AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Zumaya relieved J Verlander. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1 DETROIT 5 TOP, 8TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I Kinsler (.274, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 0 DETROIT 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 5 7 0 (BOT 8) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - LUIS MENDOZA DET - JOEL ZUMAYA DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.358, 1-FOR-2, BB, HR, 3 RBI) C GUILLEN (.294, 1-FOR-3) I RODRIGUEZ (.284, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS DETROIT (5) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .272 I Kinsler 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .273 M Young ss 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 .310 M Byrd cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .312 H Blalock dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 .293 D Murphy rf 3 0 3 1 0 0 0 .417 G Laird c 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 .217 J Saltalamacchia 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .236 R Vazquez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 Totals 30 1 7 1 1 7 11 BATTING: 2B - M Young (35, J Verlander). RBI - D Murphy (10). 2-out RBI - D Murphy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Laird 2. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: DP: 2 (I Kinsler-M Young-J Saltalamacchia, M Young-I Kinsler-J Saltalamacchia). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .301 P Polanco 2b 3 2 1 0 1 0 1 .344 G Sheffield dh 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 .272 M Ordonez rf 2 1 1 3 1 0 2 .358 C Guillen 1b 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .294 I Rodriguez c 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .284 T Perez lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .407 B Inge 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .244 R Santiago ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .233 Totals 26 5 7 5 4 7 7 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (33, E Volquez). HR - G Sheffield (25, 1st inning off E Volquez 1 on, 1 Out), M Ordonez (27, 6th inning off E Volquez 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Sheffield 2 (74), M Ordonez 3 (132). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Santiago 1. GIDP - I Rodriguez, M Ordonez. Team LOB - 4. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 001 00 -- 1 DETROIT - 200 003 0 -- 5 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 6 7 5 5 4 6 2 4.24 L Mendoza 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 7 7 1 1 1 7 0 3.47 J Zumaya 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.18 Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 96-59; L Mendoza 12-8; J Verlander 106-72; J Zumaya 8-7. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 8-4; L Mendoza 2-0; J Verlander 5-8; J Zumaya 1-2. Batters faced: E Volquez 27; L Mendoza 3; J Verlander 28; J Zumaya 3. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Jerry Layne. Weather: 62 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, swirling.</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 0 DETROIT 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 8 0 (TOP 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - LUIS MENDOZA DET - JOEL ZUMAYA DUE UP FOR TEXAS: H BLALOCK (.293, 0-FOR-3) D MURPHY (.417, 3-FOR-3, RBI) G LAIRD (.217, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS DETROIT (5) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .272 I Kinsler 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .273 M Young ss 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 .310 M Byrd cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .312 H Blalock dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 .293 D Murphy rf 3 0 3 1 0 0 0 .417 G Laird c 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 .217 J Saltalamacchia 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .236 R Vazquez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 Totals 30 1 7 1 1 7 11 BATTING: 2B - M Young (35, J Verlander). RBI - D Murphy (10). 2-out RBI - D Murphy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Laird 2. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: DP: 3 (I Kinsler-M Young-J Saltalamacchia 2, M Young-I Kinsler-J Saltalamacchia). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .301 P Polanco 2b 3 2 1 0 1 0 1 .344 G Sheffield dh 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 .272 M Ordonez rf 3 1 1 3 1 0 2 .358 C Guillen 1b 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 .296 I Rodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .284 T Perez lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .407 B Inge 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .244 R Santiago ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .233 Totals 29 5 8 5 4 7 8 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (33, E Volquez). HR - G Sheffield (25, 1st inning off E Volquez 1 on, 1 Out), M Ordonez (27, 6th inning off E Volquez 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Sheffield 2 (74), M Ordonez 3 (132). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Santiago 1. GIDP - I Rodriguez 2, M Ordonez. Team LOB - 4. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 001 00 -- 1 DETROIT - 200 003 00 -- 5 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 6 7 5 5 4 6 2 4.24 L Mendoza 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 7 7 1 1 1 7 0 3.47 J Zumaya 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.18 Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 96-59; L Mendoza 19-14; J Verlander 106-72; J Zumaya 8-7. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 8-4; L Mendoza 4-1; J Verlander 5-8; J Zumaya 1-2. Batters faced: E Volquez 27; L Mendoza 6; J Verlander 28; J Zumaya 3. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Jerry Layne. Weather: 62 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, swirling.</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Clevlen in left field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1 DETROIT 5 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: H Blalock (.293, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - PITCHING CHANGE DET: TODD JONES (1-4, 4.47) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: H BLALOCK (.293, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: T Jones relieved J Zumaya. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1 DETROIT 5 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: H Blalock (.293, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Wilkerson hit for G Laird. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1 DETROIT 5 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B Wilkerson (.236, 20 HR, 61 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 7 0 DETROIT 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 x 5 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ, LUIS MENDOZA (7TH) AND GERALD LAIRD DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, JOEL ZUMAYA (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE DET - GARY SHEFFIELD (25) OFF EDINSON VOLQUEZ IN THE 1ST, 1 ON MAGGLIO ORDONEZ (27) OFF EDINSON VOLQUEZ IN THE 6TH, 2 ON</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 7 0 DETROIT 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 x 5 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ, LUIS MENDOZA (7TH) AND GERALD LAIRD DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, JOEL ZUMAYA (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ WP - JUSTIN VERLANDER (17-5) LP - EDINSON VOLQUEZ (2-1) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE DET - GARY SHEFFIELD (25) OFF EDINSON VOLQUEZ IN THE 1ST, 1 ON MAGGLIO ORDONEZ (27) OFF EDINSON VOLQUEZ IN THE 6TH, 2 ON TIME: 2:14 ATT: 32,490 PROBABLES: DET - NATE ROBERTSON (7-11, 5.04) MIN - MATT GARZA (3-5, 3.71) PROBABLES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD (9-11, 5.31) OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (10-11, 4.47)</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS DETROIT (5) - FINAL TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .272 I Kinsler 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .273 M Young ss 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 .310 M Byrd cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .312 H Blalock dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .291 D Murphy rf 4 0 3 1 0 1 0 .410 G Laird c 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 .217 a-B Wilkerson ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 J Saltalamacchia 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .236 R Vazquez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 Totals 33 1 7 1 1 10 11 a-struck out swinging for G Laird in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - M Young (35, J Verlander). RBI - D Murphy (10). 2-out RBI - D Murphy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Laird 2. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: DP: 3 (I Kinsler-M Young-J Saltalamacchia 2, M Young-I Kinsler-J Saltalamacchia). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .301 P Polanco 2b 3 2 1 0 1 0 1 .344 G Sheffield dh 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 .272 M Ordonez rf 3 1 1 3 1 0 2 .358 C Guillen 1b 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 .296 I Rodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .284 T Perez lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .407 B Clevlen lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Inge 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .244 R Santiago ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .233 Totals 29 5 8 5 4 7 8 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (33, E Volquez). HR - G Sheffield (25, 1st inning off E Volquez 1 on, 1 Out), M Ordonez (27, 6th inning off E Volquez 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Sheffield 2 (74), M Ordonez 3 (132). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Santiago 1. GIDP - I Rodriguez 2, M Ordonez. Team LOB - 4. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 001 000 -- 1 DETROIT - 200 003 00x -- 5 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez (L, 2-1) 6 7 5 5 4 6 2 4.24 L Mendoza 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander (W, 17-5) 7 7 1 1 1 7 0 3.47 J Zumaya 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.18 T Jones 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 4.40 Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 96-59; L Mendoza 19-14; J Verlander 106-72; J Zumaya 8-7; T Jones 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 8-4; L Mendoza 4-1; J Verlander 5-8; J Zumaya 1-2; T Jones 0-0. Batters faced: E Volquez 27; L Mendoza 6; J Verlander 28; J Zumaya 3; T Jones 3. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Jerry Layne. T--2:14. Att--32,490. Weather: 62 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, swirling.</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (1) AT DETROIT (5) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson struck out swinging. P Polanco doubled to deep left. G Sheffield homered to left, P Polanco scored. M Ordonez walked. C Guillen singled to right center, M Ordonez to second. I Rodriguez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, C Guillen out at second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. TEXAS 6TH: I Kinsler grounded out to third. M Young hit a ground rule double to deep center. M Byrd singled to shallow left, M Young to third. H Blalock flied out to left. D Murphy singled to left, M Young scored, M Byrd to second. G Laird popped out to first. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 2. DETROIT 6TH: P Polanco walked. G Sheffield walked, P Polanco to second. M Ordonez homered to left center, P Polanco and G Sheffield scored. C Guillen struck out swinging. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. T Perez singled to right. B Inge singled to center, T Perez to third. R Santiago lined out to center. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5.</div>
AL: TEXAS at DETROIT <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (1) AT DETROIT (5) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Starting Lineups -- F Catalanotto LF, I Kinsler 2B, M Young SS, M Byrd CF, H Blalock DH, D Murphy RF, G Laird C, J Saltalamacchia 1B, R Vazquez 3B, E Volquez RHP. Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Granderson CF, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH, M Ordonez RF, C Guillen 1B, I Rodriguez C, T Perez LF, B Inge 3B, R Santiago SS, J Verlander RHP. Umpires -- Bill Miller (HP), Marvin Hudson (1B), Ed Montague (2B), Jerry Layne (3B). Gametime Weather: 62 degrees, Cloudy, wind swirling at 4 mph. TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto struck out swinging. I Kinsler struck out swinging. M Young singled to left. M Byrd popped out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 0. DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson struck out swinging. P Polanco doubled to deep left. G Sheffield homered to left, P Polanco scored. M Ordonez walked. C Guillen singled to right center, M Ordonez to second. I Rodriguez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, C Guillen out at second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. TEXAS 2ND: H Blalock lined out to second. D Murphy reached on infield single to third. G Laird flied out to center. J Saltalamacchia grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. DETROIT 2ND: T Perez lined out to center. B Inge grounded out to third. R Santiago grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. TEXAS 3RD: R Vazquez grounded out to first. F Catalanotto flied out to left. I Kinsler struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. DETROIT 3RD: C Granderson walked. P Polanco grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Granderson out at second. G Sheffield singled to left, P Polanco to second. M Ordonez grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, G Sheffield out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. TEXAS 4TH: M Young walked. M Byrd singled to right, M Young to second. H Blalock flied out to right. M Young out at second on runner's fielder's choice. D Murphy singled to deep right, M Byrd to third. G Laird struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. DETROIT 4TH: C Guillen struck out swinging. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. T Perez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. TEXAS 5TH: J Saltalamacchia struck out looking. R Vazquez grounded out to second. F Catalanotto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. DETROIT 5TH: B Inge grounded out to second. R Santiago flied out to center. C Granderson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2. TEXAS 6TH: I Kinsler grounded out to third. M Young hit a ground rule double to deep center. M Byrd singled to shallow left, M Young to third. H Blalock flied out to left. D Murphy singled to left, M Young scored, M Byrd to second. G Laird popped out to first. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 2. DETROIT 6TH: P Polanco walked. G Sheffield walked, P Polanco to second. M Ordonez homered to left center, P Polanco and G Sheffield scored. C Guillen struck out swinging. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. T Perez singled to right. B Inge singled to center, T Perez to third. R Santiago lined out to center. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5. TEXAS 7TH: J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. R Vazquez grounded out to first. F Catalanotto struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5. DETROIT 7TH: L Mendoza relieved E Volquez. C Granderson grounded out to pitcher. P Polanco grounded out to shortstop. G Sheffield struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5. TEXAS 8TH: J Zumaya relieved J Verlander. I Kinsler flied out to right. M Young flied out to right. M Byrd grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5. DETROIT 8TH: M Ordonez flied out to right. C Guillen singled to center. I Rodriguez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, C Guillen out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5. TEXAS 9TH: B Clevlen in left field. T Jones relieved J Zumaya. H Blalock struck out swinging. D Murphy struck out looking. B Wilkerson hit for G Laird. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5.</div>
Verlander, Ordonez shine as Tigers beat Rangers <h3>DETROIT 5, TEXAS 1</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- It's hunting season and Justin Verlanderhas his cannon locked and loaded. Verlander dazzled once again and Gary Sheffield and MagglioOrdonez both homered as the Detroit Tigers posted a 5-1 victoryover the Texas Rangers in Wednesday's three-game series finale. Detroit (80-67) has won seven of its last nine games to pullwithin 3 1/2 games of the New York Yankees (82-62) in the ALwild chase. New York is at Toronto on Wednesday. Verlander (17-5) yielded one run and seven hits with sevenstrikeouts through seven innings to capture his sixth win inseven tries. The 24-year-old righthander continues to make a stronglate-season push for the AL Cy Young Award, posting animpressive 0.95 ERA through his last four starts. Verlander's lone mistake came in the sixth inning, when DavidMurphy laced a two-out RBI single to left to help Texas slicethe deficit to 2-1. Joel Zumaya and closer Todd Jones both logged a scoreless framefor the Tigers, who will hit the road for a pair of three-gameseries at division rivals Minnesota and Cleveland. Rangers starter Edison Volquez (2-1) issued consecutive walks toPlacido Polanco and Sheffield before Ordonez blasted his 27thhomer over the left-center field fence to make it 5-1. In the first, Polanco doubled to the left field corner and camehome when Sheffield belted his 25th home run off Volquez (2-1)for a 2-0 lead. Volquez gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings. Hestruck out six and walked four.
Verlander, Ordonez shine as Tigers beat Rangers <h3>DETROIT 5, TEXAS 1</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- It's hunting season and Justin Verlanderhas his cannon locked and loaded. Verlander dazzled once again and Gary Sheffield and MagglioOrdonez both homered as the Detroit Tigers posted a 5-1 victoryover the Texas Rangers in Wednesday's three-game series finale. Detroit (80-67) has won seven of its last nine games but stillremain four games behind the New York Yankees (83-62) in the ALwild chase. "It's going to still boil down to pitching," Tigers manager JimLeyland said. "That's what always makes the final decision foryou. Whoever pitches the best is going to end up winning.Right now, the Yankees are pitching real good and scoring someruns. "I don't want to mislead anybody like some schoolkid trying tobe overly optimistic, but we've got a shot. We do, butobviously we need some help now. No. 1, the main thing is we'vegot to win our games. There's not much margin for error andobviously, those two teams have a little more margin for error." Verlander (17-5) yielded one run and seven hits with sevenstrikeouts in seven innings to capture his sixth win in seventries. He became the first Tigers hurler since to win at least17 games in consecutive campaigns since Jack Morris (1986-87). "When you have Verlander, you only have to score a few runs,"Ordonez said. "But it was still a close game - when we scoredthree more runs, it's going to be more comfortable for him." The 24-year-old righthander continues to make a stronglate-season push for the AL Cy Young Award, posting animpressive 0.95 ERA through his last four starts. "I think when I got my mechanics back in order, I have betterlife on my fastball and better off-speed stuff and really bettercontrol overall," Verlander said. "With those three things,when you do better at all those aspects, I don't think you cando anything but get better results." Verlander's lone mistake came in the sixth inning, when DavidMurphy laced a two-out RBI single to left to help Texas slicethe deficit to 2-1. Joel Zumaya and closer Todd Jones both logged a scoreless framefor the Tigers, who are now 5 1/2 games behind the first-placeCleveland Indians in the AL Central. "We picked up a game on Cleveland," Leyland said. "What you'rehoping for is to get into Cleveland next week, hopefully cut itdown to even four. If you cut it down to four going in there,then you have to have a (heck) of a series. "I just want to win games. Then whatever happens, happens. Weput ourselves in this position. So if they keep winning and wekeep winning, they're going to get in and we're not." Detroit hits the road for six game, concluding with a criticalthree-game series at Cleveland. "From now on, every series is important," Ordonez said."Everybody knows that we're a few games behind other teams.We're going to keep pushing and keep winning ballgames. It's theonly way we can make it to the playoffs. Hopefully they losesome ballgames. The key is to win." Rangers starter Edison Volquez (2-1) issued consecutive walks toPlacido Polanco and Sheffield before Ordonez blasted his 27thhomer over the left-center field fence to make it 5-1. In the first, Polanco doubled to the left field corner and camehome when Sheffield belted his 25th home run off Volquez (2-1)for a 2-0 lead. "I felt good. I think (Wednesday) is probably the first time Iwas able to swing like I really wanted to and repeat it,"Sheffield said. "I've swung hard before and when I swing hard,it kind of tweaks it a little bit and then I kind of lay back alittle bit. I'm not the type of person that can swing soft andbe successful." Volquez gave up a season-high five runs and seven hits in sixinnings. He struck out six and walked four. "I didn't think I pitched a bad game," Volquez said. "I justmissed two pitches, if it wasn't for those pitches, it mighthave been a different game. Every game is a learning experienceand I learned at lot (Wednesday)." "Volquez handled himself really well," Rangers manager RonWashington said. "He fought hard to get out of the sixth inningafter the Ordonez homer. He wasn't shaken up and kept hiscool. This was a good learning experience for him."
