GDT: 8/7/08 - DET (55-58) AT CWS (63-49) - 8:11 p.m. ET

CHICAGO -- The Tigers' hopes of making another race out of September have dimmed over the past week. Magglio Ordonez's chances of another batting chase are looking considerably better, even if he isn't thinking about that.

The reigning American League batting champion was on the fringe of the leaderboard with a .307 average entering the All-Star break. He has used a torrid second half to put himself back atop the batting hunt, virtually even with Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley for the lead before a 1-for-4 average pulled him back.

Bradley missed Wednesday with a strained left quadriceps and stayed at .320; Ordonez fell to .319. Defending AL MVP Alex Rodriguez is close behind. However, it's not close enough to the home stretch for Ordonez to weigh his chances.

"It's too early," he said. "We'll see in September."

No player has won back-to-back batting crowns since Nomar Garciaparra did so with the Red Sox in 1999-2000.

However it turns out, the Tigers need Ordonez to keep hitting to give them a chance in the playoff chase. After consecutive late-inning losses Sunday at Tampa Bay and Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field, the Tigers had a decent start from Justin Verlander go for naught with two late runs and 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball from White Sox starter John Danks. That stretched Detroit's losing streak to six, dropping the Tigers to three games under .500 for the first time since late June.

A win Thursday would pull the Tigers back within 7 1/2 games of the White Sox in the division race. It's not much, but it would stop the slow crawl away from contention that they've suffered this week.

"I get tired of saying we've got to start winning games. That's a matter of fact," manager Jim Leyland said after Wednesday's game. "Whatever the combination, we just haven't done it. Whatever it is, we have to get it going on all burners for a stretch."

Leyland said that he would probably give designated hitter Gary Sheffield the night off for the series finale, and could slot Ordonez in at DH for a game to at least give him some rest away from right field.


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Zach Miner (5-4, 3.77 ERA)
A reliever turned starter, Miner gave the Tigers a chance to win on Friday night, but he received little offensive support in a 5-2 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field. Despite allowing Tampa Bay's leadoff man on in five of the game's first six innings, Miner scattered eight hits through 5 1/3 innings. He was charged with four runs (three earned) in his fourth loss this season. He will look to collect a "W" against Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field, a ballpark in which he has traditionally struggled. In appearances in six games -- including one start -- Miner is 0-3 with a 7.94 ERA at the White Sox home field.

CWS: RHP Javier Vazquez (8-9, 4.66 ERA)
Vazquez said the monkey on his back hadn't been getting any bigger in recent starts, but it was certainly big enough. He hadn't won a game since June 17, before he won on Friday against the Royals. Vazquez went six innings, giving up five hits and two runs. He had a shut out through the first five. It was the first time Vazquez gave up less than three runs since May 31.

Tidbits

Curtis Granderson's eighth-inning strikeout snapped his hitting streak at 14 games on Wednesday. He's batting .358 (62-for-173) over his last 41 games since June 20. ...
Placido Polanco has reached base safely in 21 consecutive games. ...
Bobby Seay owns a 0.51 ERA over his last 16 appearances, allowing one earned run over 17 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts in that span.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Fri., Aug 8: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (8-8, 4.98 ERA)) vs Athletics (LHP Dallas Braden (2-2, 5.10 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sat., Aug 9: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (9-4, 3.23 ERA)) vs. Athletics (RHP Sean Gallagher (4-5, 4.39 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sun., Aug 10: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (6-8, 6.11ERA)) vs. Athletics (LHP Greg Smith (5-10, 3.99 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .301
:placido: Polanco, 2B .313
Guillen, 3B .283
Ordonez, DH .319
Cabrera, 1B .293
:joyce: Joyce, RF .275
:thames: Thames, LF .242
Inge, C .216
Santiago, SS .344


Chi White Sox AVG
O. Cabrera, SS .268
Pierzynski, C .292
Quentin, LF .287
Thome, DH .257
Konerko, 1B .214
Griffey Jr., RF .247
Ramirez, 2B .311
Swisher, CF .229
Uribe, 3B .215

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GO TIGERS GO

let's hope we don't get made too much fun of!

GO !!!

thanks a lot KWAME

Tigers started the season losing 6, they better win tonight, or I truly believe Dumbroski and Leyland are the tigers worst leaders EVER!!!

:curtis: GROUNDS OUT

:placido: grounds out

2 quick outs.

BB.

walks

brob

out, 3 out.

3 outs

Cabrera pops up, Joyce catches it, 1 out.

Dontcha wish we could just do this:



TO WIN THE REST OF THE SEASON

Santiago makes the play, 2 out.

1-2-3 inning for

Infield hit for

:joyce: flies out, 1 out.

:thames: flies out, 2 out.

base hit.

I think we're all tired!

BB.

nice walk