GDT: 7/29/11 - DET (55-50) VS LAA (58-48) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Young starters to face off for Angels, Tigers

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/28/2011 5:14 PM ET

The premier pitching showdown everybody's waiting for in Detroit doesn't happen until Sunday, but Friday's game between two strong youngsters should serve as an enticing primer.

The Angels' Tyler Chatwood faces Detroit's Rick Porcello on Friday in the second of a four-game set, as Chatwood looks to give the Halos their fourth consecutive win.

While most rookies struggle on the road, Chatwood doesn't seem to have gotten that memo, as he will be gunning for his fourth straight win away from home. The 21-year-old right-hander has posted a 0.92 ERA over that span, blanking his opponents twice. In all, he's 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in eight road outings.

"I'm focusing on trusting my stuff and pounding the strike zone with quality pitches," said Chatwood, who allowed two unearned runs against the Tigers in a July 6 no-decision. "I know I have to keep the walks down, in order to bring my pitch count down and get deeper in games."

Like Chatwood, Porcello also will look to continue his recent success. The 22-year-old righty has won his past four starts, owning a 3.33 ERA over that stretch and working into the sixth inning in each.

Porcello defeated the Twins in his last outing, allowing two runs in six innings.

"Aggressive in the strike zone is more what I was today," Porcello said afterward. "There were a couple of at-bats where I fell behind some guys. That leadoff walk in the fourth kind of hurt us, but for the most part, Victor [Martinez] called a great game, and we were pretty effective."

Angels: Power show
• Prior to Thursday's game, manager Mike Scioscia said his team's bats needed to wake up.

"The bottom line is, we need to do better offensively," Scioscia said. "Manufacturing runs is important to us. I think we have terrific team speed."

Instead, the Angels responded with power, as Rookie of the Year candidate Mark Trumbo led the way, amassing five RBIs while falling just a single short of the cycle, and Peter Bourjos hit two doubles a day after snapping an 0-for-10 streak.

• Reliever Scott Downs' 12 1/3 scoreless-inning streak ended on an eighth-inning solo home run by Detroit's Wilson Betemit on Thursday.

Tigers: Avila should be back
All-Star catcher Alex Avila got the day off on Thursday and should return on Friday. He's been getting hit by foul balls frequently, and manager Jim Leyland wanted to give him a rest.

"Alex is beat up," Leyland said. "He's caught a lot of games and probably gets hit more than any catcher I've seen with foul balls. I've never seen anything like it."

• Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of shortstop Jhonny Peralta's trade to the Tigers. Since his arrival, Peralta is hitting .295 with 24 home runs.

Worth noting
• Porcello is 2-1 with a 7.40 ERA in four career starts against the Angels.

• Miguel Cabrera is hitting .341 with 45 doubles, a triple, 31 homers and 121 RBIs in 140 career games against the American League West.

• Angels designated hitter Bobby Abreu is one run shy of 1,400 for his career.


Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (10-6, 4.67 ERA)

Porcello is hot in the month of July, as he earned his 10th victory of the season, his fourth straight, in a 5-2 victory over the Twins on Sunday. Porcello threw 93 pitches over six innings, giving up two earned runs.


Angels: RHP Tyler Chatwood (6-6, 3.64 ERA)

Chatwood's efforts to pound the strike zone and not be too fine paid off in Baltimore, where he went seven innings without walking a man in claiming a victory on Sunday. The rookie needs to trust his first-class stuff.


Game Information



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 Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 60-day DL on May 11)



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• Saturday, July 30:
Tigers (LHP Duane Below (0-1, 4.66 ERA)) VS
Angels (RHP Dan Haren (10-6, 3.01 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Sunday, July 31:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (14-5, 2.34 ERA)) VS
Angels (RHP Jered Weaver (14-4, 1.79 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

LAA - Top 1st
B:0 S:1 O:0
Maicer Izturis homers (5) on a fly ball to right field.
LAA 1 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:1
Erick Aybar flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to right fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Bobby Abreu grounds out softly, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Torii Hunter to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Alberto Callaspo grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds out, second baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch homers (15) on a fly ball to right field.
TIED 1 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 1 INNING

LAA - Top 2nd
B:1 S:3 O:1
Howard Kendrick out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Mark Trumbo grounds out softly, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Peter Bourjos grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:0 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Carlos Guillen bunt grounds out, catcher Bobby Wilson to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

LAA - Top 3rd
B:1 S:0 O:1
Bobby Wilson grounds out, third baseman Wilson Betemit to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Maicer Izturis flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Erick Aybar flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

DET - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:3 O:1
Wilson Betemit out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Ramon Santiago doubles (5) on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out softly, third baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Mark Trumbo. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

LAA - Top 4th
B:3 S:2 O:1
Torii Hunter grounds out softly, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Bobby Abreu flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:0 O:3
Alberto Callaspo grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 4th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play, shortstop Erick Aybar to second baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark Trumbo. Brennan Boesch out at 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds out to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

LAA - Top 5th
B:3 S:2 O:0
Howard Kendrick doubles (24) on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch, deflected by third baseman Wilson Betemit.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Mark Trumbo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Howard Kendrick scores.
LAA 2 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:1
Peter Bourjos flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

Mark Trumbo out at 2nd, catcher Alex Avila to second baseman Carlos Guillen.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Bobby Wilson pops out to catcher Alex Avila in foul territory.

DET - Bot 5th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Carlos Guillen pops out to shortstop Erick Aybar in foul territory.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Wilson Betemit pops out to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago doubles (6) on a fly ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Alex Avila scores.
TIED 2 - 2

B:1 S:0 O:3
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Mark Trumbo.


TIED 2 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

LAA - Top 6th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Maicer Izturis singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Erick Aybar grounds into double play, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Maicer Izturis out at 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Torii Hunter out swinging.

DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Andy Dirks hit by pitch.

B:4 S:0 O:0
Brennan Boesch walks. Andy Dirks to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos. Andy Dirks to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter. Andy Dirks scores. Brennan Boesch to 3rd.
3 - 2

B:0 S:0 O:1
Carlos Guillen triples (1) on a line drive to center fielder Peter Bourjos. Brennan Boesch scores. Victor Martinez scores.
5 - 2

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Carlos Guillen scores.
6 - 2

B:4 S:2 O:1
Wilson Betemit walks. Alex Avila to 2nd.
Pitcher Change: Rich Thompson replaces Tyler Chatwood.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson out swinging.

6 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

LAA - Top 7th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Bobby Abreu called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:2
Alberto Callaspo out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Howard Kendrick out swinging.

DET - Bot 7th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds out softly, catcher Bobby Wilson to first baseman Mark Trumbo. Andy Dirks to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez hits a ground-rule double (25) on a fly ball down the left-field line. Andy Dirks scores.
7 - 2

B:3 S:2 O:2
Carlos Guillen doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter. Victor Martinez scores.
8 - 2

Pitcher Change: Horacio Ramirez replaces Rich Thompson.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Alex Avila walks.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Wilson Betemit grounds out softly, pitcher Horacio Ramirez to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

8 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

LAA - Top 8th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 3rd, playing left field.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Mark Trumbo grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Peter Bourjos out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Bobby Wilson pops out to second baseman Carlos Guillen.

DET - Bot 8th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to left fielder Howard Kendrick.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Peter Bourjos. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks reaches on a fielder's choice out, pitcher Horacio Ramirez to third baseman Alberto Callaspo. Ramon Santiago out at 3rd. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Don Kelly singles on a ground ball to left fielder Howard Kendrick. Austin Jackson scores. Andy Dirks to 2nd.
9 - 2

B:4 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera walks. Andy Dirks to 3rd. Don Kelly to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Andy Dirks scores. Don Kelly scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Victor Martinez advances to 2nd, on throwing error by right fielder Torii Hunter.
11 - 2

B:2 S:0 O:2
Carlos Guillen out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Torii Hunter. Miguel Cabrera scores. Victor Martinez to 3rd.
12 - 2

B:2 S:3 O:3
Alex Avila out on foul tip.

12 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

LAA - Top 9th
Defensive switch from left field to third base for Don Kelly.

Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces third baseman Wilson Betemit, batting 8th, playing left field.

Pitcher Change: Daniel Schlereth replaces Rick Porcello.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Maicer Izturis grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Erick Aybar flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Torii Hunter walks.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Mike Trout replaces Bobby Abreu.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Mike Trout out on foul tip.