AL: DETROIT (83-69) at CLEVELAND (89-62) <h3>Sabathia eyeing first Cy Young award</h3> Detroit (83-69) at Cleveland (89-62) 12:05 pm EDT CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- C.C. Sabathia is inching closer to the CyYoung Award while the Cleveland Indians are nearing their firstAmerican League Central Division title since 2001. Sabathia and the Indians look to take another step towardaccomplishing those goals Wednesday afternoon when they host thefading Detroit Tigers in the finale of a three-game series. The lefthanded Sabathia (17-7, 3.21 ERA) has won three straightdecisions and ranks in the top 10 in the AL in wins, ERA,innings (227) and strikeouts (198). The 27-year-old had a career-high 13 strikeouts over seveninnings Friday but did not factor in the decision of a 5-4victory over the Kansas City Royals. Sabathia's overwhelming success this season has mirrored that ofthe Indians, who boast the second-best record in baseball alongwith the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (89-62). The Indians rallied from an early three-run deficit Tuesday topost a 7-4 victory over the Tigers, increasing their cushion to6 1/2 games in the AL Central. Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez homered for Cleveland, whichhas won 24 of its last 32 games and owns an 11-6 mark thisseason against the reigning AL champion Tigers. Detroit, which entered this series with a five-game winningstreak, is quickly falling out of postseason contention. TheTigers also trail the New York Yankees (87-64) by 4 1/2 games inthe AL wild card race. The suddenly struggling Tigers send Nate Robertson (8-11, 4.93)to the mound Wednesday. The veteran lefthander hurled seveninnings to earn the win Friday, allowing two runs with fivestrikeouts in a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT AT CLEVELAND -- LINEUPS DETROIT CLEVELAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Ryan Raburn CF .300 3 20 Grady Sizemore CF .272 23 74 Placido Polanco 2B .343 9 65 Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .288 3 17 Gary Sheffield DH .270 25 74 Travis Hafner DH .254 23 95 Magglio Ordonez RF .356 27 132 Victor Martinez C .304 24 106 Carlos Guillen 1B .295 19 96 Ryan Garko 1B .295 19 58 Marcus Thames LF .242 15 48 Jhonny Peralta SS .269 20 71 Mike Hessman 3B .220 3 10 Casey Blake 3B .266 17 72 Mike Rabelo C .253 0 14 Franklin Gutierrez RF .271 13 35 Ramon Santiago SS .296 0 7 Jason Michaels LF .273 7 36 Nate Robertson LHP (8-11, 4.93) C.C. Sabathia LHP (17-7, 3.21)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND WARMUPS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON (8-11, 4.93) CLE - C.C. SABATHIA (17-7, 3.21) UMPIRES: HP - GARY DARLING 1B - JERRY MEALS 2B - LARRY PONCINO 3B - PAUL EMMEL WEATHER: 73 Degrees, sunny WIND: 6 mph, out to center</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND STARTING BATS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON AND MIKE RABELO CLE - C.C. SABATHIA AND VICTOR MARTINEZ DUE UP FOR DETROIT: R RABURN (.300, 3 HR, 20 RBI) P POLANCO (.343, 9 HR, 65 RBI) G SHEFFIELD (.270, 25 HR, 74 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 R Raburn cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .356 C Guillen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 M Thames lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 M Hessman 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 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 N Robertson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.93 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.20 Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 18-13. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 0-2. Batters faced: C Sabathia 3. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Paul Emmel. Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 0 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.272, 23 HR, 74 RBI) A CABRERA (.288, 3 HR, 17 RBI) T HAFNER (.254, 23 HR, 95 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 0 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.356, 27 HR, 132 RBI) C GUILLEN (.295, 19 HR, 96 RBI) M THAMES (.242, 15 HR, 48 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Raburn cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .356 C Guillen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 M Thames lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 M Hessman 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 0 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era N Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.90 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.20 Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 13-8; C Sabathia 18-13. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 1-0; C Sabathia 0-2. Batters faced: N Robertson 3; C Sabathia 3. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Paul Emmel. Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 0 0 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.304, 24 HR, 106 RBI) R GARKO (.295, 19 HR, 58 RBI) J PERALTA (.269, 20 HR, 71 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Raburn cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .355 C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 M Thames lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 M Hessman 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 00 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era N Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.90 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.18 Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 13-8; C Sabathia 27-20. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 1-0; C Sabathia 1-4. Batters faced: N Robertson 3; C Sabathia 6. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Paul Emmel. Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 0 0 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M HESSMAN (.220, 3 HR, 10 RBI) M RABELO (.253, 0 HR, 14 RBI) R SANTIAGO (.296, 0 HR, 7 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Raburn cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .355 C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 M Thames lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 M Hessman 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303 R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 00 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era N Robertson 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.87 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.18 Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 22-14; C Sabathia 27-20. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 2-2; C Sabathia 1-4. Batters faced: N Robertson 6; C Sabathia 6. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Paul Emmel. Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY RYAN RABURN SCORED MIKE HESSMAN AND RAMON SANTIAGO. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R RABURN ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2 CLEVELAND 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR DETROIT: P POLANCO (.342, 0-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 0 2 2 3 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: C BLAKE (.266, 17 HR, 72 RBI) F GUTIERREZ (.271, 13 HR, 35 RBI) J MICHAELS (.273, 7 HR, 36 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (2) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Raburn cf 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 .303 P Polanco 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .342 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .354 C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 M Thames lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 M Hessman 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .238 M Rabelo c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 R Santiago ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .309 Totals 12 2 3 2 1 2 4 BATTING: 2B - R Santiago (4, C Sabathia). RBI - R Raburn 2 (22). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 1. Team LOB - 2. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303 R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 002 -- 2 CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era N Robertson 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.87 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 3 3 2 2 1 2 0 3.25 Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 22-14; C Sabathia 51-36. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 2-2; C Sabathia 1-6. Batters faced: N Robertson 6; C Sabathia 13. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Paul Emmel. Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY CASEY BLAKE (18) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF NATE ROBERTSON. CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 1 DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: F GUTIERREZ (.271, 13 HR, 35 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 2 2 3 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 1 1 2 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.295, 0-FOR-1) M THAMES (.241, 0-FOR-1) M HESSMAN (.238, 1-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 R Raburn cf 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 .303 P Polanco 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .342 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270 M Ordonez rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .354 C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 M Thames lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 M Hessman 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .238 M Rabelo c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 R Santiago ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .309 Totals 12 2 3 2 1 2 4 BATTING: 2B - R Santiago (4, C Sabathia). RBI - R Raburn 2 (22). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (P Polanco-R Santiago-C Guillen). CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272 A Cabrera 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .283 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303 R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .267 F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273 Totals 10 1 2 1 1 3 2 BATTING: HR - C Blake (18, 3rd inning off N Robertson 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Blake (73). GIDP - A Cabrera. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 002 -- 2 CLEVELAND - 001 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era N Robertson 3 2 1 1 1 3 1 4.89 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 3 3 2 2 1 2 0 3.25 Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 44-25; C Sabathia 51-36. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 4-2; C Sabathia 1-6. Batters faced: N Robertson 11; C Sabathia 13. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Paul Emmel. Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 2 0 2 4 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 1 1 2 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.253, 0-FOR-1) V MARTINEZ (.303, 0-FOR-1) R GARKO (.294, 0-FOR-1)</div>
