AL: DETROIT (83-67) at CLEVELAND (87-62) <h3>Surging Tigers visit Indians in AL Central showdown</h3> Detroit (83-67) at Cleveland (87-62) 7:05 pm EDT CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Detroit Tigers picked a good time tostart rolling. The Tigers aim to win their sixth consecutive contest when theyvisit the Cleveland Indians on Monday in the opener of acritical three-game series. Cleveland holds a 4 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the AmericanLeague Central Division. The defending AL champion Tigers alsoare hoping to erase a 2 1/2-game deficit to the New York Yankees(85-64) in the wild card race. However, after struggling for much of July and August, theTigers have won 10 of their last 12 contests to climb back intothe thick of the postseason chase. Detroit posted a 6-4 victory over Minnesota on Sunday tocomplete a three-game sweep of its division rival. Curtis Granderson belted a leadoff homer and Todd Jones recordedhis 300th career save to help the Tigers gain ground on theIndians, who dropped a 4-3 decision to the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers will turn to Kenny Rogers (3-2, 4.50 ERA) to keeptheir winning streak going Monday. Rogers is winless in his last five starts, but the Tigers are6-2 when the 42-year-old lefthander takes the mound this season.Rogers missed the first three months of the season withshoulder problems. Paul Byrd (15-6, 4.34) will take the mound for the Indians, whohave won six of their last eight contests. The righthander haswon five of his last six decisions since giving up seven runsover two innings to the Yankees on August 11. Along with C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona, Byrd is one ofthree Indians with 15 wins. They are the only major league teamto accomplish that feat thus far this season. Cleveland has split its last eight meetings with Detroit butowns a 9-6 overall record this season against the Tigers.
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT AT CLEVELAND -- LINEUPS DETROIT CLEVELAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Curtis Granderson CF .301 22 72 Grady Sizemore CF .275 23 74 Placido Polanco 2B .340 8 64 Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .288 3 17 Gary Sheffield DH .269 25 74 Travis Hafner DH .253 22 92 Magglio Ordonez RF .357 27 132 Victor Martinez 1B .307 23 104 Carlos Guillen 1B .295 19 96 Jhonny Peralta SS .269 18 68 Ivan Rodriguez C .282 11 62 Jason Michaels RF .272 7 36 Timo Perez LF .433 0 9 Kenny Lofton LF .296 7 35 Ramon Santiago SS .234 0 3 Casey Blake 3B .267 16 71 Brandon Inge 3B .243 14 66 Kelly Shoppach C .268 6 28 Kenny Rogers LHP (3-2, 4.50) Paul Byrd RHP (15-6, 4.34)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND WARMUPS: DET - KENNY ROGERS (3-2, 4.50) CLE - PAUL BYRD (15-6, 4.34) UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO 1B - PAUL EMMEL 2B - GARY DARLING 3B - JERRY MEALS WEATHER: 68 Degrees, clear WIND: 8 mph, right to left</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND STARTING BATS: DET - KENNY ROGERS AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSO (.301, 22 HR, 72 RBI) P POLANCO (.340, 8 HR, 64 RBI) G SHEFFIELD (.269, 25 HR, 74 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - KENNY ROGERS CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.275, 23 HR, 74 RBI) A CABRERA (.288, 3 HR, 17 RBI) T HAFNER (.253, 22 HR, 92 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339 G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356 C Guillen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 T Perez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .433 R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 J Michaels rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 0 -- 0 CLEVELAND - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era K Rogers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.50 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.31 Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 10-8. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 4. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: DET - KENNY ROGERS CLE - PAUL BYRD</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE WILD PITCH BY KENNY ROGERS ALLOWED ASDRUBAL CABRERA TO SCORE. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V MARTINEZ ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 0 CLEVELAND 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.269, 0-FOR-0)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 1 1 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - KENNY ROGERS CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.295, 19 HR, 96 RBI) I RODRIGUEZ (.282, 11 HR, 62 RBI) T PEREZ (.433, 0 HR, 9 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (0) VS CLEVELAND (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339 G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356 C Guillen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 T Perez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .433 R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 A Cabrera 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253 V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .307 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 J Michaels rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Totals 4 1 1 0 2 1 3 BATTING: 3B - A Cabrera (2, K Rogers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 0 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era K Rogers 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 4.60 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.31 WP - K Rogers. Pitches-strikes: K Rogers 27-15; P Byrd 10-8. Ground balls-fly balls: K Rogers 2-0; P Byrd 1-2. Batters faced: K Rogers 6; P Byrd 4. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY RAMON SANTIAGO SCORED CARLOS GUILLEN. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R SANTIAGO ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1 CLEVELAND 1 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.243, 14 HR, 66 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 1 1 3 0 CLEVELAND 1 1 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - KENNY ROGERS CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.296, 7 HR, 35 RBI) C BLAKE (.267, 16 HR, 71 RBI) K SHOPPACH (.268, 6 HR, 28 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CLEVELAND (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339 G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356 C Guillen 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281 T Perez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .426 R Santiago ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .250 B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - C Guillen (31, P Byrd). RBI - R Santiago (4). 2-out RBI - R Santiago. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: Picked Off - R Santiago (1st base, P Byrd). CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 A Cabrera 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253 V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .307 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 J Michaels rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Totals 4 1 1 0 2 1 3 BATTING: 3B - A Cabrera (2, K Rogers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 01 -- 1 CLEVELAND - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era K Rogers 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 4.60 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.34 WP - K Rogers. Pitches-strikes: K Rogers 27-15; P Byrd 21-17. Ground balls-fly balls: K Rogers 2-0; P Byrd 2-3. Batters faced: K Rogers 6; P Byrd 8. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 1 1 3 0 CLEVELAND 1 0 1 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - KENNY ROGERS CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.243, 0-FOR-0) C GRANDERSON (.301, 0-FOR-1) P POLANCO (.339, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CLEVELAND (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339 G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356 C Guillen 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281 T Perez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .426 R Santiago ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .250 B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - C Guillen (31, P Byrd). RBI - R Santiago (4). 2-out RBI - R Santiago. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: Picked Off - R Santiago (1st base, P Byrd). CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 A Cabrera 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253 V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .307 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 J Michaels rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 Totals 7 1 1 0 2 2 3 BATTING: 3B - A Cabrera (2, K Rogers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 01 -- 1 CLEVELAND - 10 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era K Rogers 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 4.50 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.34 WP - K Rogers. Pitches-strikes: K Rogers 41-23; P Byrd 21-17. Ground balls-fly balls: K Rogers 3-1; P Byrd 2-3. Batters faced: K Rogers 9; P Byrd 8. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY PLACIDO POLANCO (9) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF PAUL BYRD. CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 1 DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.271, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 1 1 2 4 0 CLEVELAND 1 0 1 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - KENNY ROGERS CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.274, 0-FOR-1) A CABRERA (.294, 1-FOR-1) T HAFNER (.253, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (2) VS CLEVELAND (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 P Polanco 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .340 G Sheffield dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356 C Guillen 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281 T Perez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .426 R Santiago ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .250 B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 Totals 12 2 4 2 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - C Guillen (31, P Byrd). HR - P Polanco (9, 3rd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Santiago (4), P Polanco (65). 2-out RBI - R Santiago, P Polanco. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: Picked Off - R Santiago (1st base, P Byrd). CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 A Cabrera 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253 V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .307 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 J Michaels rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 Totals 7 1 1 0 2 2 3 BATTING: 3B - A Cabrera (2, K Rogers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 011 -- 2 CLEVELAND - 10 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era K Rogers 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 4.50 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 3 4 2 2 0 0 1 4.36 WP - K Rogers. Pitches-strikes: K Rogers 41-23; P Byrd 36-27. Ground balls-fly balls: K Rogers 3-1; P Byrd 4-4. Batters faced: K Rogers 9; P Byrd 12. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 1 1 2 4 0 CLEVELAND 1 0 0 1 2 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - KENNY ROGERS CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.356, 0-FOR-1) C GUILLEN (.296, 1-FOR-1) I RODRIGUEZ (.281, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (2) VS CLEVELAND (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 P Polanco 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .340 G Sheffield dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356 C Guillen 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281 T Perez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .426 R Santiago ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .250 B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 Totals 12 2 4 2 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - C Guillen (31, P Byrd). HR - P Polanco (9, 3rd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Santiago (4), P Polanco (65). 2-out RBI - R Santiago, P Polanco. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: Picked Off - R Santiago (1st base, P Byrd). CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .274 A Cabrera 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .292 T Hafner dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .254 V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .306 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 J Michaels rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 Totals 11 1 2 0 2 3 4 BATTING: 3B - A Cabrera (2, K Rogers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 011 -- 2 CLEVELAND - 100 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era K Rogers 3 2 1 1 2 3 0 4.40 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 3 4 2 2 0 0 1 4.36 WP - K Rogers. Pitches-strikes: K Rogers 54-33; P Byrd 36-27. Ground balls-fly balls: K Rogers 5-1; P Byrd 4-4. Batters faced: K Rogers 13; P Byrd 12. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
