GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (83-67) at CLEVELAND (87-62)

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>