GDT: 7/23/09 - DET (49-43) VS SEA (50-44) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers are celebrating Christmas in July Thursday, and they have the Santa Claus hats to prove it. A series win over the Mariners would be quite a gift for them to mark the occasion.

After pulling out a slugfest in Tuesday's series opener, then watching Armando Galarraga battle Felix Hernandez in an eventual defeat Wednesday, the Tigers go into the rubber match with an opportunity. Though Jarrod Washburn has been rolling this summer with a 2.13 ERA in his last 10 starts, including a complete-game one-hitter against the Orioles July 6 and a strong 6 2/3-inning, one-run performance in his last start last Saturday at Cleveland, he has had virtually no success against the Tigers.

Detroit has beaten Washburn in their last seven meetings, some of them high-scoring drubbings, others low-scoring duels. He lost a pair of 2-1 decisions at Safeco Field soon after joining the M's in 2006, outpitched by Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson. By contrast, he was roughed up for nine runs on 12 hits over 2 1/3 innings in their last meeting May 21, 2008, at Comerica Park.

One way or another, the Tigers have found a way to win with Washburn on the mound against them. With a series victory on the line and their lead in the American League Central back down to a game with the second-place White Sox coming to town, they need to find a way to win Thursday. It hasn't been easy.

The Tigers have suffered 2-1 losses in three of their last four games, allowing good performances from Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Galarraga to go to waste against CC Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain and Hernandez. Washburn's performances this year certainly put him in line to join the club and, in Thursday's case, play the Grinch.

"It has happened to us far too often, this year, no question about it," manager Jim Leyland said.

Leyland will have Brandon Inge back in the starting lineup after giving him Wednesday's game off to rest his knees, both of which are bothered by patella tendinitis that Inge says has been causing him sometimes "excruciating" pain. Magglio Ordonez is also likely to return to the lineup after he hit a grand slam off another Mariners lefty, Garrett Olson, Tuesday night.

Around the field, the Tigers plan to transform the ballpark into a winter wonderland of sorts, from live holiday music to Christmas trees to an appearance from Santa Claus, elves and toy soldiers. Choir groups will be singing Christmas carols at Gates A and B as fans enter the park. Santa Claus will also throw out the first pitch.

The Tigers have also partnered with the Salvation Army to encourages pledge gifts for the Salvation Army's outdoors program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Lucas French (1-0, 1.89 ERA)
French put on a good show in his most recent start, a no-decision effort against the Yankees in New York on July 17, in which he gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits over five innings. He left with a 3-2 lead but the bullpen had a meltdown in the seventh inning. French, in three starts since being called up from Triple-A Toledo, has given up just four earned runs in 16 innings. He made two relief appearances against Oakland, giving up no runs and no hits over three innings. He has never pitched against Seattle.

SEA: LHP Jarrod Washburn (7-6, 2.87 ERA)
Washburn said he wasn't sharp after his last outing against Cleveland, but the Indians would dispute that. The left-hander allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings in winning for the third straight start and for the fourth time in his last five starts. Washburn gave up eight hits, struck out three and didn't walk a batter. He has allowed two runs in his last 23 2/3 innings. Washburn didn't have a good feel for his breaking pitches, but relied on his fastball, which had good movement. He will face a good test against Detroit's potent lineup.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tidbits

... Look for Dusty Ryan to catch for the first time since the All-Star break, giving Gerald Laird a day out of the starting lineup.
... Miguel Cabrera's 17-game hitting streak is the longest since Ordonez hit safely in 20 straight games in July 2005.
... Fernando Rodney's streak of 20 consecutive save opportunities converted is the longest by a Tiger since Matt Anderson converted 22 straight in 2001.
... The Tigers lead the AL in ERA in July at 3.51.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
•

On radio

• /
• XM Channel Schedule
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Friday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 10-5, 3.34 ERA) vs. White Sox (Jose Contreras, 4-8, 4.75 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Eddie Bonine, 0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. White Sox (Bartolo Colon, 3-6, 4.23 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 7-5, 2.52 ERA) vs. White Sox (Gavin Floyd, 8-6, 4.40 ERA), 4:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Seattle AVG
Suzuki, I, RF .357
Branyan, 1B .274
Lopez, J, 2B .265
Sweeney, M, DH .250
Balentien, LF .219
Langerhans, CF .235
Johnson, Ro, C .204
Hannahan, 3B .190
Cedeno, SS .189

Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .256
:placido: Polanco, 2B .262
Cabrera, M, 1B 0 .329
:thames: Thames, DH .273
Ordonez, RF .261
Raburn, LF .256
Inge, 3B .259
:dusty: Ryan, D, C .143
Everett, SS .249

Stat of the Day:

Before the All-Star Break, the Tigers were 24-1 when allowing fewer than 3 runs. Since the All-Star Break, their record is 0-3 in that situation.

Another...

Stat of the Day:

Magglio Ordonez' line against LHP this year - .313/.374/.518.

rain delay

tarp coming off start projected at 1:30

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 - Ichiro Suzuki singles on a ground ball
to third baseman Brandon Inge. Ichiro Suzuki advances to 2nd, on
throwing error by third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Russell Branyan swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jose Lopez lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Sweeney doubles (8) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Ichiro Suzuki scores.
SEA 1, DET 0

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Wladimir Balentien swinging.

SEA 1, DET 0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to left fielder Wladimir Balentien.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

SEA 1, DET 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Langerhans hit by pitch.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Rob Johnson lines into unassisted double play, second baseman Placido Polanco. Ryan Langerhans doubled off 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Jack Hannahan hits a ground-rule double (8) on a fly ball to left-center field.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ronny Cedeno flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

SEA 1, DET 0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Dusty Ryan lines out to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

SEA 1, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Ichiro Suzuki swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Russell Branyan flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jose Lopez grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett flies out to left fielder Wladimir Balentien.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson walks.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

SEA 1, DET 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Mike Sweeney grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Wladimir Balentien pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Langerhans swinging.

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Marcus Thames called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Jack Hannahan to first baseman Russell Branyan.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn swinging.

SEA 1, DET 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Rob Johnson singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Jack Hannahan lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Ronny Cedeno swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Lucas French. Rob Johnson to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ichiro Suzuki singles on a ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett. Rob Johnson to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Russell Branyan swinging.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Dusty Ryan grounds into double play,
shortstop Ronny Cedeno to second baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman
Russell Branyan. Brandon Inge out at 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Adam Everett lines out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.

SEA 1, DET 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jose Lopez doubles (23) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Mike Sweeney singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Jose Lopez to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Wladimir Balentien grounds into a force
out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Jose
Lopez scores. Mike Sweeney out at 2nd. Wladimir Balentien to 1st.
SEA 2, DET 0



B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Langerhans singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Wladimir Balentien to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Lucas French.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Rob Johnson pops out to catcher Dusty Ryan in foul territory.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jack Hannahan pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

SEA 2, DET 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera on foul tip.

SEA 2, DET 0 after 6 innings