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

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - PITCHING CHANGE
CLE: JOE BOROWSKI (0-2, 7.50) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 6, DETROIT 3

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: S CASEY (.262, 0 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Borowski relieved T Mastny.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 6
DETROIT 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: S Casey (.262, 0 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

BATTERIES: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, TOM MASTNY (8TH), JOE BOROWSKI (9TH) AND VICTOR
MARTINEZ

DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, BOBBY SEAY (7TH), JASON GRILLI
(8TH), TIM BYRDAK (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

HOME RUNS: CLE - VICTOR MARTINEZ (8) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 3RD, 1 ON
DAVID DELLUCCI (2) OFF JASON GRILLI IN THE 8TH, 1 ON

DET - MARCUS THAMES (4) OFF C.C. SABATHIA IN THE 2ND, 0 ON</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

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

BATTERIES: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, TOM MASTNY (8TH), JOE BOROWSKI (9TH) AND VICTOR
MARTINEZ

DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, BOBBY SEAY (7TH), JASON GRILLI
(8TH), TIM BYRDAK (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ


WP - C.C. SABATHIA (7-1)
LP - JASON GRILLI (2-2)
SAVE - JOE BOROWSKI (16)

HOME RUNS: CLE - VICTOR MARTINEZ (8) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 3RD, 1 ON
DAVID DELLUCCI (2) OFF JASON GRILLI IN THE 8TH, 1 ON

DET - MARCUS THAMES (4) OFF C.C. SABATHIA IN THE 2ND, 0 ON


TIME: 3:04 ATT: 40,375

PROBABLES: CLE - FAUSTO CARMONA (5-1, 2.77)
DET - MIKE MAROTH (3-1, 4.94)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (6) VS DETROIT (3) - FINAL

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 2 1 0 2 1 0 .276
C Blake 3b 5 0 1 1 0 2 5 .266
T Hafner dh 3 0 0 1 1 1 3 .265
V Martinez c 4 1 1 2 1 1 4 .316
T Nixon rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .282
a-J Michaels ph-rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .281
J Peralta ss 4 1 2 0 1 1 1 .285
D Dellucci lf 4 1 2 2 1 0 1 .236
R Garko 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 .333
J Barfield 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .235

Totals 34 6 9 6 7 7 24

a-walked for T Nixon in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - C Blake (15, B Seay); R Garko (6, J Grilli). 3B - D Dellucci (1,
J Verlander); G Sizemore (1, B Seay). HR - V Martinez (8, 3rd inning off J
Verlander 1 on, 2 Out), D Dellucci (2, 8th inning off J Grilli 1 on, 0 Out). SF
- T Hafner. RBI - V Martinez 2 (38), C Blake (25), D Dellucci 2 (9), T Hafner
(33). 2-out RBI - V Martinez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V
Martinez 1, T Nixon 2, J Barfield 1, R Garko 1. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Michaels (2, 2nd base by T Byrdak/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - J Peralta (8, ground ball); C Blake (5, ground ball). DP: 1 (J
Peralta-J Barfield-R Garko).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Rodriguez c 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 .275
P Polanco 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .326
C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .280
G Sheffield dh 3 1 2 0 1 0 1 .247
M Ordonez rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 3 .358
C Guillen ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .329
C Monroe lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .227
M Thames 1b 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 .200
S Casey 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267
O Infante cf-2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .293
B Inge 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .214

Totals 35 3 8 2 2 8 18

BATTING: 2B - G Sheffield (7, C Sabathia); M Thames (4, C Sabathia); P Polanco
(10, C Sabathia); I Rodriguez (10, J Borowski). HR - M Thames (4, 2nd inning
off C Sabathia 0 on, 2 Out). SF - M Ordonez. RBI - M Thames (9), M Ordonez
(46). 2-out RBI - M Thames. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Monroe
1, I Rodriguez 1, C Granderson 3. GIDP - C Guillen. Team LOB - 8.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 002 000 130 -- 6
DETROIT - 010 101 000 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia (W, 7-1) 7 6 3 3 1 6 1 3.54
T Mastny (H, 4) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.95
J Borowski (S, 16) 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 7.11

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 6 3 2 2 4 5 1 2.71
B Seay (B, 1) 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 5.65
J Grilli (L, 2-2) 0 3 3 3 0 0 1 7.59
T Byrdak 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 3.24

J Grilli pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

IBB - V Martinez (by B Seay). HBP - G Sizemore (by J Verlander).
Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 110-75; T Mastny 17-10; J Borowski 16-11; J
Verlander 105-60; B Seay 25-14; J Grilli 9-7; T Byrdak 26-14. Ground balls-fly
balls: C Sabathia 5-10; T Mastny 1-1; J Borowski 0-2; J Verlander 3-10; B Seay
1-1; J Grilli 0-0; T Byrdak 0-4. Batters faced: C Sabathia 29; T Mastny 4; J
Borowski 5; J Verlander 26; B Seay 6; J Grilli 3; T Byrdak 8.

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

T--3:04. Att--40,375.
Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
CLEVELAND 6
DETROIT 3 FINAL</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLEVELAND (6) AT DETROIT (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DETROIT 2ND: C Guillen flied out to right. C Monroe grounded out to
shortstop. M Thames homered to left. O Infante flied out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, DETROIT 1.

CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore walked. C Blake struck out looking. T Hafner
popped out to shortstop. V Martinez homered to right, G Sizemore scored.
T Nixon grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 1.

DETROIT 4TH: G Sheffield doubled to deep left. M Ordonez reached on
infield single to first, G Sheffield to third. C Guillen grounded into double
play, shortstop to second to first, G Sheffield scored, M Ordonez out at
second. C Monroe struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2,
DETROIT 2.

DETROIT 6TH: P Polanco doubled to left. G Sheffield singled to right,
P Polanco to third. M Ordonez hit sacrifice fly to right, P Polanco scored.
C Guillen flied out to left. C Monroe struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 3.

CLEVELAND 7TH: C Granderson in center field. O Infante at second base.
B Seay relieved J Verlander. J Barfield grounded out to first. G Sizemore
tripled to deep center. C Blake doubled to deep left, G Sizemore scored.
T Hafner struck out looking. V Martinez intentionally walked. T Nixon flied out
to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 3, DETROIT 3.

CLEVELAND 8TH: S Casey at first base. J Grilli relieved B Seay. J Peralta
singled to right. D Dellucci homered to right, J Peralta scored. R Garko
doubled to right. T Byrdak relieved J Grilli. J Barfield singled to center,
R Garko to third. G Sizemore walked, J Barfield to second. C Blake flied out to
center. T Hafner hit sacrifice fly to right, R Garko scored, J Barfield to
third. V Martinez fouled out to catcher. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6,
DETROIT 3.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLEVELAND (6) AT DETROIT (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, C Blake 3B, T Hafner DH,
V Martinez C, T Nixon RF, J Peralta SS, D Dellucci LF, R Garko 1B, J Barfield 2B,
C Sabathia LHP.

Detroit Starting Lineups -- I Rodriguez C, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen SS, C Monroe LF, M Thames 1B, O Infante CF, B Inge 3B,
J Verlander RHP.

Umpires -- Mark Wegner (HP), Brian Runge (1B), Mike Winters (2B),
Bruce Froemming (3B).

Gametime Weather: 61 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to center at 9 mph.


CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore hit by pitch. C Blake flied out to center.
T Hafner walked, G Sizemore to second. V Martinez popped out to shortstop.
T Nixon flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 1ST: I Rodriguez flied out to center. P Polanco safe at first on
error by shortstop J Peralta. G Sheffield flied out to right. M Ordonez
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, P Polanco out at second. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 1 Error) CLEVELAND 0, DETROIT 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: J Peralta flied out to center. D Dellucci tripled to deep
center. R Garko struck out swinging. J Barfield grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 2ND: C Guillen flied out to right. C Monroe grounded out to
shortstop. M Thames homered to left. O Infante flied out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, DETROIT 1.

CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore walked. C Blake struck out looking. T Hafner
popped out to shortstop. V Martinez homered to right, G Sizemore scored.
T Nixon grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 1.

DETROIT 3RD: B Inge popped out to second. I Rodriguez flied out to right.
P Polanco fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 1.

CLEVELAND 4TH: J Peralta walked. D Dellucci fouled out to third. R Garko
flied out to right. J Barfield flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 1.

DETROIT 4TH: G Sheffield doubled to deep left. M Ordonez reached on
infield single to first, G Sheffield to third. C Guillen grounded into double
play, shortstop to second to first, G Sheffield scored, M Ordonez out at
second. C Monroe struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2,
DETROIT 2.

CLEVELAND 5TH: G Sizemore struck out swinging. C Blake struck out
swinging. T Hafner grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 2.

DETROIT 5TH: M Thames doubled to deep left. O Infante struck out swinging.
B Inge popped out to second. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 2.

CLEVELAND 6TH: V Martinez struck out swinging. T Nixon flied out to left.
J Peralta singled to center. D Dellucci walked, J Peralta to second. R Garko
flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 2.

DETROIT 6TH: P Polanco doubled to left. G Sheffield singled to right,
P Polanco to third. M Ordonez hit sacrifice fly to right, P Polanco scored.
C Guillen flied out to left. C Monroe struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, DETROIT 3.

CLEVELAND 7TH: C Granderson in center field. O Infante at second base.
B Seay relieved J Verlander. J Barfield grounded out to first. G Sizemore
tripled to deep center. C Blake doubled to deep left, G Sizemore scored.
T Hafner struck out looking. V Martinez intentionally walked. T Nixon flied out
to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 3, DETROIT 3.

DETROIT 7TH: M Thames grounded out to shortstop. O Infante struck out
swinging. B Inge walked. I Rodriguez safe at first on error by third baseman
C Blake, B Inge to second. C Granderson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
1 Error) CLEVELAND 3, DETROIT 3.

CLEVELAND 8TH: S Casey at first base. J Grilli relieved B Seay. J Peralta
singled to right. D Dellucci homered to right, J Peralta scored. R Garko
doubled to right. T Byrdak relieved J Grilli. J Barfield singled to center,
R Garko to third. G Sizemore walked, J Barfield to second. C Blake flied out to
center. T Hafner hit sacrifice fly to right, R Garko scored, J Barfield to
third. V Martinez fouled out to catcher. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6,
DETROIT 3.

DETROIT 8TH: T Mastny relieved C Sabathia. G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez
lined out to center. C Guillen grounded out to second, G Sheffield to second.
C Monroe struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, DETROIT 3.

CLEVELAND 9TH: J Michaels hit for T Nixon. J Michaels walked. J Peralta
struck out swinging. J Michaels caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.
D Dellucci lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6,
DETROIT 3.

DETROIT 9TH: J Michaels in right field. J Borowski relieved T Mastny.
S Casey singled to center. O Infante struck out swinging. B Inge flied out to
right. I Rodriguez doubled to deep right, S Casey to third. C Granderson
fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, DETROIT 3.</div>

 

Dellucci homer lifts Indians over Tigers

<h3>CLEVELAND 6, DETROIT 3</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- David Dellucci stole the show from two ofthe American League's premier starters.

Dellucci snapped an eighth-inning tie with a two-run blast tolead the Cleveland Indians to a 6-3 victory over the DetroitTigers on Saturday.

C.C Sabathia (7-1) pitched seven solid innings to earn the win,allowing three runs and six hits while striking out six.

Saturday's game was billed as a battle between the aces of theAL Central's top two teams, and through six innings, neitherSabathia nor the Tigers' Justin Verlander did much todisappoint.

However, on the same day that Detroit placed another of theirace relievers - Fernando Rodney - on the disabled list, thebullpen could not hold a lead.

After Bobby Seay allowed the tying run in the seventh,righthander Jason Grilli started the eighth by allowingback-to-back hits, the second of which was Dellucci's two-runblast to deep right to put the Indians on top, 5-3. Grilli(2-2) surrendered another hit before being replaced.

After Tom Mastny pitched a scoreless eighth, closer Joe Borowskiworked out of a jam to record his 16th save.

With the win, Cleveland pushes its lead in the Central to 1 1/2games over the Tigers.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland is suddenly searching for reliablearms in the relief with flamethrower Joel Zumaya and now Rodneyon the shelf with injuries.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the second when Marcus Thamesdrove Sabathia's 1-1 offering over the wall in left-centerfield.

The Indians wasted little time jumping on top, plating a pair ofruns in the next half-inning. Grady Sizemore walked leadingoff the frame, but Verlander got two quick outs before Martinezhammered his 2-0 pitch over the wall in right to give Clevelanda 2-1 lead.

Detroit evened the score in the fourth when Gary Sheffield, whodoubled leading off the inning, came in to score on CarlosGuillen's double-play groundout. The Tigers pulled back aheadin the sixth when Magglio Ordonez's sacrifice fly plated PlacidoPolanco. It was Ordonez's major league-leading 46th RBI of theseason.

Verlander was removed following the sixth. The lankyrighthander yielded two runs and three hits while striking outfive and walking four.

Verlander was in position to notch his fifth straight win beforeSeay surrendered back-to-back, one-out extra-base hits toSizemore and Casey Blake to tie the score at 3-3.

 

Dellucci homer lifts Indians over Tigers

<h3>CLEVELAND 6, DETROIT 3</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- David Dellucci stole the show from two ofthe American League's premier starters.

Dellucci snapped an eighth-inning tie with a two-run blast tolead the Cleveland Indians to a 6-3 victory over the DetroitTigers on Saturday.

C.C Sabathia (7-1) pitched seven solid innings to earn the win,allowing three runs and six hits while striking out six.

"I felt pretty good out there," Sabathia said. "My arm and legswere the best they felt in a long time.

"I just tried to make my pitches. I wanted to keep my team inthe game, giving them a chance to score some runs and win thegame."

Saturday's game was billed as a battle between the aces of theAL Central's top two teams, and through six innings, neitherSabathia nor the Tigers' Justin Verlander did much todisappoint.

"This is the toughest division in baseball," Indians managerEric Wedge said. "Everyone understands that. It's going to bea dogfight every game."

However, on the same day that Detroit placed another of theirace relievers - Fernando Rodney - on the disabled list, thebullpen could not hold a lead.

"I don't feel frustrated," Rodney said. "But I feel bad becausethe team needs me and right now I can't pitch. That's why Ifeel bad. I see the bullpen now and that's why I feel bad."

After Bobby Seay allowed the tying run in the seventh,righthander Jason Grilli started the eighth by allowingback-to-back hits, the second of which was Dellucci's two-runblast to deep right to put the Indians on top, 5-3.

Grilli (2-2) suffered a leg contusion and was replaced when RyanGarko's line drive hit him in the leg.

"I went up looking for a sinker," Dellucci said. "He gave me aslider and I was able to keep my hands inside of it and hit itinto the air."

After Tom Mastny pitched a scoreless eighth, closer Joe Borowskiworked out of a jam to record his 16th save. With the win,Cleveland pushes its lead in the Central to 1 1/2 games over theTigers.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland is suddenly searching for reliablearms in the relief with flamethrower Joel Zumaya and now Rodneyon the shelf with injuries.

"We'll mix and match," Leyland said. "Anybody's pitching at anytime, except for (closer Todd) Jones."

The Tigers opened the scoring in the second when Marcus Thamesdrove Sabathia's 1-1 offering over the wall in left-centerfield.

The Indians wasted little time jumping on top, plating a pair ofruns in the next half-inning. Grady Sizemore walked leadingoff the frame, but Verlander got two quick outs before Martinezhammered his 2-0 pitch over the wall in right to give Clevelanda 2-1 lead.

"We have been staying with our game plan," Martinez said. "Wetry to get a good at-bats every time out and good things willhappen for us."

Detroit evened the score in the fourth when Gary Sheffield, whodoubled leading off the inning, came in to score on CarlosGuillen's double-play groundout. The Tigers pulled back aheadin the sixth when Magglio Ordonez's sacrifice fly plated PlacidoPolanco. It was Ordonez's major league-leading 46th RBI of theseason.

Verlander was removed following the sixth. The lankyrighthander yielded two runs and three hits while striking outfive and walking four.

"I think it was pretty evident that I wasn't as sharp as thelast outing or the one before that," Verlander said. "Sametoken, I was able to battle through six but I'm a little bitdisappointed in myself that a couple walks here and there,wasn't able to make it seven, which was something that I knewgoing into the game that I'd probably have to do is go late inthe game."

Verlander was in position to notch his fifth straight win beforeSeay surrendered back-to-back, one-out extra-base hits toSizemore and Casey Blake to tie the score at 3-3.

Polanco left Saturday's game with a muscle spasm in his oblique.He is listed as day-to-day.