GDT: 7/15/11 - DET (49-43) VS CWS (44-48) - 7:05 p.m. ET

White Sox get opportunity to close gap on Tigers

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/10/2011 6:30 PM ET

Entering the season, the Tigers and White Sox were expected to be part of a competitive three-team race for the American League Central crown.

That prediction has held true so far for the Tigers. First baseman Miguel Cabrera, catcher Alex Avila and shortstop Jhonny Peralta were named All-Stars, while designated hitter Victor Martinez also has mashed. Add Detroit's other All-Stars -- right-hander Justin Verlander and closer Jose Valverde -- and it's no surprise the Tigers reached the break in first place, ahead of Cleveland.

The White Sox, however, have been a different story. They sputtered in April and May, at one point winning only four of 22 games. Their offense -- expected to be even more potent with the addition of Adam Dunn -- was anything but, and they didn't find a closer until late April. They've righted themselves, ending the first half in third place, five games back of Detroit, but there's no question the White Sox have been one of baseball's biggest disappointments this season.

"The expectations, I don't care about the expectations [beyond] here. I don't," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But my expectations were higher than anybody else. I expected this ballclub to go out and have some fun. Unfortunately, we're not doing it right now. I've been disappointed for everyone, not just for me. The players will agree with me about this."

Guillen said he isn't sure if the four-day All-Star break will help his club. Maybe the White Sox will come to Detroit on Friday refreshed and ready to live up to expectations. Maybe they won't. But one thing is certain: Guillen believes.

"Because of our talent," Guillen said. "We haven't played up to our potential. That's why my hope is very high, because I don't think we played up to the potential. We are not pitching or hitting up to our potential. We don't execute up to the way we should. I think that's why I think [no matter how bad we have played], I think we should be better."

White Sox: Dunn confident
• The first half wasn't kind to Dunn. He batted an abysmal .160 and struck out 36 percent of the time he came to the plate. He hit only nine home runs in 78 games. To put that in perspective, Dunn hit 19 home runs in 66 games as a rookie in 2001. So, yes, Dunn has struggled mightily. But he's still confident he'll snap out of his slump.

"I am, because I feel like me and Alex [Rios], we've been as bad as you could possibly be," Dunn said. "And if we're doing half of what we normally do, we're not even talking about this because we -- me and Alex -- talked about it and we're putting it all on us in the second half basically."

• John Danks made a Triple-A rehab start on Sunday and is scheduled to throw another one on Friday. He's expected to join Chicago after the break, once again giving the White Sox a six-man rotation. The rotation following the break will be, in order: Gavin Floyd, Edwin Jackson, Jake Peavy, Mark Buehrle, Philip Humber and Danks.

Tigers: Verlander looks to continue dominance
• The Tigers open the season's second half the same way their ended the first: with Verlander on the mound. In his start on Sunday, the right-hander won his 12th game of the season, becoming the first Tigers pitcher to reach that total before the All-Star break since Jack Morris in 1987. Verlander has arguably been the best pitcher in the Majors this season, with his last nine games a big reason why. In that stretch, Verlander is 8-1 with a 0.75 ERA.

• Left-hander Charlie Furbush -- 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA as a starter -- was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday after losing his second straight start. The Tigers decided to make the move so Furbush could pitch on his regular day during the All-Star break. As far as if Furbush will return the the Majors following the break, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, "We're going to play it by ear from there."

Worth noting
• Of Detroit's 70 remaining games, 46 of them are against the AL Central, including 13 of the club's next 15. Detroit is 18-8 against divisional opponents this season.

• Friday marks the eighth of 19 straight games against the Central for the White Sox. They are 2-5 through the first seven.

• Avila, who was elected by the fans to start Tuesday's All-Star Game, is the fifth Tigers catcher to start the Midsummer Classic, joining Ivan Rodriguez, Birdie Tebbetts, Bill Freehan and Lance Parrish.

• The White Sox reached the All-Star break below .500 for the first time since 2007, when they were 39-47.



Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (12-4, 2.15 ERA)

Verlander won his 12th game of the season last Sunday against the Royals, making him the first Tigers pitcher to win a dozen before the All-Star break since Jack Morris in 1987.


White Sox: RHP Gavin Floyd (6-9, 4.59 ERA)

Floyd looks to start the second half by snapping a six-start winless skid, in which he is 0-4 with a 6.14 ERA. He blew a four-run first-inning lead his last time out, picking up the loss while working just 3 2/3 innings.


Game Information

RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Royals 2-1 on Sunday afternoon. Justin Verlander (12-4) earned the win for Detroit after fanning nine batters as he limited the Royals to an unearned run in 7.2 innings of work. Jose Valverde closed out the game for his 24th save of the season. Brennan Boesch and Magglio Ordonez both collected a hit and an RBI for the Tigers. The Tigers begin a five-game homestand tonight with the first game of a three-game series against the White Sox. Following an off day on Monday, the homestand continues with a two-game series against the Athletics beginning on Tuesday.

CENTRAL FOCUS: Tonight versus Chicago marks the fifth game in a stretch in which the Tigers play 14 of the club’s next 16 games against opponents in the American League Central Division. Of Detroit’s final 70 games of the season, 46 are versus teams in the American League Central Division. The Tigers are 18-8 against clubs from the American League Central Division this season, a .692 winning percentage. Detroit is tops among all American League clubs with the .692 winning percentage against the division.

WINNING AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: The Tigers enter this evening’s game against Chicago having won 13 of the team’s last 15 games over the White Sox. Detroit is hitting .306 (165x540) with 100 runs scored, 30 doubles, four triples and 19 home runs over the 15-game stretch versus Chicago. Tigers pitchers have compiled a 2.82 ERA (137.0IP/43ER) during the stretch against the White Sox.

WINNING WAYS: Detroit has won 37 of the club’s last 63 games dating back to May 3, a .587 winning percentage. The Tigers are second among all American League clubs with a .587 winning percentage during that stretch. The Red Sox have compiled a 42-20 record during the stretch, a .677 winning percentage.

BOESCH IS BASHING: Brennan Boesch is hitting .381 (51x134) with 10 doubles, eight home runs and 19 RBI over his last 34 games dating back to June 3. He is second in the American League with a .381 batting average during that stretch, while he is fourth with 51 hits and a .634 slugging percentage and tied for 10th with eight home runs.

STARTING BACK-TO-BACK GAMES: Justin Verlander is scheduled to start tonight’s game against Chicago after he started Detroit’s last game on Sunday at Kansas City. Verlander will become the first Tigers pitcher to start consecutive team games for the club since Mickey Lolich did so September 26, 1967 at New York and September 30, 1967 versus California. Detroit won both of Lolich’s starts in 1967. (Source: STATS LLC)

CABRERA CLOSING IN ON 1,500 HITS: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game with 1,498 hits during his major league career, two shy of reaching 1,500 hits. He will become just the 12th player born in Venezuela to collect 1,500 hits at the major league level.

VALVERDE’S CONVERTING SAVES: Jose Valverde converted his 24th consecutive save to begin the season on Sunday at Kansas City. His 24 straight saves converted is tied for the third-longest such streak during a single season in Tigers history. Valverde also converted 24 straight saves for the Tigers in 2010, doing so April 9-August 21.

BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 1.71 ERA (21.0IP/4ER) and 18 strikeouts over the club’s last eight games dating back to July 3. During the eight-game stretch, club relievers have limited opponents to a .213 batting average (16x75).

GUILLEN ON INJURY REHAB WITH TOLEDO: Carlos Guillen’s injury rehabilitation assignment was transferred from Single A Lakeland to Triple A Toledo on July 1. He is hitting .314 (11x35) with two doubles, a home run and eight RBI in 10 games with Toledo. Guillen joined Double A Erie for one game on July 11, collecting one hit in four at-bats. He joined Lakeland to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment on June 27. Guillen hit .200 (3x15) with two doubles and two RBI in three games with Lakeland.

TIGERS OUTRIGHT CONTRACT OF THOMAS: The Tigers yesterday reinstated lefthanded pitcher Brad Thomas from the disabled list and outrighted his contract to Triple A Toledo. Thomas had been sidelined since May 11 with left elbow inflammation.

NOTES ON THE SKIPPER: Jim Leyland is in his sixth season as the manager of the Tigers, compiling a 473-432 record (.523).
- Leyland registered the 1,500th win of his major league career on April 15 at Oakland, becoming just the 19th manager in major league history to accomplish the feat. He is second among all active major league managers with 1,542 wins.
- Tonight’s game marks the 3,106th game Leyland has managed during his career, 51 games shy of tying Ralph Houk for 15th place all-time in major league history.
- With 473 wins as Detroit’s manager, he enters tonight’s game 27 wins shy of becoming the fifth manager in Tigers history to register 500 victories with the club.

17TH ANNUAL NEGRO LEAGUES TRIBUTE GAME IS TOMORROW: The Tigers will don the uniform of the Detroit Stars from the Negro Leagues in the club’s 17th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game on Saturday afternoon. The Chicago White Sox will don the uniforms of the Chicago American Giants for the game.

RESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
- Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)

INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right forearm flexor mass inflammation, 15-day disabled list on June 30),
• INF Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30), Rehab with Toledo
• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).


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• Saturday, July 16:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (10-4, 4.69 ERA))
VS
White Sox (RHP Edwin Jackson (5-7, 4.30 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Sunday, July 17:
Tigers (RHP Brad Penny (6-6, 4.50 ERA))
VS
White Sox (RHP Jake Peavy (4-3, 5.27 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Chicago White Sox
1. Juan Pierre, LF
2. Alexei Ramirez, SS
3. Paul Konerko, 1B
4. Adam Dunn, DH
5. Carlos Quentin, RF
6. Alex Rios, CF
7. A.J. Pierzynski, C
8. Gordon Beckham, 2B
9. Mark Teahen, 3B



Detroit Tigers
1. Andy Dirks, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, LF
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Don Kelly, 3B

CWS - Top 1st
B:2 S:2 O:1
Juan Pierre flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Alexei Ramirez out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Paul Konerko out swinging.

DET - Bot 1st
B:4 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks walks.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Carlos Quentin.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Magglio Ordonez out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Carlos Quentin.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

CWS - Top 2nd
B:2 S:3 O:1
Adam Dunn called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2
Carlos Quentin pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Alex Rios flies out to center fielder Andy Dirks.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Carlos Quentin.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Paul Konerko.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

CWS - Top 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:1
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Gordon Beckham singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Mark Teahen singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Dirks. Gordon Beckham to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Juan Pierre singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Gordon Beckham scores. Mark Teahen to 2nd.
CWS 1 - 0

B:1 S:1 O:2
Alexei Ramirez flies out to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Paul Konerko walks. Mark Teahen to 3rd. Juan Pierre to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Adam Dunn singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Mark Teahen scores. Juan Pierre scores. Paul Konerko to 3rd.
CWS 3 - 0

B:2 S:2 O:2
Carlos Quentin singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Paul Konerko scores. Adam Dunn to 2nd.
CWS 4 - 0

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Alex Rios grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:1
Don Kelly bunt grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

CWS 4 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

CWS - Top 4th
B:1 S:2 O:1
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Gordon Beckham out on foul tip.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Mark Teahen flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET - Bot 4th
B:0 S:3 O:0
Magglio Ordonez out swinging. Passed ball by catcher A. J. Pierzynski. Magglio Ordonez to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Miguel Cabrera homers (19) on a fly ball to left field. Magglio Ordonez scores.
CWS 4 - 2

B:2 S:1 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Ryan Raburn grounds out sharply, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS 4 - 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

CWS - Top 5th
B:0 S:2 O:0
Juan Pierre reaches on fielding error by second baseman Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:2 O:0
Alexei Ramirez doubles (21) on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks. Juan Pierre to 3rd.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Paul Konerko walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Adam Dunn flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Carlos Quentin grounds into a force out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Juan Pierre scores. Alexei Ramirez to 3rd. Paul Konerko out at 2nd. Carlos Quentin to 1st.
CWS 5 - 2

B:3 S:3 O:3
Alex Rios out swinging.

DET - Bot 5th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Don Kelly flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Brennan Boesch lines out to left fielder Juan Pierre.

CWS 5 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

CWS - Top 6th
B:1 S:1 O:1
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Gordon Beckham out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Mark Teahen singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Dirks, deflected by second baseman Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Juan Pierre flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET - Bot 6th
B:2 S:0 O:1
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds into double play, first baseman Paul Konerko to shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

CWS 5 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

CWS - Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Lester Oliveros replaces Justin Verlander.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Alexei Ramirez flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Paul Konerko singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Adam Dunn walks. Paul Konerko to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Carlos Quentin singles on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Paul Konerko scores. Adam Dunn to 2nd.
CWS 6 - 2

B:1 S:1 O:2
Alex Rios flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: David Purcey replaces Lester Oliveros.

B:4 S:2 O:2
A. J. Pierzynski walks. Adam Dunn to 3rd. Carlos Quentin to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Gordon Beckham singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Dirks. Adam Dunn scores. Carlos Quentin scores. J. Pierzynski to 2nd.
CWS 8 - 2

B:3 S:2 O:3
Mark Teahen grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 7th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Alex Avila grounds out, pitcher Gavin Floyd to shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Ryan Raburn pops out to second baseman Gordon Beckham.

CWS 8 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

CWS - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces David Purcey.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Juan Pierre flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Alexei Ramirez singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Paul Konerko walks. Alexei Ramirez to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Adam Dunn lines into double play, second baseman Ryan Raburn to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Alexei Ramirez doubled off 2nd.

DET - Bot 8th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to right fielder Carlos Quentin.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Brennan Boesch grounds into a force out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Gordon Beckham. Andy Dirks out at 2nd. Brennan Boesch to 1st.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Rios. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Brian Bruney replaces Gavin Floyd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera walks. Brennan Boesch to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Will Ohman replaces Brian Bruney.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Victor Martinez out on foul tip.

CWS 8 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

CWS - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Ryan Perry.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Carlos Quentin singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Brent Lillibridge replaces Carlos Quentin.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Alex Rios grounds into double play, third baseman Don Kelly to second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Brent Lillibridge out at 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3
A. J. Pierzynski flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET - Bot 9th
Brent Lillibridge remains in the game as the right fielder.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Jhonny Peralta pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko in foul territory.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Alex Avila hit by pitch.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre. Alex Avila to 2nd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brandon Inge replaces Don Kelly.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Brent Lillibridge. Alex Avila to 3rd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Casper Wells replaces Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Casper Wells hit by pitch. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Brennan Boesch grounds out, second baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko.