GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (29-17) at DETROIT (29-18)

AL: CLEVELAND (29-17) at DETROIT (29-18)

<h3>Sabathia, Indians face Verlander, Tigers</h3>



<div class="pre">Cleveland (29-17) at Detroit (29-18) 3:55 pm EDT</div>

DETROIT (Ticker) -- C.C. Sabathia will take the mound for theCleveland Indians, who are looking to extend their slim lead inthe American League Central when they take on the second-placeDetroit Tigers in the middle game of a three-game set onSaturday.

In the series opener Casey Blake and Victor Martinez blastedhomers in the first inning to lead the Indians to a 7-4 victoryover the Tigers in a battle of the top two teams in the ALCentral.

Cleveland regained a one-half lead over Detroit in the divisionto secure just its fourth win in its last 11 games at ComericaPark.

Sabathia (6-1, 3.51 ERA) has been impressive this season but hashad some troubles against the Tigers in his career, especiallylast campaign.

The lefthander, who is 10-7 against Detroit all time, failed tobeat the Tigers in 2006. He posted a 2.45 ERA in three outingsbut received just one run of support in those contests.

In his last outing, Sabathia allowed one run and eight hits infive innings but left after 92 pitches and did not figure in thedecision in a 5-2 vs. Seattle on Monday.

He will be opposed by another young ace, Justin Verlander (5-1,2.68), who is aiming to become the first Detroit pitcher to winfive games in month since August 2002. He is coming off hislongest outing of the season, tossing eight innings and allowingtwo runs and five hits in a 6-3 victory over the St. LouisCardinals last Monday.

The hard-throwing righthander, who won the AL Rookie of the Yearaward last season, was 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA against Clevelandlast campaign.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND DETROIT
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .274 8 24 Ivan Rodriguez C .278 4 23
Casey Blake 3B .268 6 24 Placido Polanco 2B .326 1 26
Travis Hafner DH .270 9 32 Gary Sheffield DH .240 9 22
Victor Martinez C .318 7 36 Magglio Ordonez RF .358 12 45
Trot Nixon RF .291 2 20 Carlos Guillen SS .337 6 36
Jhonny Peralta SS .280 10 33 Craig Monroe LF .233 6 27
David Dellucci LF .227 1 7 Marcus Thames 1B .175 3 8
Ryan Garko 1B .336 6 17 Omar Infante CF .324 0 4
Josh Barfield 2B .234 2 23 Brandon Inge 3B .218 8 17

C.C. Sabathia LHP (6-1, 3.51) Justin Verlander RHP (5-1, 2.68)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
WARMUPS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA (6-1, 3.51)
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER (5-1, 2.68)

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

WEATHER: 59 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 9 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
STARTING BATS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA AND VICTOR MARTINEZ
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.274, 8 HR, 24 RBI)
C BLAKE (.268, 6 HR, 24 RBI)
T HAFNER (.270, 9 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 0 0 0 0
DETROIT 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.278, 4 HR, 23 RBI)
P POLANCO (.326, 1 HR, 26 RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.240, 9 HR, 22 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Nixon 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
P Polanco 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .358
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .175
O Infante cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.51

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.64

HBP - G Sizemore (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 18-8. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Verlander 0-3. Batters faced: J Verlander 5.

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

Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.280, 10 HR, 33 RBI)
D DELLUCCI (.227, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
R GARKO (.336, 6 HR, 17 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Nixon 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - J Peralta (8, ground ball).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .175
O Infante cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 4 0 0 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


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

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.46

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.64

HBP - G Sizemore (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 13-9; J
Verlander 18-8. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 1-2; J Verlander 0-3.
Batters faced: C Sabathia 4; J Verlander 5.

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

Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.337, 6 HR, 36 RBI)
C MONROE (.233, 6 HR, 27 RBI)
M THAMES (.175, 3 HR, 8 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Dellucci lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 1 7

BATTING: 3B - D Dellucci (1, J Verlander). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - T Nixon 1, J Barfield 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - J Peralta (8, ground ball).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .175
O Infante cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 4 0 0 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
DETROIT - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.46

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.59

HBP - G Sizemore (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 13-9; J
Verlander 28-14. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 1-2; J Verlander 1-4.
Batters faced: C Sabathia 4; J Verlander 9.

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

Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MARCUS THAMES (4) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF C.C. SABATHIA.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0, DETROIT 1

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: O INFANTE (.324, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.274, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
C BLAKE (.266, 0-FOR-1)
T HAFNER (.270, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Dellucci lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 1 7

BATTING: 3B - D Dellucci (1, J Verlander). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - T Nixon 1, J Barfield 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - J Peralta (8, ground ball).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Thames 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .190
O Infante cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 8 1 1 1 0 0 2

BATTING: HR - M Thames (4, 2nd inning off C Sabathia 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M
Thames (9). 2-out RBI - M Thames. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
DETROIT - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.54

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.59

HBP - G Sizemore (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 26-18; J
Verlander 28-14. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 2-4; J Verlander 1-4.
Batters faced: C Sabathia 8; J Verlander 9.

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

Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY VICTOR MARTINEZ (8) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER SCORED GRADY SIZEMORE.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 1

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T NIXON (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.218, 8 HR, 17 RBI)
I RODRIGUEZ (.276, 0-FOR-1)
P POLANCO (.324, 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 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .274
C Blake 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .265
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .269
V Martinez c 2 1 1 2 0 0 2 .321
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .287
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Dellucci lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233

Totals 11 2 2 2 2 2 9

BATTING: 3B - D Dellucci (1, J Verlander). HR - V Martinez (8, 3rd inning off J
Verlander 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - V Martinez 2 (38). 2-out RBI - V Martinez 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Nixon 1, J Barfield 1. Team LOB -
3.

FIELDING: E - J Peralta (8, ground ball).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Thames 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .190
O Infante cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 8 1 1 1 0 0 2

BATTING: HR - M Thames (4, 2nd inning off C Sabathia 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M
Thames (9). 2-out RBI - M Thames. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 002 -- 2
DETROIT - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.54

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 2.85

HBP - G Sizemore (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 26-18; J
Verlander 50-26. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 2-4; J Verlander 2-5.
Batters faced: C Sabathia 8; J Verlander 14.

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

Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.278, 0-FOR-1)
D DELLUCCI (.233, 1-FOR-1)
R GARKO (.333, 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 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .274
C Blake 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .265
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .269
V Martinez c 2 1 1 2 0 0 2 .321
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .287
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Dellucci lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233

Totals 11 2 2 2 2 2 9

BATTING: 3B - D Dellucci (1, J Verlander). HR - V Martinez (8, 3rd inning off J
Verlander 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - V Martinez 2 (38). 2-out RBI - V Martinez 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Nixon 1, J Barfield 1. Team LOB -
3.

FIELDING: E - J Peralta (8, ground ball).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Rodriguez c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
P Polanco 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .356
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Thames 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .190
O Infante cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Inge 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217

Totals 11 1 1 1 0 0 2

BATTING: HR - M Thames (4, 2nd inning off C Sabathia 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M
Thames (9). 2-out RBI - M Thames. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 002 -- 2
DETROIT - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.49

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 2.85

HBP - G Sizemore (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 38-25; J
Verlander 50-26. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 2-7; J Verlander 2-5.
Batters faced: C Sabathia 11; J Verlander 14.

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

Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.238, 0-FOR-1)
M ORDONEZ (.356, 0-FOR-1)
C GUILLEN (.335, 0-FOR-1)</div>