GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (87-72) at CHI WHITE SOX (69-89)

AL: DETROIT (87-72) at CHI WHITE SOX (69-89)

<h3>Tigers face White Sox in final series of season</h3>

Detroit (87-72) at Chi White Sox (70-89), 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Magglio Ordonez and the Detroit Tigers willtry to end their season on a high note when they open athree-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

The Tigers were officially eliminated from the playoff race onWednesday when the New York Yankees (92-67) beat the Tampa BayDevil Rays. After winning the American League Pennant lastseason as the a wild card, Detroit was decimated by injuriesthis season and has gone 35-35 against teams in the AL CentralDivision.


Despite not making a return trip to the postseason, Ordonez isin line to win the AL batting title. The 33-year-old Venezuelanis hitting .359 on the season and holds a nine-point lead overthe Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, who is hitting .350.

Ordonez will have to improve upon his career performance againstWhite Sox starter Javier Vazquez if he wants to stay ahead ofIchiro. The Tigers slugger is hitting just .125 (2-for-16)lifetime against the righthander.


Vazquez (14-8, 3.79 ERA) has been a bright spot for the WhiteSox during their disappointing season and is 3-0 with a 2.11 ERAover his last three starts.


During his last outing, Vazquez allowed two runs and five hitsover seven innings against the Minnesota Twins. The 31-year-oldPuerto Rican struck out 11 batters, eclipsing the 200-strikeout plateau for only the third time in his nine-year career.

The Tigers will counter with Kenny Rogers (3-3, 4.26), whosurrendered five runs - three earned - and eight hits in sixinnings, suffering the loss in his last outing against theKansas City Royals.


Rogers, whose two-year contract with the Tigers expires atseason's end, will be looking for his first win since July 4.

 

AL: DETROIT (87-72) at CHI WHITE SOX (69-89)

<h3>Verlander takes mound with stars on bench</h3>



<div class="pre">Detroit (87-73) at Chi White Sox (71-89) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers willcontinue their final series of the season against the ChicagoWhite Sox on Saturday.


The American League's leading hitter, Magglio Ordonez, will notbe in the lineup in order to rest his sore right heal for theseason finale on Sunday. The Detroit outfielder is hitting .360on the season and holds a 10-point lead over Ichiro Suzuki ofthe Seattle Mariners, who is hitting .350.


Gary Sheffield, who is suffering through an injured shoulder,has been shut down for the rest of the season after hitting .265with 25 home runs and 75 RBI.


Starting in place of Ordonez and Sheffield will be players withfar less experience than the two veterans. However, regardlessof who is in the field, the Tigers will have a good opportunityto win when Verlander (18-6, 3.68 ERA) takes the mound.

Verlander, who has five wins in his last six starts, dominatedthe Kansas City Royals in his last start on Sunday. The24-year-old righthander allowed two runs and five hits over sixinnings, picking up his 18th win of the season, the most by aTigers pitcher since Bill Gullickson won 20 in 1991.

Gavin Floyd (1-5, 5.71) will try to end his three-game losingstreak when he toes the rubber for the White Sox.


During his last start, Floyd gave up four runs and seven hitsover 5 2/3 innings against the Minnesota Twins. The 24-year-oldrighthander suffered the loss as the Twins routed the WhiteSox, 7-1, on Sunday.

 

AL: DETROIT (87-74) at CHI WHITE SOX (72-89)

<h3>Robertson, Contreras battle in season finale</h3>

<div class="pre">Detroit (87-74) at Chi White Sox (72-89) 2:05 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers look to take the finalgame in their weekend series against the Chicago White Sox inthe regular-season finale on Sunday.


Nate Robertson (8-13, 4.79 ERA) tries to end his two-game slidefor the Tigers. The 6-2 lefthander was solid in his last start,but was on the short end of a 2-0 loss to Minnesota. Robertsonis 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA over his last five starts against theWhite Sox.


Chicago's Jose Contreras (10-16, 5.52) searches for his fifthstraight winning decision. The Cuban righthander was hammeredfor in his last outing, giving up five runs and six hits in 61/3 innings to Kansas City.


Contreras has an 8-5 record with a 4.18 ERA through 18 careerstarts against Detroit, which had dropped seven of its last 11games.


Detroit's Magglio Ordonez is close to earning the club's firstbatting crown since Norm Cash hit .361 in 1961. He is hitting.359 this season and has two homers against Contreras.

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">DETROIT AT CHI WHITE SOX -- LINEUPS

DETROIT CHI WHITE SOX
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Placido Polanco 2B .340 9 67 Jerry Owens CF .264 1 17
Curtis Granderson CF .299 23 74 Josh Fields 3B .241 22 65
Carlos Guillen 1B .295 20 98 Jim Thome DH .274 35 96
Magglio Ordonez RF .360 28 137 Paul Konerko 1B .258 31 90
Sean Casey DH .296 4 53 Jermaine Dye RF .253 28 77
Marcus Thames LF .242 18 52 Scott Podsednik LF .248 2 11
Mike Rabelo C .250 0 16 Juan Uribe SS .236 20 68
Brandon Inge 3B .235 14 70 Danny Richar 2B .230 6 15
Ramon Santiago SS .290 0 7 Toby Hall C .205 0 3

Nate Robertson LHP (8-13, 4.79) Jose Contreras RHP (10-16, 5.52)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
WARMUPS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON (8-13, 4.79)
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS (10-16, 5.52)

UMPIRES: HP - KERWIN DANLEY
1B - DOUG EDDINGS
2B - MIKE EVERITT
3B - CHRIS GUCCIONE

WEATHER: 76 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 10 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
STARTING BATS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON AND MIKE RABELO
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS AND TOBY HALL

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: P POLANCO (.340, 9 HR, 67 RBI)
C GRANDERSO (.299, 23 HR, 74 RBI)
C GUILLEN (.295, 20 HR, 98 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED CURTIS GRANDERSON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M ORDONEZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1
CHI WHITE SOX 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: S CASEY (.296, 4 HR, 53 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 1 1 2 0
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J OWENS (.264, 1 HR, 17 RBI)
J FIELDS (.241, 22 HR, 65 RBI)
J THOME (.274, 35 HR, 96 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .361
S Casey dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Thames lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (54, J Contreras). RBI - M Ordonez (138). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Casey 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (24, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Fields 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J Thome dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
P Konerko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
S Podsednik lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
T Hall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
CHI WHITE SOX - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.79

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.54

Pitches-strikes: J Contreras 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Contreras 0-3.
Batters faced: J Contreras 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 79 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
CONFIRMED STARTERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Terrero ran for J Thome.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, L TERRERO ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1
CHI WHITE SOX 0 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: P Konerko (.258, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 1 1 2 0
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M THAMES (.242, 18 HR, 52 RBI)
M RABELO (.250, 0 HR, 16 RBI)
B INGE (.235, 14 HR, 70 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .361
S Casey dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Thames lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (54, J Contreras). RBI - M Ordonez (138). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Casey 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (24, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
J Thome dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
L Terrero pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
S Podsednik lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
T Hall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
CHI WHITE SOX - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.76

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.54

Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 15-12; J Contreras 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls:
N Robertson 1-1; J Contreras 0-3. Batters faced: N Robertson 4; J Contreras 5.


UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 79 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 1 0 1 3 0
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J DYE (.253, 28 HR, 77 RBI)
S PODSEDNIK (.248, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
J URIBE (.236, 20 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .361
S Casey dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Thames lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
M Rabelo c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Santiago ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (54, J Contreras). RBI - M Ordonez (138). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Santiago 1, S Casey 1.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (24, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
J Thome dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
L Terrero pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
S Podsednik lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
T Hall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 10 -- 1
CHI WHITE SOX - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.76

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 5.51

Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 15-12; J Contreras 30-20. Ground balls-fly
balls: N Robertson 1-1; J Contreras 2-4. Batters faced: N Robertson 4; J
Contreras 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 79 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 1 0 1 3 0
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: P POLANCO (.340, 0-FOR-1)
C GRANDERSON (.300, 1-FOR-1)
C GUILLEN (.294, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .361
S Casey dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Thames lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
M Rabelo c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Santiago ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (54, J Contreras). RBI - M Ordonez (138). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Santiago 1, S Casey 1.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (24, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
J Thome dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
L Terrero pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
S Podsednik lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
J Uribe ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
T Hall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 10 -- 1
CHI WHITE SOX - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.73

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 5.51

Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 21-17; J Contreras 30-20. Ground balls-fly
balls: N Robertson 3-2; J Contreras 2-4. Batters faced: N Robertson 7; J
Contreras 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 79 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY CARLOS GUILLEN (21) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF JOSE CONTRERAS SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3, CHI WHITE SOX 0

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.361, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 1 0 2 3 5 0
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - NATE ROBERTSON
CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: D RICHAR (.230, 6 HR, 15 RBI)
T HALL (.205, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
J OWENS (.263, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">DETROIT (3) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
P Polanco 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .341
C Granderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .300
C Guillen 1b 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .295
M Ordonez rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .361
S Casey dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
M Thames lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
M Rabelo c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Santiago ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286

Totals 14 3 5 3 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (54, J Contreras). HR - C Guillen (21, 3rd inning off J
Contreras 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Ordonez (138), C Guillen 2 (100). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Santiago 1, S Casey 1.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (24, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
J Thome dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
L Terrero pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
S Podsednik lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
J Uribe ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
T Hall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 102 -- 3
CHI WHITE SOX - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.73

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 3 5 3 3 0 0 1 5.57

Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 21-17; J Contreras 47-32. Ground balls-fly
balls: N Robertson 3-2; J Contreras 2-7. Batters faced: N Robertson 7; J
Contreras 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 79 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>