 3.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 3.79 Lyon 1.0 2 0 0 1 1 0 2.92 Rodney 1.0 2 1 1 2 0 0 4.42
Garcia, F pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. Galarraga pitched to 1 batter in the 5th. WP: Garcia, F. IBB: Ramirez, A (by Galarraga), Ramirez, A (by Perry), Podsednik (by Lyon), Kotsay (by Rodney). HBP: Quentin (by Galarraga), Quentin (by Perry). Pitches-strikes: Garcia, F 95-63, Pena, To 9-6, Thornton 19-11, Figaro 38-22, Ni 3-3, Galarraga 43-20, Perry 44-24, Lyon 17-9, Rodney 24-12. Groundouts-flyouts: Garcia, F 5-9, Pena, To 2-1, Thornton 1-1, Figaro 0-2, Ni 1-0, Galarraga 2-4, Perry 4-3, Lyon 2-0, Rodney 3-0. Batters faced: Garcia, F 28, Pena, To 3, Thornton 4, Figaro 9, Ni 1, Galarraga 12, Perry 11, Lyon 6, Rodney 6. Inherited runners-scored: Pena, To 2-1, Ni 3-1, Galarraga 2-0, Perry 1-1. Umpires: HP: Mark Carlson. 1B: Jeff Nelson. 2B: Bob Davidson. 3B: Tim Tschida. Weather: 55 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, R to L. T: 2:49 (:16 delay). Att: 35,184. October 3, 2009