GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (53-33) at DETROIT (51-34)

AL: BOSTON (53-33) at DETROIT (51-34)

<h3>Tigers seek series sweep of Red Sox</h3>

Boston (53-33) at Detroit (51-34) 1:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers will try to extend theirwinning streak to five games when they host the Boston Red Soxon Sunday.

All-Star Ivan Rodriguez drove in the game-winning run with asingle in the bottom of the 13th inning off closer JonathanPapelbon as the Tigers posted a 3-2 victory in Saturday'smatchup.

"Papelbon is tough," said Rodriguez, who was hitless in his fourprevious career at-bats against the righthander. "You try notto do too much. I just relaxed and threw my bat at the ball."

Nate Robinson (4-6, 4.86 ERA) takes the hill for the Tigers,seeking his first win at Comerica Park since May 19 when he beatthe defending World Series champions St. Louis Cardinals.

In his last outing, Robertson pitched five solid innings with aseason-high eight strikeouts in a no-decision vs. the ClevelandIndians on Tuesday.

The lefthander is 1-3 with a 6.55 ERA in six lifetime startsagainst the Red Sox.

Boston sends rookie sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka (10-5, 3.53) tothe mound with the hopes of earning his fourth straight win.

Matsuzaka was brilliant in his first career appearance againstthe Tigers, tossing a one-hitter for a 7-1 victory at FenwayPark on May 14.

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

BOSTON DETROIT
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Coco Crisp CF .269 5 28 Curtis Granderson CF .284 12 43
Dustin Pedroia 2B .319 3 25 Marcus Thames RF .244 9 27
David Ortiz DH .317 14 51 Gary Sheffield DH .297 20 56
Mike Lowell 3B .301 14 62 Sean Casey 1B .299 1 33
Jason Varitek C .279 8 36 Carlos Guillen SS .325 13 65
J.D. Drew RF .262 6 33 Craig Monroe LF .219 9 44
Wily Mo Pena LF .216 4 12 Mike Rabelo C .250 0 8
Jeff Bailey 1B .000 0 0 Omar Infante 2B .292 0 11
Julio Lugo SS .189 4 38 Brandon Inge 3B .247 11 41

Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (10-5, 3.53) Nate Robertson LHP (4-6, 4.86)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
WARMUPS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (10-5, 3.53)
DET - NATE ROBERTSON (4-6, 4.86)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM WOLF
1B - ROB DRAKE
2B - JIM JOYCE
3B - MIKE EVERITT

WEATHER: 85 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 12 mph, out to left</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
STARTING BATS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK
DET - NATE ROBERTSON AND MIKE RABELO

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.269, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.319, 3 HR, 25 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.317, 14 HR, 51 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.284, 12 HR, 43 RBI)
M THAMES (.244, 9 HR, 27 RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.297, 20 HR, 56 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216
J Bailey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
M Thames rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
O Infante 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 0 -- 0
DETROIT - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.53

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.79

Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 3-0.
Batters faced: N Robertson 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Mike Everitt.

Weather: 87 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
CONFIRMED STARTERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
DET - NATE ROBERTSON</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY GARY SHEFFIELD (21) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF DAISUKE MATSUZAKA.
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 0, DETROIT 1

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: S CASEY (.299, 1 HR, 33 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.301, 14 HR, 62 RBI)
J VARITEK (.279, 8 HR, 36 RBI)
J DREW (.262, 6 HR, 33 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216
J Bailey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Thames rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
G Sheffield dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .299
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .299
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .324
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
O Infante 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 4 1 1 1 1 0 1

BATTING: HR - G Sheffield (21, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - G
Sheffield (57). 2-out RBI - G Sheffield. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 0 -- 0
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 3.58

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.79

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 10-6; N Robertson 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls:
D Matsuzaka 1-2; N Robertson 3-0. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 5; N Robertson 3.


UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Mike Everitt.

Weather: 87 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C MONROE (.219, 9 HR, 44 RBI)
M RABELO (.250, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
O INFANTE (.292, 0 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .303
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .261
W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .214
J Bailey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Thames rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
G Sheffield dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .299
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .299
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .324
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
M Rabelo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
O Infante 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 4 1 1 1 1 0 1

BATTING: HR - G Sheffield (21, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - G
Sheffield (57). 2-out RBI - G Sheffield. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 00 -- 0
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 3.58

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

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 10-6; N Robertson 26-18. Ground balls-fly balls:
D Matsuzaka 1-2; N Robertson 3-2. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 5; N Robertson 7.


UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Mike Everitt.

Weather: 87 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J BAILEY (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J LUGO (.189, 4 HR, 38 RBI)
C CRISP (.268, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .303
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .261
W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .214
J Bailey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Thames rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
G Sheffield dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .299
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .299
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .324
C Monroe lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .222
M Rabelo c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .247
O Infante 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 1 4

BATTING: HR - G Sheffield (21, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - G
Sheffield (57). 2-out RBI - G Sheffield. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 00 -- 0
DETROIT - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3.55

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

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 31-19; N Robertson 26-18. Ground balls-fly
balls: D Matsuzaka 1-4; N Robertson 3-2. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 9; N
Robertson 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Mike Everitt.

Weather: 87 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DAVID ORTIZ HIT BY NATE ROBERTSON PITCH WITH BASES LOADED
SCORED JULIO LUGO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D ORTIZ ON FIRST, D PEDROIA ON SECOND, C
CRISP ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1
DETROIT 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.303, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY MIKE LOWELL SCORED COCO CRISP.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D ORTIZ ON SECOND, D PEDROIA ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 2
DETROIT 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J VARITEK (.278, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.283, 0-FOR-1)
M THAMES (.242, 0-FOR-1)
G SHEFFIELD (.299, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .268
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .316
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .303
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .278
J Drew rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .260
W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .214
J Bailey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Lugo ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .189

Totals 9 2 1 2 4 1 6

BATTING: SF - M Lowell. RBI - D Ortiz (52), M Lowell (63). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Drew 2. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Lugo (22, 2nd base off N Robertson/M Rabelo).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Thames rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
G Sheffield dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .299
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .299
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .324
C Monroe lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .222
M Rabelo c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .247
O Infante 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 1 4

BATTING: HR - G Sheffield (21, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - G
Sheffield (57). 2-out RBI - G Sheffield. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - M Rabelo (2, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 002 -- 2
DETROIT - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3.55

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 3 1 2 2 4 1 0 4.90

IBB - J Varitek (by N Robertson). HBP - D Ortiz (by N Robertson).
Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 31-19; N Robertson 54-27. Ground balls-fly balls:
D Matsuzaka 1-4; N Robertson 4-4. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 9; N Robertson 15.


UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Mike Everitt.

Weather: 87 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MARCUS THAMES (10) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF DAISUKE MATSUZAKA.
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 2, DETROIT 2

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.299, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY SEAN CASEY SCORED GARY SHEFFIELD.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, S CASEY ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 2
DETROIT 3 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.324, 0-FOR-1)</div>