GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (66-54) at NY YANKEES (67-53)

AL: DETROIT (66-54) at NY YANKEES (67-53)

<h3>Sheffield returns to Yankee Stadium</h3>

<div class="pre">Detroit (66-54) at NY Yankees (67-53) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Gary Sheffield said what he had tosay about New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. Now it's the fansturn to tell Sheffield how they feel.


Sheffield makes his long-awaited return to the Big Apple for thefirst time as the Detroit Tigers open a four-game serieswith the Yankees on Thursday night.


In an interview with HBO last month, the 38-year-old sluggeraccused Torre of treating black players different than whitewhen he played with the club from 2004-06.


Sheffield isn't concern about going back to Yankee Stadium.

"Sheffield fans are going to be Sheffield fans," he said. "Andanyone who isn't a fan of mine, they'll do what they always do,whether it's there or anywhere else. I can't say when I playedthere every fan was my fan. They were fans when I hit a homerun, so that's all that is."


Detroit gives the ball to ace Justin Verlander (12-4, 3.58 ERA),who gave up two runs and seven hits in six-plus innings to endhis four-game winless streak with win over Oakland on Saturday.

The All-Star righthander was less then impressive in his firstonly regular-season appearance against New York, which recordedsix runs through five frames on June 1, 2006.


Veteran Mike Mussina (8-7, 4.50) counters for the Yankees, wholost two of three to Baltimore in their last series. He pickedup his fourth straight decision, limiting Cleveland to two hitsin 7 2/3 innings.


This contest also will feature a pair of American League MVPhopeful as New York's Alex Rodriguez looks to outshine theTigers' Magglio Ordonez. Rodriguez leads the AL with 39 homersand 114 RBI, while Ordonez has a major league-best .359 battingaverage.

 

Re: AL: DETROIT (66-54) at NY YANKEES (67-53)

This will be hard.</p>

Our worst against their best.</p>

</p>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">DETROIT AT NY YANKEES -- LINEUPS

DETROIT NY YANKEES
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Curtis Granderson CF .294 16 56 Johnny Damon LF .259 6 44
Marcus Thames LF .257 13 37 Derek Jeter SS .324 8 57
Gary Sheffield DH .284 24 71 Bobby Abreu RF .280 12 79
Magglio Ordonez RF .357 22 108 Alex Rodriguez 3B .307 39 114
Carlos Guillen SS .304 14 74 Hideki Matsui DH .299 23 81
Ivan Rodriguez C .278 9 50 Jorge Posada C .333 14 68
Sean Casey 1B .291 3 45 Jason Giambi 1B .270 9 26
Ryan Raburn 2B .333 3 14 Robinson Cano 2B .310 13 69
Brandon Inge 3B .240 12 54 Melky Cabrera CF .297 8 52

Justin Verlander RHP (12-4, 3.58) Mike Mussina RHP (8-7, 4.50)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
WARMUPS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER (12-4, 3.58)
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (8-7, 4.50)

UMPIRES: HP - MIKE WINTERS
1B - ADAM DOWDY
2B - BRIAN RUNGE
3B - MARK WEGNER

WEATHER: 84 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 8 mph, in from center</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
STARTING BATS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA AND JORGE POSADA

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSO (.294, 16 HR, 56 RBI)
M THAMES (.257, 13 HR, 37 RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.284, 24 HR, 71 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY CARLOS GUILLEN (15) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF MIKE MUSSINA SCORED MARCUS THAMES, GARY SHEFFIELD AND
MAGGLIO ORDONEZ.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4, NY YANKEES 0

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.278, 9 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.259, 6 HR, 44 RBI)
D JETER (.324, 8 HR, 57 RBI)
B ABREU (.280, 12 HR, 79 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">DETROIT (4) VS NY YANKEES (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Thames lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .261
G Sheffield dh 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Ordonez rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .357
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 .306
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
R Raburn 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 6 4 2 4 1 1 0

BATTING: HR - C Guillen (15, 1st inning off M Mussina 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - C
Guillen 4 (78). Team LOB - 0.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (10, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 4 -- 4
NY YANKEES - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.58

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 2 4 3 1 1 1 4.70

Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 29-16. Ground balls-fly balls: M Mussina 1-1.
Batters faced: M Mussina 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Winters. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner.

Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
CONFIRMED STARTERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY HIDEKI MATSUI SCORED DEREK JETER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H MATSUI ON FIRST, A RODRIGUEZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4
NY YANKEES 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.333, 14 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: R RABURN (.333, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
B INGE (.240, 12 HR, 54 RBI)
C GRANDERSON (.293, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">DETROIT (4) VS NY YANKEES (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Thames lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .261
G Sheffield dh 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Ordonez rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .357
C Guillen ss 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 .306
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
R Raburn 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 6 4 2 4 1 1 0

BATTING: HR - C Guillen (15, 1st inning off M Mussina 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - C
Guillen 4 (78). Team LOB - 0.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
D Jeter ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .326
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
H Matsui dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 3

BATTING: RBI - H Matsui (82). 2-out RBI - H Matsui. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Posada 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (10, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 4 -- 4
NY YANKEES - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.61

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 2 4 3 1 1 1 4.70

WP - J Verlander. HBP - A Rodriguez (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: J
Verlander 30-19; M Mussina 29-16. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 1-1; M
Mussina 1-1. Batters faced: J Verlander 6; M Mussina 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Winters. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner.

Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRANDON INGE SCORED RYAN RABURN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B INGE ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 5
NY YANKEES 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.293, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED BRANDON INGE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ORDONEZ ON FIRST, G SHEFFIELD ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 6
NY YANKEES 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.306, 1-FOR-1, HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL DETROIT AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: NEW YORK DESIGNATED HITTER HIDEKI MATSUI SINGLED IN
THE FIRST INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREK TO 11 GAMES.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.270, 9 HR, 26 RBI)
R CANO (.310, 13 HR, 69 RBI)
M CABRERA (.297, 8 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">DETROIT (6) VS NY YANKEES (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Thames lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .259
G Sheffield dh 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .283
M Ordonez rf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .358
C Guillen ss 2 1 1 4 0 0 2 .305
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
R Raburn 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .342
B Inge 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .242

Totals 12 6 5 6 2 1 3

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (7, M Mussina). HR - C Guillen (15, 1st inning off M
Mussina 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - C Guillen 4 (78), B Inge (55), M Ordonez (109).
2-out RBI - M Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 1.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Inge (7, 2nd base off M Mussina/J Posada).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
D Jeter ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .326
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
H Matsui dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 3

BATTING: RBI - H Matsui (82). 2-out RBI - H Matsui. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Posada 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (10, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 42 -- 6
NY YANKEES - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.61

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 5 6 5 2 1 1 4.81

WP - J Verlander. HBP - A Rodriguez (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: J
Verlander 30-19; M Mussina 50-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 1-1; M
Mussina 1-4. Batters faced: J Verlander 6; M Mussina 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Winters. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner.

Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.277, 0-FOR-1)
S CASEY (.290, 0-FOR-1)
R RABURN (.342, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">DETROIT (6) VS NY YANKEES (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Thames lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .259
G Sheffield dh 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .283
M Ordonez rf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .358
C Guillen ss 2 1 1 4 0 0 2 .305
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
R Raburn 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .342
B Inge 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .242

Totals 12 6 5 6 2 1 3

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (7, M Mussina). HR - C Guillen (15, 1st inning off M
Mussina 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - C Guillen 4 (78), B Inge (55), M Ordonez (109).
2-out RBI - M Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 1.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Inge (7, 2nd base off M Mussina/J Posada).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257
D Jeter ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .326
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
H Matsui dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 1 4

BATTING: RBI - H Matsui (82). 2-out RBI - H Matsui. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Posada 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (10, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 42 -- 6
NY YANKEES - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 3.59

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 5 6 5 2 1 1 4.81

WP - J Verlander. HBP - A Rodriguez (by J Verlander). Pitches-strikes: J
Verlander 51-31; M Mussina 50-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 1-4; M
Mussina 1-4. Batters faced: J Verlander 10; M Mussina 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Winters. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner.

Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.326, 1-FOR-1)
B ABREU (.279, 0-FOR-1)
A RODRIGUEZ (.307, 0-FOR-0, HBP)</div>