GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (42-69) at DETROIT (62-49)

AL: TAMPA BAY (42-69) at DETROIT (62-49)

<h3>Likely minus Sheffield, Tigers go for second straight win</h3>



<div class="pre">Tampa Bay (42-69) at Detroit (62-49) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

DETROIT (Ticker) -- With Gary Sheffield likely to miss his fifthstraight game, the Detroit Tigers will look to put togethertheir second consecutive win when they continue a four-gameseries with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday.


Sheffield, who leads the Tigers with 23 home runs, missed hisfourth straight game Monday with shoulder problems but hasstated that he expects to return by the end of this series.

Detroit had lost five straight contests - four of which theslugger was sidelined for - before Monday's 6-4 comeback, whichimproved it to 6-5 when the nine-time All-Star does not start.

To win their second consecutive game for the first time sinceJuly 18-19, the Tigers will see if Nate Robertson (6-9, 5.05ERA) can break his three-game losing streak. In Wednesday's 3-2loss at the Oakland Athletics, he permitted three runs and ninehits in six-plus innings.


Since his last win on July 17, the lefthander has surrendered 16runs - 15 earned - and 30 hits in 17 2/3 innings.


History is not on the side of Robertson's, as he has struggledagainst the Devil Rays, going 0-3 with a 5.94 ERA in fourlifetime starts. Included in that is a 5-3 road loss on May 30,when the lefthander surrendered four runs and nine hits in 51/3 innings.


His counterpart on the mound will be rookie Jason Hammel (1-1,5.40), who will be making his fourth straight start since beingpromoted from the bullpen on July 21.


The 24-year-old was forced to leave his last start against theToronto Blue Jays on Wednesday earlier due to shouldertightness. Hammel lasted just three innings, allowing two runsand three hits.


This will be the righthander's first appearance against Detroit.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY AT DETROIT -- LINEUPS

TAMPA BAY DETROIT
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Akinori Iwamura 3B .295 3 15 Curtis Granderson CF .298 16 53
Carl Crawford LF .304 9 60 Placido Polanco DH .343 6 48
B.J. Upton CF .325 16 52 Sean Casey 1B .291 3 41
Carlos Pena 1B .279 26 70 Magglio Ordonez RF .351 17 92
Delmon Young RF .292 9 57 Carlos Guillen SS .315 14 74
Brendan Harris 2B .298 8 43 Ivan Rodriguez C .281 9 50
Jonny Gomes DH .256 12 29 Ryan Raburn 2B .348 3 12
Josh Wilson SS .283 0 16 Craig Monroe LF .222 11 54
Dioner Navarro C .188 3 21 Brandon Inge 3B .240 12 50

Jason Hammel RHP (1-1, 5.40) Nate Robertson LHP (6-9, 5.05)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
WARMUPS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL (1-1, 5.40)
DET - NATE ROBERTSON (6-9, 5.05)

UMPIRES: HP - ERIC COOPER
1B - ANDY FLETCHER
2B - MIKE REILLY
3B - JEFF KELLOGG

WEATHER: 85 Degrees, overcast
WIND: 12 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
STARTING BATS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL AND DIONER NAVARRO
DET - NATE ROBERTSON AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.295, 3 HR, 15 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.304, 9 HR, 60 RBI)
B UPTON (.325, 16 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.298, 16 HR, 53 RBI)
P POLANCO (.343, 6 HR, 48 RBI)
S CASEY (.291, 3 HR, 41 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
P Polanco dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .343
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Raburn 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
DETROIT - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.40

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.00

Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 9-7. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 1-1.
Batters faced: N Robertson 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Andy Fletcher. 2B--Mike Reilly. 3B--Jeff
Kellogg.

Weather: 85 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL
DET - NATE ROBERTSON</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY SEAN CASEY SCORED CURTIS GRANDERSON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, S CASEY ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.351, 17 HR, 92 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C PENA (.279, 26 HR, 70 RBI)
D YOUNG (.292, 9 HR, 57 RBI)
B HARRIS (.298, 8 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - D Navarro (7, throw). DP: 1 (J Wilson-B Harris-C Pena).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .299
P Polanco dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .342
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .293
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .350
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Raburn 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (30, J Hammel). RBI - S Casey (42). GIDP - M
Ordonez. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.52

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.00

Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 20-12; N Robertson 9-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Hammel 3-0; N Robertson 1-1. Batters faced: J Hammel 4; N Robertson 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Andy Fletcher. 2B--Mike Reilly. 3B--Jeff
Kellogg.

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

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.315, 14 HR, 74 RBI)
I RODRIGUEZ (.281, 9 HR, 50 RBI)
R RABURN (.348, 3 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
B Harris 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Gomes dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .260
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .281
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Wilson 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - D Navarro (7, throw). DP: 1 (J Wilson-B Harris-C Pena).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .299
P Polanco dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .342
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .293
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .350
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Raburn 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (30, J Hammel). RBI - S Casey (42). GIDP - M
Ordonez. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.52

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 4.95

Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 20-12; N Robertson 21-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Hammel 3-0; N Robertson 3-1. Batters faced: J Hammel 4; N Robertson 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Andy Fletcher. 2B--Mike Reilly. 3B--Jeff
Kellogg.

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

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY RYAN RABURN SCORED IVAN RODRIGUEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R RABURN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C MONROE (.222, 11 HR, 54 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY BRANDON INGE SCORED RYAN RABURN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B INGE ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 3 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.299, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D NAVARRO (.188, 3 HR, 21 RBI)
A IWAMURA (.294, 0-FOR-1)
C CRAWFORD (.303, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (0) VS DETROIT (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
B Harris 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Gomes dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .260
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .281
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Wilson 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - D Navarro (7, throw). DP: 1 (J Wilson-B Harris-C Pena).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .299
P Polanco dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .342
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .293
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .350
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
I Rodriguez c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
R Raburn 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .362
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .222
B Inge 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .242

Totals 10 3 5 3 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (30, J Hammel); R Raburn (4, J Hammel). 3B - B Inge
(1, J Hammel). RBI - S Casey (42), R Raburn (13), B Inge (51). 2-out RBI - B
Inge. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Granderson 1. GIDP - M
Ordonez. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
DETROIT - 12 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 2 5 3 3 0 1 0 5.91

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 4.95

WP - J Hammel. Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 40-24; N Robertson 21-17. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Hammel 5-0; N Robertson 3-1. Batters faced: J Hammel 10; N
Robertson 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Andy Fletcher. 2B--Mike Reilly. 3B--Jeff
Kellogg.

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

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DIONER NAVARRO (4) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF NATE ROBERTSON.
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 1, DETROIT 3

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.294, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JASON HAMMEL
DET - NATE ROBERTSON

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: P POLANCO (.342, 0-FOR-1)
S CASEY (.293, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
M ORDONEZ (.350, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
C Crawford lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
B Upton cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .323
C Pena 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
B Harris 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Gomes dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .260
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .281
D Navarro c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .192

Totals 13 1 4 1 0 4 4

BATTING: HR - D Navarro (4, 3rd inning off N Robertson 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - D
Navarro (22). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Wilson 1. Team LOB -
3.

FIELDING: E - D Navarro (7, throw). DP: 1 (J Wilson-B Harris-C Pena).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .299
P Polanco dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .342
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .293
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .350
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
I Rodriguez c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
R Raburn 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .362
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .222
B Inge 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .242

Totals 10 3 5 3 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (30, J Hammel); R Raburn (4, J Hammel). 3B - B Inge
(1, J Hammel). RBI - S Casey (42), R Raburn (13), B Inge (51). 2-out RBI - B
Inge. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Granderson 1. GIDP - M
Ordonez. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 001 -- 1
DETROIT - 12 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 2 5 3 3 0 1 0 5.91

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 3 4 1 1 0 4 1 4.99

WP - J Hammel. Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 40-24; N Robertson 36-28. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Hammel 5-0; N Robertson 4-1. Batters faced: J Hammel 10; N
Robertson 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Andy Fletcher. 2B--Mike Reilly. 3B--Jeff
Kellogg.

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

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M ORDONEZ ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 1
DETROIT 4 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.314, 0-FOR-1)</div>