GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (28-17) at DETROIT (29-17)

AL: CLEVELAND (28-17) at DETROIT (29-17)

<h3>Tigers, Indians meet in AL Central battle</h3>

Cleveland (28-17) at Detroit (29-17) 7:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Tigers will try to add somedistance to their slim lead over the Cleveland Indians in theAmerican League Central when the teams meet Friday.

A one-half game lead in the division separates the Tigersfrom the Indians, who have dropped seven of 10 at ComericaPark.

Detroit sends Nate Robertson (4-3, 3.62 ERA) to the mound inthe opener. He snapped his personal two-game skid last timeout, yielding two runs in five innings of an 8-7 win over St.Louis.

The lefthander split his two starts vs. Cleveland lastseason. He is 2-3 with a 5.00 ERA in 11 career starts againstthe Indians.

On Thursday, Carlos Guillen homered twice and drove in fiveruns and Magglio Ordonez had four hits and three RBI as theTigers rolled to an impressive 12-0 triumph over the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim.

Cleveland's Paul Byrd (4-1, 3.55) goes in search of his thirdconsecutive winning start. In his last outing, Byrd allowedthree runs and nine hits through seven frames in a 5-3 victoryover Cincinnati.

The righthander is 6-2 with a 3.04 ERA in 13 lifetime games,including 12 starts, against the defending American Leaguechamps. Byrd has a 2-2 mark with a 1.67 ERA against the Tigers.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT DETROIT -- LINEUPS

CLEVELAND DETROIT
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .270 8 23 Curtis Granderson CF .286 8 27
Casey Blake RF .265 5 23 Placido Polanco 2B .333 1 26
Travis Hafner DH .273 9 31 Gary Sheffield DH .246 9 22
Victor Martinez 1B .322 6 35 Magglio Ordonez RF .361 12 45
Jhonny Peralta SS .274 10 32 Carlos Guillen SS .327 6 35
Jason Michaels LF .286 2 13 Ivan Rodriguez C .266 4 21
Josh Barfield 2B .232 1 21 Sean Casey 1B .255 0 10
Kelly Shoppach C .302 1 7 Craig Monroe LF .233 5 26
Andy Marte 3B .174 1 8 Brandon Inge 3B .224 8 17

Paul Byrd RHP (4-1, 3.55) Nate Robertson LHP (4-3, 3.62)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (4-1, 3.55)
DET - NATE ROBERTSON (4-3, 3.62)

UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE FROEMMING
1B - MARK WEGNER
2B - BRIAN RUNGE
3B - MIKE WINTERS

WEATHER: 73 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 10 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
STARTING BATS: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH
DET - NATE ROBERTSON AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.270, 8 HR, 23 RBI)
C BLAKE (.265, 5 HR, 23 RBI)
T HAFNER (.273, 9 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CASEY BLAKE (6) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
1ST OFF NATE ROBERTSON.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, DETROIT 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.273, 9 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY VICTOR MARTINEZ (7) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF NATE ROBERTSON.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.274, 10 HR, 32 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.286, 8 HR, 27 RBI)
P POLANCO (.333, 1 HR, 26 RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.246, 9 HR, 22 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (2) VS DETROIT (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
C Blake rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
V Martinez 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .327
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
A Marte 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174

Totals 5 2 2 2 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - C Blake (6, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 1 Out), V Martinez
(7, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Blake (24), V Martinez
(36). 2-out RBI - V Martinez. Team LOB - 0.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
P Polanco 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .361
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 2 -- 2
DETROIT - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.55

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 2 2 2 0 1 2 3.88

Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 23-13. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 2-0.
Batters faced: N Robertson 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - NATE ROBERTSON</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J MICHAELS (.286, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
J BARFIELD (.232, 1 HR, 21 RBI)
K SHOPPACH (.302, 1 HR, 7 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (2) VS DETROIT (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
C Blake rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
V Martinez 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .327
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
A Marte 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174

Totals 5 2 2 2 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - C Blake (6, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 1 Out), V Martinez
(7, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Blake (24), V Martinez
(36). 2-out RBI - V Martinez. Team LOB - 0.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .361
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 2 -- 2
DETROIT - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.47

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 2 2 2 0 1 2 3.88

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 8-6; N Robertson 23-13. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 0-2; N Robertson 2-0. Batters faced: P Byrd 3; N Robertson 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.361, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
C GUILLEN (.327, 6 HR, 35 RBI)
I RODRIGUEZ (.266, 4 HR, 21 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (2) VS DETROIT (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .267
C Blake rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
V Martinez 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .327
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
K Shoppach c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318
A Marte 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .191

Totals 10 2 4 2 0 1 2

BATTING: HR - C Blake (6, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 1 Out), V Martinez
(7, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Blake (24), V Martinez
(36). 2-out RBI - V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G
Sizemore 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .361
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 20 -- 2
DETROIT - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.47

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 2 4 2 2 0 1 2 3.81

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 8-6; N Robertson 35-21. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 0-2; N Robertson 5-0. Batters faced: P Byrd 3; N Robertson 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY IVAN RODRIGUEZ SCORED CARLOS GUILLEN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, I RODRIGUEZ ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
DETROIT 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: S CASEY (.255, 0 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: C BLAKE (.269, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
T HAFNER (.271, 0-FOR-1)
V MARTINEZ (.327, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (2) VS DETROIT (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .267
C Blake rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
V Martinez 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .327
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
K Shoppach c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318
A Marte 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .191

Totals 10 2 4 2 0 1 2

BATTING: HR - C Blake (6, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 1 Out), V Martinez
(7, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Blake (24), V Martinez
(36). 2-out RBI - V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G
Sizemore 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .359
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .270
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .260
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .231
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .222

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 1 4

BATTING: 3B - C Guillen (4, P Byrd). RBI - I Rodriguez (22). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - B Inge 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 20 -- 2
DETROIT - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 3.59

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 2 4 2 2 0 1 2 3.81

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 18-15; N Robertson 35-21. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 0-5; N Robertson 5-0. Batters faced: P Byrd 9; N Robertson 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.284, 0-FOR-1)
P POLANCO (.331, 0-FOR-1)
G SHEFFIELD (.244, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (2) VS DETROIT (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .267
C Blake rf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .269
T Hafner dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269
V Martinez 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .325
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
K Shoppach c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318
A Marte 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .191

Totals 12 2 4 2 1 1 4

BATTING: HR - C Blake (6, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 1 Out), V Martinez
(7, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Blake (24), V Martinez
(36). 2-out RBI - V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G
Sizemore 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - C Blake (3, 2nd base by N Robertson).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .359
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .270
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .260
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .231
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .222

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 1 4

BATTING: 3B - C Guillen (4, P Byrd). RBI - I Rodriguez (22). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - B Inge 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 200 -- 2
DETROIT - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 3.59

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 3 4 2 2 1 1 2 3.75

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 18-15; N Robertson 47-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 0-5; N Robertson 5-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 9; N Robertson 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.272, 0-FOR-1)
J MICHAELS (.282, 0-FOR-1)
J BARFIELD (.231, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (2) VS DETROIT (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .267
C Blake rf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .269
T Hafner dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269
V Martinez 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .325
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
K Shoppach c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318
A Marte 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .191

Totals 12 2 4 2 1 1 4

BATTING: HR - C Blake (6, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 1 Out), V Martinez
(7, 1st inning off N Robertson 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Blake (24), V Martinez
(36). 2-out RBI - V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G
Sizemore 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - C Blake (3, 2nd base by N Robertson).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282
P Polanco 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .330
G Sheffield dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .359
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .270
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .260
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .231
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .222

Totals 12 1 3 1 0 2 4

BATTING: 3B - C Guillen (4, P Byrd). RBI - I Rodriguez (22). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - B Inge 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 200 -- 2
DETROIT - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 3 3 1 1 0 2 0 3.51

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 3 4 2 2 1 1 2 3.75

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 27-23; N Robertson 47-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 1-6; N Robertson 5-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 12; N Robertson 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>