GDT: 8/13/09 - DET (59-54) AT BOS (65-48) - 1:35 p.m. ET

BOSTON -- The Tigers arrived in Beantown hoping that Thursday would be the day for Justin Verlander to walk onto the mound and pitch them to a four-game series split, if not three wins in four days.

Instead, the Tigers look to Verlander for their first win over the Red Sox -- not just this series, but this year -- in an MLB Network matinee broadcast at Fenway Park.

Detroit has never been swept by Boston in a season series, in a rivalry that goes back to the beginning of the upstart American League in 1901. The Tigers have gone winless at Fenway Park on occasion, including 0-6 in their 119-loss season of 2003, but Boston's three-game sweep at Comerica Park in June has put them in position for the ultimate sweep.

It's quite a turn of events for a team that came into town a few days ago thinking it could get a couple wins against a Red Sox team that was reeling from a series sweep to the Yankees.

Detroit was as little as a ground ball away from potentially taking the opener and a Kevin Youkilis charge away from at least having a shot at the second game. Now, the Tigers are just looking to salvage what they can.

"Everyone was confident in our team [coming in]. We were playing well," Curtis Granderson said. "We had just won four out of our last five. It didn't matter what they had done previously. It was what we had done. We felt we were able to get it done.

"Just coming up into it, head-to-head, I thought it was a very evenly-matched series. But of course, three games into it, it's not the case right now. We have to come back and try to scrounge up one."

It's not a role the Tigers wanted for Verlander, but it's the role he has. Moreover, they're looking for him to try to take innings to help put the pitching staff back into some semblance of order.

"We'll be fine when we get our pitching in order," manager Jim Leyland said. "The Verlanders and the Jacksons and those guys, if they continue to go ahead and work, we'll be fine. Our pitching is a mess right now. That's what happens when guys have bad outings and you have to use your bullpen too much. And then you've got something like [Wednesday], when you have to use a spot starter out of the bullpen.

"Right now, our pitching is a mess. We'll get it straightened back out, and that usually means one or two guys going out and giving us some innings. Those guys have done that most of the year, and it's really helped us out, because it's taken us out of a bad situation on a couple different occasions."

Verlander has done that on more than a few occasions. His victory May 30 at Baltimore helped reverse the tone of a four-game series that Detroit eventually split. He pitched a complete-game victory over the White Sox on June 10 after a day-night doubleheader and an extra-inning game had sapped Detroit's bullpen. He also helped salvage the series finale at Texas on July 29 after back-to-back difficult losses.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (12-6, 3.45 ERA)
Verlander was rolling off a dominant July stretch before giving up five runs in both of his August outings, the latest a six-inning performance against Minnesota last Saturday for his first loss since July 18 and his first game of fewer than 100 pitches since mid-June. He blamed himself for a few poorly executed pitches, something he'll have to watch against a Red Sox lineup that has hit him in three previous meetings.

BOS: RHP Clay Buchholz (1-2, 5.33 ERA)
The right-hander turned in a clutch performance in his last start at Yankee Stadium, albeit in a losing effort. Pitted against CC Sabathia, Buchholz held the Yankees to six hits and two runs over six innings. He walked five and struck out three. This will be his sixth start since being recalled from Triple-A, but just his second at Fenway. In Buchholz's first home start of the season, he gave up two runs over 5 2/3 innings to the Oakland Athletics. Buchholz's lone career start against the Tigers came last year, when he gave up 10 hits and five runs over four innings.

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Tidbits

... Miguel Cabrera is questionable for Thursday's game with a bruised left hand from Tuesday's loss. Cabrera had his hand in a soft brace Wednesday and said it was still sore, leaving him unable to swing with any authority.
... Carlos Guillen could get a second straight start at first base if Cabrera is unable to go.
... Joel Zumaya is slated to have surgery Aug. 21 to correct the bone shard from the stress fracture in his right shoulder. Dr. James Andrews will conduct the procedure at his offices in Pensacola, Fla.
... Placido Polanco went 0-for-3 on Tuesday before being lifted for Ramon Santiago, ending Polanco's hit streak at 12 games.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Friday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 3.12 ERA) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 11-7, 2.43 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 8-5, 2.79 ERA) vs. Royals (Luke Hochevar, 6-5, 5.38 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 6-10, 5.23 ERA) vs. Royals (Kyle Davies, 4-8, 6.11 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. :curtis: Granderson, CF
   
2. :placido: Polanco, 2B
   
3. Thomas, LF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Guillen, DH
   
6. Ordonez, RF
   
7. Raburn, 3B
   
8. Laird, C
   
9. Everett, SS
   

P: Justin Verlander

RED SOX

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
   
2. Josh Reddick, RF
   
3. Victor Martinez, C
   
4. Jason Bay, LF
   
5. David Ortiz, DH
   
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
   
7. Casey Kotchman, 1B
   
8. Nick Green, SS
   
9. Chris Woodward, 2B
   

P: Clay Buchholz

Let's avoid this sweep, get a nice game by Verlander, hit Bucholz hard, and then go home and sweep KC!

Cabrera back in lineup, Inge rests
BECK'S BLOG
Posted on August 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM

Miguel Cabrera isn't exactly back to full health in his left hand, but he's good enough to swing a bat, so he's back in the lineup at first base. We'll see if he can swing with authority, which Cabrera said yesterday was a concern.

Meanwhile, Brandon Inge is getting a day off.

"I need to get him away from it," Leyland said. "He's hurting. That's just the way it is."

It isn't that Inge has necessarily aggravated his left knee tendinitis, but it's bothering him. Because of that, Leyland expects he's going to give Inge a day off now and then for the rest of the season. But also, when Leyland has said in the past that he needs to get a player "away from it," it usually means that they're pressing.

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, first baseman Casey Kotchman to pitcher Clay Buchholz.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas swinging.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury grounds out, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Josh Reddick hits a ground-rule double (4) on a line drive down the right-field line.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Josh Reddick to 3rd.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Jason Bay strikes out swinging. Victor Martinez steals (1) 2nd base. ( NO THROW BECAUSE BATTER WAS IN THE WAY -- IDIOT UMPS!)


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
David Ortiz strikes out swinging.

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, second baseman Chris Woodward to first baseman Casey Kotchman.
Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Mike Lowell swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Casey Kotchman grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Justin Verlander.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Nick Green bunt grounds out, third baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out softly to right fielder Josh Reddick.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett pops out to first baseman Casey Kotchman in foul territory.

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

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco lines out to right fielder Josh Reddick.
Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Chris Woodward hit by pitch.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury flies out sharply to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Josh Reddick grounds into a force out,
first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Adam Everett. Chris Woodward
out at 2nd. Josh Reddick to 1st.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Josh Reddick to 3rd.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Bay swinging.

0-0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, second baseman Chris Woodward to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (25) on a line drive to right fielder Josh Reddick.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out to first baseman Casey Kotchman. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to third baseman Mike Lowell. Miguel Cabrera scores. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.
DET 1, BOS 0

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Josh Reddick.

DET 1, BOS 0 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
David Ortiz swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Lowell flies out softly to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Casey Kotchman pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

DET 1, BOS 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Mike Lowell to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Chris Woodward to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

DET 1, BOS 0 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Nick Green called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Chris Woodward hit by pitch.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jacoby Ellsbury flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

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

DET 1, BOS 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Chris Woodward to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen flies out sharply to right fielder Josh Reddick.

DET 1, BOS 0 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Victor Martinez lines out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Bay walks.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
David Ortiz pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Mike Lowell flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 1, BOS 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Mike Lowell to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn homers (7) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 2, BOS 0

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks. Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco lines out to third baseman Mike Lowell.

DET 2, BOS 0 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Brandon Inge replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 6th, playing third base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from third base to left field for Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Casey Kotchman pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Nick Green pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Chris Woodward flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

DET 2, BOS 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Manny Delcarmen replaces Clay Buchholz.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out softly, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen walks.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

DET 2, BOS 0 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Jacoby Ellsbury doubles (19) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Josh Reddick strikes out swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Victor Martinez pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Bay swinging.

DET 2, BOS 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

8 K's for Verlander

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Cabrera replaces Manny Delcarmen.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird called out on .

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.

DET 2, BOS 0 AFTER 8.5 INNINGS