GDT: 7/31/11 - DET (56-51) VS LAA (59-49) - 1:05 p.m. ET

Aces high as Weaver, Verlander face off

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 7/30/2011 8:48 PM ET

Call it a Cy Young showcase.

Detroit's Justin Verlander and the Angels' Jered Weaver -- two of the American League's best pitchers this season -- will match up against each other in a compelling duel on Sunday. Weaver and Verlander each have 14 victories, and they both rank in the top three of the league's ERA and WHIP charts.

"It's like a playoff game when you have pitchers like Verlander and Weaver," said the Angels' Maicer Izturis. "Every at-bat means something. Verlander likes to attack. He wants to get ahead [in the count], but as a hitter, you don't want that to happen. His stuff is too good to get behind."

Indeed, Verlander leads the league in both strikeouts and innings pitched, and he's managed to complete at least six innings in every one of his starts this season. And still, he's the underdog on Sunday. Weaver has the best ERA in the Majors, and he's posted a 7-0 record and a 1.04 ERA in his past eight starts.

"It's going to be a good time," said Weaver of the matchup. "[Verlander] throws 100 [mph]. Obviously, not too many people do that. His changeup and curveball are pretty impressive, too. ... I'd like to go out there with a 100-mph fastball. But I think we're obviously two totally different pitchers. I've got to change speeds and keep people off balance and trick people. He can get away with a lot of things, throwing so hard."

Verlander has gone 12-2 since the beginning of May, and Detroit has gone 11-1 in his past 12 starts. The first-place Tigers swung a trade to help complement their ace on Saturday, netting right-handers Doug Fister and David Pauley from Seattle in order to bolster the rotation and relief staff, respectively.

Angels: Weaver about wins, not awards
Weaver has allowed more than two earned runs just once in his past 10 starts, and he's registered more strikeouts than walks 10 times in that span. The right-hander, who has thrown 13 consecutive quality starts, can tie a franchise record set by Frank Tanana in 1977 if he throws another one on Sunday.

Those are the kind of things that may motivate Weaver, but not the Cy Young Award balloting.

"I don't know. I'm not even worried about that, to tell you the truth," Weaver said. "We'll find out about that at the end of the season. I don't want to put that pressure on myself. I don't need the notoriety. I don't need that stuff. That's not what I play the game for; I play it for the love of the game and to go out and compete."

Tigers: Late leads in good hands
The Tigers are 46-0 when leading after seven innings this season and 50-0 when on top after the eighth inning, and closer Jose Valverde has converted all 27 of his save opportunities -- the second-longest streak in franchise history. Only Guillermo Hernandez, who had 32 straight saves in 1984, has done better.

Worth noting
Detroit rookie Jacob Turner allowed five stolen bases in his debut on Saturday, the most for a pitcher in his first game since Brian Barber allowed six for the Cardinals in 1995. ... Erick Aybar is batting .429 against Verlander in 21 at-bats, and Izturis is hitting .455 in 22 at-bats. ... Weaver has gone at least six innings in 30 straight starts going back to last season. ... The Tigers are 7-4 in their past 11 games against the Angels.

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (14-5, 2.34 ERA)

Verlander struggled in his most recent outing, giving up four earned runs in eight innings against the White Sox, but still picked up the win. He has given up at least four runs in two of his past three starts.


Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (14-4, 1.79 ERA)

Talk about your dream matchups. Weaver, enhancing his Cy Young Award case, has yielded six earned runs in his past seven starts and has won eight straight decisions. He's doing it with poise, a wide repertoire and cross-firing deception.


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)



To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

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• Monday, August 1:
OFF DAY

• Tuesday, August 2:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (11-6, 4.28 ERA)) VS
Rangers (RHP Colby Lewis (10-8, 4.00 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

ANGELS
Maicer Izturis, 2B
Torii Hunter, RF
Bobby Abreu, DH
Vernon Wells, LF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Erick Aybar, SS
Mark Trumbo, 1B
Peter Bourjos, CF
Jeff Mathis, C

P: Jered Weaver

TIGERS
Austin Jackson, CF
Brennan Boesch, LF
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Miguel Cabrera, DH
Victor Martinez, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Carlos Guillen, 2B
Alex Avila, C
Don Kelly, 3B

P: Justin Verlander

c'mon valverde - - lights out!!

LAA - Top 1st
B:2 S:2 O:1
Maicer Izturis lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Torii Hunter out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Bobby Abreu out swinging.

DET - Bot 1st
B:0 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson called out on .

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

B:1 S:2 O:2
Magglio Ordonez lines out to second baseman Maicer Izturis.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

LAA - Top 2nd
B:1 S:2 O:1
Vernon Wells flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Alberto Callaspo grounds out sharply, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Erick Aybar flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Jhonny Peralta out on foul tip.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Carlos Guillen called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

ooooh - - win????

LAA - Top 3rd
B:3 S:3 O:1
Mark Trumbo out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Peter Bourjos grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Jeff Mathis called out on .

DET - Bot 3rd
B:4 S:2 O:0
Don Kelly walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Austin Jackson bunt pops out to first baseman Mark Trumbo in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Brennan Boesch flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Magglio Ordonez homers (4) on a fly ball to left field. Don Kelly scores.
2 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:3
Miguel Cabrera pops out to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

2 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

msgol wrote:

ooooh - - win????

LAA - Top 4th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Maicer Izturis out on foul tip.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Torii Hunter grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Bobby Abreu walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Vernon Wells flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET - Bot 4th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta called out on .

B:3 S:3 O:3
Carlos Guillen out swinging.

2 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

LAA - Top 5th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Alberto Callaspo flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Erick Aybar flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Mark Trumbo grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.

DET - Bot 5th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Vernon Wells.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly lines out softly to third baseman Alberto Callaspo.

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

2 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

LAA - Top 6th
B:3 S:2 O:1
Peter Bourjos grounds out softly, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Jeff Mathis called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:3
Maicer Izturis grounds out, first baseman Victor Martinez to pitcher Justin Verlander.

DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Brennan Boesch bunt grounds out, catcher Jeff Mathis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

2 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

LAA - Top 7th
Defensive Substitution: Andy Dirks replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 3rd, playing right field.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Torii Hunter out swinging.

B:4 S:1 O:1
Bobby Abreu walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Vernon Wells flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Alberto Callaspo flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch in foul territory.

DET - Bot 7th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Victor Martinez called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Carlos Guillen homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.
3 - 0

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver ejected by HP umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.


Pitcher Change: Hisanori Takahashi replaces Jered Weaver.

On-field Delay.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Vernon Wells.

3 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

LAA - Top 8th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Erick Aybar reaches on throwing error by pitcher Justin Verlander. Erick Aybar to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Mark Trumbo grounds out to first baseman Victor Martinez. Erick Aybar to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Peter Bourjos reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by third baseman Don Kelly. Erick Aybar scores. Peter Bourjos to 2nd.
3 - 1
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Howard Kendrick replaces Jeff Mathis.

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

B:0 S:1 O:2
Maicer Izturis singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Peter Bourjos scores. Maicer Izturis to 2nd on the throw.
3 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Torii Hunter out swinging.

DET - Bot 8th
Defensive Substitution: Bobby Wilson replaces Howard Kendrick, batting 9th, playing catcher.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Brennan Boesch pops out to shortstop Erick Aybar.

3 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

LAA - Top 9th
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 2nd, playing left field.

Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Justin Verlander.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Bobby Abreu walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Vernon Wells grounds into a force out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Carlos Guillen. Bobby Abreu out at 2nd. Vernon Wells to 1st.

With Alberto Callaspo batting, Vernon Wells steals (7) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Alberto Callaspo flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Erick Aybar pops out to third baseman Don Kelly in foul territory.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Detroit Tigers - Recap - July 31, 2011 - ESPN

Quote :

The problems started when Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer in the third. The ball easily cleared the fence but barely stayed fair, and Ordonez stayed near the plate to watch.

Weaver (14-5) took that as an attempt to show him up, but Ordonez pleaded innocent.

"I don't hit many homers anymore, and I wanted to make sure that it stayed fair," Ordonez said. "After that, he was yelling at me to run faster, and I told him that I'm old -- that's as fast as I run.

"I'm not going to show anyone up. That's not me."

Things calmed down until the seventh, when Guillen's solo homer made it 3-0.

"Magglio has 14 years in the major leagues," said Guillen, one of Ordonez's closest friends. "You don't tell him to run. I respect people when they respect us. If you don't respect us, you don't get it."