GDT: 7/25/09 - DET (51-44) VS CWS (50-47) - 4:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Brandon Inge figured he was going to have to play out the season with nagging pain in his patella tendons. He got a little break from it simply by taking off his knee brace.

It hasn't exactly made him pain-free, but by taking some of the compression off his left knee, Inge said he felt a lot less pressure on his patella, where wear and tear has created microtears that have left him in sometimes excruciating pain. Without the brace, Inge was able to not only play both games of Friday's doubleheader sweep, but he also expects to play in Saturday's game as the Tigers try to guarantee a series victory and stretch their AL Central lead back to three games before a FOX regional broadcast audience.

Chris Rose and Mark Grace will have the call on this division clash, which will be broadcast on FOX 2 in Detroit and other stations around the Midwest. It's a big game in a big series that will help determine who has the momentum going into the pennant race portion of the season. Another Tigers victory would restore a sense of command regardless of what happens in the series finale Sunday night.

A healthier Inge makes a difference, even if he isn't near 100 percent. It's not that he wouldn't be thinking of playing if the pain was still severe, since he has a high tolerance. But the less discomfort he feels, the better he is.

"Ever since he's taken that off, he actually feels good," manager Jim Leyland said. "I think the thing with him is it's a hit-and-miss thing. If he has to make some certain move once in a while or hits the bag, it might jolt him for a second. But he was pretty positive about how he felt."

In Inge's case, it isn't simply about how he feels at the plate, or how he runs the bases. With his arguably Gold Glove caliber defense, how Inge feels in the field makes a big difference. When the left knee limits Inge, he has to cede a portion of the territory to his left side to the shortstop, whether it's Adam Everett or Ramon Santiago going into the hole. The more plays Inge can make there, the easier it is for him to get an out, since his momentum is carrying him towards first base.

Between pitching and defense, the Tigers held the formidable White Sox offense to four runs over 18 innings in Friday's doubleheader sweep, three of them on home runs. Detroit also turned three double plays over the two games.

With Edwin Jackson taking the mound Saturday, the Tigers have a superb chance to hold down the South Siders again. Jackson's last meeting with the White Sox, however, was the last time he didn't throw a quality start, as Chicago hitters knocked him out after five innings with two runs on five hits and four walks. He'll be looking to avenge that.

Just as important, the Detroit offense will be looking to build off its momentum from Friday and bolster Jackson's run support, currently among the lowest for AL starters, after last Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Yankees.

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

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (7-5, 2.52 ERA)
Jackson's ratio of 6.9 hits per nine innings remains the best among AL starters, helping his streak of five straight quality starts. Despite tossing seven innings of two-run ball against the Bronx Bombers, his five walks didn't help his cause. He walked four batters in five innings in his one start against the White Sox on June 11 at Chicago.

CWS: RHP Gavin Floyd (8-6, 4.40 ERA)
Floyd made three mistakes over seven solid innings during Monday's 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay at U.S. Cellular Field. It just so happened that all three mistakes went for home runs, including Carl Crawford's inside-the-park shot. But Floyd did not give up another hit on the night, striking out seven and walking two. Floyd has a 6-2 record with a 2.41 ERA over his past 11 starts and has a 4-1 mark with a 2.09 ERA over his past six starts. Floyd has a 1-0 record against the Tigers this season but has dominated Detroit during his career, posting a perfect 5-0 mark in 11 starts with a 3.55 ERA. He is 3-0 lifetime at Comerica Park.

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

Tidbits

... Right-handed reliever Casey Fien, having been brought up from Triple-A Toledo following Friday night's win, will join the Tigers in time for Saturday's game. Fien will wear No. 41 and await his Major League debut.
... Carlos Guillen is expected to be back at designated hitter after playing both ends of Friday's doubleheader.
... Ramon Santiago is 3-for-10 with two homers and four RBIs lifetime off Floyd.
... Placido Polanco is batting .474 (9-for-19) with four runs scored and five RBIs through five games of this homestand.

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

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)

• Sunday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 9-6, 4.40 ERA) vs. White Sox (Clayton Richard, 3-3, 5.00 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET ESPN
• Monday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-8, 4.82 ERA) at Rangers (Tommy Hunter, 2-1, 2.17 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (TBD) at Rangers (TBD), 8:05 p.m. ET

80 degrees this afternoon; Mostly Cloudy

Isolated showers and an isolated T Storm are possible until 6pm

now that we've seen 1/8th of the team naked!

Starting Lineups:

Chi White Sox AVG
Podsednik, CF .304
Ramirez, A, SS .279
Dye, RF .290
Thome, DH .253
Konerko, 1B .289
Pierzynski, C .301
Quentin, LF .236
Getz, 2B .266
Beckham, 3B .286

Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .255
:placido: Polanco, 2B .269
Thomas, C, RF .255
Cabrera, M, 1B .326
Guillen, C, DH .216
Raburn, LF .248
Inge, 3B .258
Laird, C .237
Santiago, SS .250

let's grind it out guys! Small Ball Rules!

laprimamirala wrote:

let's grind it out guys! Small Ball Rules!

for sure!

:jackson: - limit walks, throw strikes!!!


I'm pissed, can't watch this game, our FOX is showing Philly game, nobody in this area follows them!

Thank God for mlb gameday audio!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Jermaine Dye walks.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Jim Thome lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco reaches on fielding error by first baseman Paul Konerko. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Clete Thomas out on a sacrifice bunt,
third baseman Gordon Beckham to second baseman Chris Getz. Curtis
Granderson to 3rd. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Jermaine Dye. Curtis Granderson scores. Placido Polanco to 3rd.
DET 1, CWS 0

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Carlos Guillen grounds into a force out,
first baseman Paul Konerko to shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Placido Polanco
scores. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd. Carlos Guillen to 1st.
DET 2, CWS 0

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko.

DET 2, CWS 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Paul Konerko grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
A. J. Pierzynski homers (11) on a line drive to right field.
DET 2, CWS 1

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Quentin grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Chris Getz flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


DET 2, CWS 1 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge called out on strikes.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird pops out to second baseman Chris Getz in foul territory.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to center fielder Scott Podsednik.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, first baseman Paul Konerko to pitcher Gavin Floyd.

DET 2, CWS 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Gordon Beckham lines out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

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

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Alexei Ramirez pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Jermaine Dye lines out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

DET 2, CWS 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas grounds out softly, pitcher Gavin Floyd to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera called out on strikes.

DET 2, CWS 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jim Thome flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Paul Konerko swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
A. J. Pierzynski singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.