GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (68-56) at DETROIT (68-57)

AL: CLEVELAND (68-56) at DETROIT (68-57)

<h3>Tigers aim to regain AL Central lead</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland (68-56) at Detroit (68-57) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers hope to regain the leadin the American League Central Division when they continue athree-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

Thanks to a 2-1 victory in Tuesday's series opener, the Tigerspulled within one-half game of the Indians.


With some momentum, the Tigers send ace Justin Verlander (13-4,3.63 ERA) to the mound. The righthander, who beat the New YorkYankees on Thursday, is seeking his third straight win.

In his last appearance against the Indians, the hard-throwingrighthander gave up three runs and six hits over seven inningsin a 12-3 rout here on July 5. He is just 3-3 in seven careerstars in the series.


Rookie Jair Jurrjens tossed a one-hitter and Magglio Ordonez andCarlos Guillen storked consecutive homers to pace the Tigers onTuesday.


Detroit also saw the return of righthander reliever Joel Zumaya,who had been sidelined since early May with a ruptured tendonin his middle pitching finger that required surgery.

Cleveland's Paul Byrd (11-4, 4.41) gets the call after limitingTampa Bay to one run over six frames in a victory on Friday. AtComerica Park on July 3, Byrd worked seven strong innings butdid not factor in the decision.


The 36-year-old righthander has been stellar against the Tigers,posting a 7-2 record with a 3.36 ERA in 14 lifetime starts.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND DETROIT
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Kenny Lofton LF .293 7 26 Curtis Granderson CF .288 16 56
Casey Blake 3B .263 15 58 Placido Polanco 2B .342 7 51
Grady Sizemore CF .274 21 67 Sean Casey 1B .283 3 46
Victor Martinez 1B .301 18 86 Magglio Ordonez RF .351 23 111
Travis Hafner DH .252 18 71 Carlos Guillen SS .304 16 79
Jhonny Peralta SS .273 18 61 Ivan Rodriguez C .280 10 51
Franklin Gutierrez RF .276 8 19 Marcus Thames DH .247 13 37
Kelly Shoppach C .262 5 20 Brandon Inge 3B .242 12 56
Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .269 1 4 Cameron Maybin LF .182 1 1

Paul Byrd RHP (11-5, 4.41) Justin Verlander RHP (13-4, 3.63)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (11-5, 4.41)
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER (13-4, 3.63)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM REYNOLDS
1B - TIM WELKE
2B - GARY CEDERSTROM
3B - LANCE BARKSDALE

WEATHER: 85 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 11 mph, in from center</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.293, 7 HR, 26 RBI)
C BLAKE (.263, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
G SIZEMORE (.274, 21 HR, 67 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY VICTOR MARTINEZ SCORED KENNY LOFTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V MARTINEZ ON FIRST, C BLAKE ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
DETROIT 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.252, 18 HR, 71 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.288, 16 HR, 56 RBI)
P POLANCO (.342, 7 HR, 51 RBI)
S CASEY (.283, 3 HR, 46 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .295
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
V Martinez 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .252
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 6

BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (18, J Verlander). RBI - V Martinez (87). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
P Polanco 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
M Thames dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
C Maybin lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 1 -- 1
DETROIT - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.41

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.66

HBP - C Blake (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 23-17. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Verlander 0-2. Batters faced: J Verlander 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY CARLOS GUILLEN (17) TO RIGHT WITH 2
OUT IN THE 1ST OFF PAUL BYRD SCORED SEAN CASEY AND MAGGLIO ORDONEZ.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, DETROIT 3

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.280, 10 HR, 51 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: F GUTIERREZ (.276, 8 HR, 19 RBI)
K SHOPPACH (.262, 5 HR, 20 RBI)
A CABRERA (.269, 1 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .295
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
V Martinez 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .252
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 6

BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (18, J Verlander). RBI - V Martinez (87). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
S Casey 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
M Ordonez rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .351
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .306
I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
M Thames dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
C Maybin lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 6 3 3 3 1 1 1

BATTING: HR - C Guillen (17, 1st inning off P Byrd 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - C
Guillen 3 (82). 2-out RBI - C Guillen 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Thames 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 1 -- 1
DETROIT - 3 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 3 3 3 1 1 1 4.56

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.66

WP - P Byrd. HBP - C Blake (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 23-12; J
Verlander 23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-1; J Verlander 0-2. Batters
faced: P Byrd 7; J Verlander 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.242, 12 HR, 56 RBI)
C MAYBIN (.182, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
C GRANDERSON (.288, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .295
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
V Martinez 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .252
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 3 6

BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (18, J Verlander). RBI - V Martinez (87). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
S Casey 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
M Ordonez rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .351
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .306
I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
M Thames dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
C Maybin lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 6 3 3 3 1 1 1

BATTING: HR - C Guillen (17, 1st inning off P Byrd 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - C
Guillen 3 (82). 2-out RBI - C Guillen 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Thames 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 10 -- 1
DETROIT - 3 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 3 3 3 1 1 1 4.56

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 2 2 1 1 0 3 0 3.64

WP - P Byrd. HBP - C Blake (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 23-12; J
Verlander 38-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-1; J Verlander 0-3. Batters
faced: P Byrd 7; J Verlander 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.295, 1-FOR-1)
C BLAKE (.263, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
G SIZEMORE (.274, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .295
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
V Martinez 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .252
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 3 6

BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (18, J Verlander). RBI - V Martinez (87). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .341
S Casey 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .285
M Ordonez rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .351
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .306
I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
M Thames dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
C Maybin lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 10 3 4 3 2 2 4

BATTING: 2B - C Maybin (1, P Byrd). HR - C Guillen (17, 1st inning off P Byrd 2
on, 2 Out). RBI - C Guillen 3 (82). 2-out RBI - C Guillen 3. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Thames 1, S Casey 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 10 -- 1
DETROIT - 30 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 4 3 3 2 2 1 4.53

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 2 2 1 1 0 3 0 3.64

WP - P Byrd. HBP - C Blake (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 42-24; J
Verlander 38-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-3; J Verlander 0-3. Batters
faced: P Byrd 12; J Verlander 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.351, 0-FOR-0, BB)
C GUILLEN (.306, 1-FOR-1, HR, 3 RBI)
I RODRIGUEZ (.282, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .295
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .273
V Martinez 1b 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 .302
T Hafner dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .251
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259

Totals 12 1 3 1 1 4 12

BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (18, J Verlander). RBI - V Martinez (87). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 1, J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 4.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .341
S Casey 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .285
M Ordonez rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .351
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .306
I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
M Thames dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
C Maybin lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 10 3 4 3 2 2 4

BATTING: 2B - C Maybin (1, P Byrd). HR - C Guillen (17, 1st inning off P Byrd 2
on, 2 Out). RBI - C Guillen 3 (82). 2-out RBI - C Guillen 3. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Thames 1, S Casey 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 100 -- 1
DETROIT - 30 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 4 3 3 2 2 1 4.53

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 3 3 1 1 1 4 0 3.62

WP - P Byrd. HBP - C Blake (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 42-24; J
Verlander 57-38. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-3; J Verlander 0-5. Batters
faced: P Byrd 12; J Verlander 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.272, 0-FOR-1)
F GUTIERREZ (.275, 0-FOR-1)
K SHOPPACH (.260, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .295
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .273
V Martinez 1b 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 .302
T Hafner dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .251
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259

Totals 12 1 3 1 1 4 12

BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (18, J Verlander). RBI - V Martinez (87). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 1, J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 4.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .341
S Casey 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .285
M Ordonez rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .350
C Guillen ss 2 1 1 3 0 0 0 .305
I Rodriguez c 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .281
M Thames dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
C Maybin lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 13 3 4 3 2 3 4

BATTING: 2B - C Maybin (1, P Byrd). HR - C Guillen (17, 1st inning off P Byrd 2
on, 2 Out). RBI - C Guillen 3 (82). 2-out RBI - C Guillen 3. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Thames 1, S Casey 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 100 -- 1
DETROIT - 300 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 3 4 3 3 2 3 1 4.50

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 3 3 1 1 1 4 0 3.62

WP - P Byrd. HBP - C Blake (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 52-31; J
Verlander 57-38. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-5; J Verlander 0-5. Batters
faced: P Byrd 15; J Verlander 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ASDRUBAL CABRERA SCORED FRANKLIN GUTIERREZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A CABRERA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
DETROIT 3 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.295, 1-FOR-1, BB)</div>