AL: DETROIT (30-22) at CLEVELAND (32-19) <h3>Indians look to build on recent success over Tigers</h3> <div class="pre">Detroit (30-22) at Cleveland (32-19) 7:05 pm EDT</div> CLEVELAND (Ticker) - While many people could see this edition ofthe Cleveland Indians were a good team, not many expected themto be able to go into Detroit last weekend and sweep thedefending American League champions. The Indians host the opener of a four-game set against theDetroit Tigers on Thursday at Jacobs Field. Since starting the season 7-7, Cleveland is 25-12, including athree-game sweep completed last Sunday. Despite losing two ofthree to the Boston Red Sox, the Indians did not lose any oftheir 2 1/2-game lead over the Tigers, who dropped two of threeto Tampa Bay. C.C. Sabathia (7-1, 3.54 ERA) looks to continue his personalsuccess against the Tigers. He faced Detroit on Saturday,picking up the win in a seven-inning outing, allowing three runsand six hits in winning his second straight decision. Sabathia has allowed more than three runs only twice in his 11starts this year. The lefthander owns an 11-7 record and 4.03ERA in 21 starts against the Tigers. Justin Verlander (5-1, 2.71 ERA) will look to win his fifthstraight decision after receiving no decision in his duel withSabathia on Saturday. He left with a one-run lead after sixinnings, but the Tigers' bullpen failed to come through in the6-3 loss. The righthander is 2-2 with a 4.85 ERA in five career startsagainst Cleveland.
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT AT CLEVELAND -- LINEUPS DETROIT CLEVELAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Ivan Rodriguez C .276 5 26 Grady Sizemore CF .269 9 26 Placido Polanco 2B .330 1 28 Casey Blake 3B .270 7 27 Gary Sheffield DH .267 12 29 Travis Hafner DH .270 9 36 Magglio Ordonez RF .352 12 48 Victor Martinez C .308 8 41 Marcus Thames 1B .239 4 11 Trot Nixon RF .272 2 21 Craig Monroe LF .238 7 29 Jhonny Peralta SS .287 10 33 Omar Infante 3B .309 0 5 David Dellucci LF .239 2 10 Neifi Perez SS .200 1 5 Ryan Garko 1B .333 7 20 Curtis Granderson CF .281 8 27 Josh Barfield 2B .237 2 25 Justin Verlander RHP (5-1, 2.71) C.C. Sabathia LHP (7-1, 3.54)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND WARMUPS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER (5-1, 2.71) CLE - C.C. SABATHIA (7-1, 3.54) UMPIRES: HP - GREG GIBSON 1B - LARRY VANOVER 2B - TONY RANDAZZO 3B - CHARLIE RELIFORD WEATHER: 83 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 5 mph, in from right</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND STARTING BATS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ CLE - C.C. SABATHIA AND VICTOR MARTINEZ DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.276, 5 HR, 26 RBI) P POLANCO (.330, 1 HR, 28 RBI) G SHEFFIELD (.267, 12 HR, 29 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.269, 9 HR, 26 RBI) C BLAKE (.270, 7 HR, 27 RBI) T HAFNER (.270, 9 HR, 36 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .351 M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 O Infante 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 N Perez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 1. Team LOB - 1. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 0 -- 0 CLEVELAND - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.71 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.50 Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 3-0. Batters faced: C Sabathia 4. UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie Reliford. Weather: 83 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER CLE - C.C. SABATHIA</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY TRAVIS HAFNER (10) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER SCORED CASEY BLAKE. CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 2 DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.308, 8 HR, 41 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL DETROIT AT CLEVELAND NOTE: CLEVELAND THIRD BASEMAN CASEY BLAKE EXTENDED HIS HITTING STREAK TO 11 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE FIRST INNING.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 2 2 2 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M THAMES (.239, 4 HR, 11 RBI) C MONROE (.238, 7 HR, 29 RBI) O INFANTE (.309, 0 HR, 5 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (0) VS CLEVELAND (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .351 M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 O Infante 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 N Perez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 1. Team LOB - 1. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .274 T Hafner dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .274 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .272 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 5 2 2 2 1 1 1 BATTING: HR - T Hafner (10, 1st inning off J Verlander 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - T Hafner 2 (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 0 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 2.95 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.50 WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 26-14; C Sabathia 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 2-0; C Sabathia 3-0. Batters faced: J Verlander 6; C Sabathia 4. UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie Reliford. Weather: 83 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY CRAIG MONROE (8) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF C.C. SABATHIA. CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1, CLEVELAND 2 DUE UP FOR DETROIT: O INFANTE (.309, 0 HR, 5 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 1 1 3 0 CLEVELAND 2 2 2 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: D DELLUCCI (.239, 2 HR, 10 RBI) R GARKO (.333, 7 HR, 20 RBI) J BARFIELD (.237, 2 HR, 25 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CLEVELAND (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .351 M Thames 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 C Monroe lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .243 O Infante 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .321 N Perez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .194 C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279 Totals 9 1 3 1 0 0 4 BATTING: HR - C Monroe (8, 2nd inning off C Sabathia 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - C Monroe (30). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 1. Team LOB - 2. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .274 T Hafner dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .274 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .272 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 D Dellucci lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 5 2 2 2 1 1 1 BATTING: HR - T Hafner (10, 1st inning off J Verlander 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - T Hafner 2 (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 01 -- 1 CLEVELAND - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 2.95 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 2 3 1 1 0 0 1 3.57 WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 26-14; C Sabathia 21-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 2-0; C Sabathia 4-2. Batters faced: J Verlander 6; C Sabathia 9. UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie Reliford. Weather: 83 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 1 1 3 0 CLEVELAND 2 0 2 2 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.280, 1-FOR-1) P POLANCO (.328, 0-FOR-1) G SHEFFIELD (.266, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS CLEVELAND (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Rodriguez c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .351 M Thames 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 C Monroe lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .243 O Infante 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .321 N Perez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .194 C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279 Totals 9 1 3 1 0 0 4 BATTING: HR - C Monroe (8, 2nd inning off C Sabathia 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - C Monroe (30). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 1. Team LOB - 2. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .274 T Hafner dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .274 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .272 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 D Dellucci lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331 J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .236 Totals 8 2 2 2 1 2 1 BATTING: HR - T Hafner (10, 1st inning off J Verlander 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - T Hafner 2 (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 01 -- 1 CLEVELAND - 20 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 2.91 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Sabathia 2 3 1 1 0 0 1 3.57 WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 36-21; C Sabathia 21-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 2-2; C Sabathia 4-2. Batters faced: J Verlander 9; C Sabathia 9. UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie Reliford. Weather: 83 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY GARY SHEFFIELD SCORED IVAN RODRIGUEZ. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G SHEFFIELD ON SECOND, P POLANCO ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2 CLEVELAND 2 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.351, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, G SHEFFIELD ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3 CLEVELAND 2 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M THAMES (.235, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARCUS THAMES SCORED GARY SHEFFIELD. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M THAMES ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4 CLEVELAND 2 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C MONROE (.243, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 0 1 3 4 7 0 CLEVELAND 2 0 2 2 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER CLE - C.C. SABATHIA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.268, 0-FOR-1) C BLAKE (.274, 1-FOR-1) T HAFNER (.274, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)</div>
