GDT: 8/23/09 - DET (65-57) AT OAK (54-68) - 4:05 p.m. ET

OAKLAND -- In some ways, Rick Porcello's ejection on Aug. 11 and the five-game suspension that followed was just what he needed.

Tossed with only one inning under his belt after drilling Kevin Youkilis at Fenway Park, Porcello essentially saved himself two starts worth of work.

Porcello is 10-7 with a 4.21 ERA in 117 2/3 innings over 22 starts entering Sunday's series finale against the A's. The 20-year-old threw a total of 125 innings with Class A Lakeland last season.

Manager Jim Leyland said the amount of pitches Porcello and his young pitchers throw isn't the problem -- where they're throwing them is.

"Throwing 95 pitches here is a lot different than 95 in say Double-A," Leyland said. "Here, you get yourself into jams, throw more high-stress pitches. It's different."

Leyland said he's been watching innings for Porcello as well as reliever Ryan Perry. Perry, 22, has thrown 41 1/3 innings in 37 appearances.

"You always try to do that," Leyland said. "Everything has worked out pretty good for us so far. We're doing all right from that standpoint."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (10-7, 4.21 ERA)
Porcello's first outing after his five-game suspension for throwing at Boston's Kevin Youkilis should provide a better idea as to whether he's on his way to a high-strikeout finish. He used the combination of a devastating offspeed pitch and his usual biting sinker to rack up eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings against the Mariners on Tuesday at Comerica Park, but he left with trouble on the bases with two outs in the sixth and 93 pitches thrown.

OAK: RHP Brett Tomko (2-2, 4.21 ERA)
The A's signed Tomko to a Minor League contract on Aug. 5. On Monday, he was back in the Majors, facing the same Yankees team that released him earlier this season. The 36-year-old held New York to five hits over five innings, leading the A's to a 3-0 win. "It's been a long road this year," Tomko said. "It was kind of ironic that my first start here came against the Yankees." He'll look to keep things going against the Tigers. He hasn't faced them this season.

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Tidbits

...Left-hander Bobby Seay has had his way with both right-handed (.204 average against) and left-handed hitters (.217) this season. "That's big," Leyland said. "It's a big plus about him."
... The Tigers are 20-12 against American League West opponents.
... Placido Polanco leads all Major Leaguers with a .377 career average against the A's.
... Ryan Rayburn is batting .372 over his past 19 games.
... Double-A Erie's Thad Weber threw a no-hitter and struck out 10 in a 16-0 win over Akron on Saturday.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 13-7, 3.29 ERA) at Angels (Jered Weaver, 13-4, 3.89 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 3.18 ERA) at Angels (John Lackey, 8-6, 4.00 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 10-5, 2.86) at Angels (TBD), 3:35 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .255
Thomas, C, RF .242
Guillen, C, LF .240
Cabrera, M, 1B .335
Huff, A, DH .252
Inge, 3B .238
Avila, C .370
Everett, SS .237
Santiago, 2B .251

Oakland AVG
Kennedy, A, 3B .282
Davis, R, CF .295
Sweeney, R, RF .277
Hairston, S, LF .285
Cust, DH .234
Ellis, M, 2B .275
Powell, C .245
Barton, D, 1B .154
Pennington, SS .261

Wooohoooo Thad Weber!

My man Grandy!!! Woo-hoo!!!!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson homers (24) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 1, OAK 0



B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas pops out to second baseman Mark Ellis.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen walks.

B:3 S:3 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging and
Carlos Guillen caught stealing 2nd, catcher Landon Powell to second
baseman Mark Ellis.

DET 1, OAK 0 after .5 inning

help me here, someone - who was pitching for Tigs last night?

Gala I think...

k thanks....he's a decent pitcher, too...

i have gameday lag...that was a nice dp??

Bottom Half

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Rajai Davis grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Sweeney grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


DET 1, OAK 0 after 1 inning

ty gogetem..2 groundouts....got it

Gameday lags on my comp so bad. So I just chill here.

c'mon Brandon

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff strikes out swinging.

oh yeah i relate gdennis

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Rajai Davis.

so whoever stole our offense, we need to go get it back!!!

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Mark Ellis to first baseman Daric Barton.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 1.5 inning

ty gogetem - - glad you appreciate

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Hairston grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jack Cust singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Mark Ellis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Jack Cust to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Landon Powell grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jack Cust to 3rd. Mark Ellis to 2nd.

hold 'em Tigers!!

whew

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

DET 1, OAK 0 after 2 innings

good job rick!

Whoo for getting out of a jam!