GDT: 8/10/11 - DET (61-54) AT CLE (57-56) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Ubaldo's home debut in middle of heated series
Porcello tries to end Tigers' skid at Progressive

By Jon Star / MLB.com | 8/10/2011 2:23 AM ET

Days like Wednesday are why the Indians parted with a number of their top prospects to acquire ace Ubaldo Jimenez. With his club now trailing the Tigers by three games in the American League Central following Tuesday night's walk-off hit-by-pitch in the 14th inning, Jimenez will take the mound at Progressive Field for the first time as a member of the Tribe, hoping he can continue to shave the Indians' deficit in the division and help build the necessary momentum to chase down the Tigers.

Jimenez also looks to bounce back from a rocky Cleveland debut in which he allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings in Texas on Friday. Despite his shaky debut and a 5.63 ERA in three career starts against Detroit, one of which came in Interleague Play on June 18, Indians manager Manny Acta expects a better performance out of his new right-hander.

"I had never seen him pitch from my dugout, so I'm not going to evaluate him after one outing. I think the second time around, he's probably going to be calmer," Acta said. "It was a big day for him, the first time pitching in a different uniform. It was a big trade, there was a lot of anticipation. So, I'm sure that he had a little bit of jitters."

However, Acta also recognized that after seizing the opener, his team needs to continue a steady march to catch Detroit.

"It's important, in a sense, that we can't let them get too far ahead," Acta said. "We showed how tough it is to make up so many games. We held a seven-game lead for over two months. But I've seen in baseball two seven-game leads disappear in 10 days."

Despite Jimenez's new shine in an Indians uniform, Tigers manager Jim Leyland believes his team will feel comfortable facing the right-hander and added that he respects the Indians for their aggressiveness in acquiring Jimenez.

"We've seen him before," Leyland said. "He's a power guy with really good stuff. I mean, they've got them lined up pretty good for us, and that's the way it should be.

"I think they sent a great message to their team and the players when they went out and made their deal. I thought that was a tremendous message. They're for real. They're not going away."

Leyland also sent a message to his own right-hander in Rick Porcello by moving him up to pitch on normal rest. Typically, Leyland would skip Porcello when moving up ace Justin Verlander. However, with Porcello pitching well of late, including winning five straight decisions and walking just five batters in his past 38 2/3 innings, the Tigers' skipper wanted to keep Porcello in rhythm.

Tigers: Cabrera crushing Cleveland
• Miguel Cabrera rarely lets his opposition off the hook, and that is particularly true when it comes to the Indians. The Tigers first baseman is a career .336 hitter (77-for-229) with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs in 59 games against the Indians. His home run and RBI totals lead all active Major Leaguers against Cleveland.

• Wednesday will be Porcello's second start against the Indians this season. The right-hander took a tough-luck no-decision on April 30 in Cleveland, when he allowed two earned runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Porcello owns a 4-0 record and a 2.32 ERA in eight career starts against the Tribe.

Indians: Asdrubal setting new marks
• Asrubal Cabrera continues to lead the Indians in the Triple Crown categories. Cabrera is hitting .290 with 19 home runs and 66 RBIs. In addition to being the first Indians shortstop to start an All-Star Game since Lou Boudreau in 1948, Cabrera's 19 home runs exceed his career total entering 2011.

Worth noting
• The Indians have won 12 consecutive games at home against the Tigers, dating back to last season.

• Starting Aug. 16, the Indians will play 44 games over the last 44 days of the season.

• The Tigers have feasted off Cleveland pitching of late. In its past 13 games against the Tribe, Detroit has reached double-digit hits 10 times, dating back to Aug. 20, 2010. The Tigers are hitting .296 with 52 runs scored and eight home runs in that span.

Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (11-6, 4.49 ERA)

Porcello has been skipped in the rotation twice this year, but when Justin Verlander was moved up to face Cleveland, so was Porcello, who is 5-0 in his past six starts. He pitched seven innings of two-run ball in Cleveland in April.


Indians: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9, 4.64 ERA)

In his first start with Cleveland, Jimenez yielded five runs in five innings, striking out seven. He didn't factor into the decision. Jimenez beat the Tigers on June 18, allowing three runs in five innings.


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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• Thursday, August 11:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (16-5, 2.30 ERA)) AT
Indians (RHP Fausto Carmona (5-11, 5.19 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Friday, August 12:
Tigers (RHP Brad Penny (7-9, 4.92 ERA)) AT
Orioles (RHP Alfredo Simon (3-5, 4.08 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Saturday, August 13:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (11-7, 4.33 ERA)) AT
Orioles (RHP Jeremy Guthrie (5-15, 4.38 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. Andy Dirks, CF
   
2. Brennan Boesch, LF
   
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
   
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Victor Martinez, DH
   
6. Ryan Raburn, 2B
   
7. Alex Avila, C
   
8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
   
9. Ramon Santiago, SS
   

P: Rick Porcello



INDIANS

1. Ezequiel Carrera, CF
   
2. Jason Kipnis, 2B
   
3. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
   
4. Travis Hafner, DH
   
5. Carlos Santana, C
   
6. Kosuke Fukudome, RF
   
7. Shelley Duncan, LF
   
8. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B
   
9. Lou Marson, C
   

P: Ubaldo Jimenez

DET - Top 1st
B:2 S:3 O:1
Andy Dirks out on foul tip.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to first baseman Carlos Santana.

CLE - Bot 1st
B:1 S:3 O:1
Ezequiel Carrera out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Jason Kipnis singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Travis Hafner singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks. Jason Kipnis to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Carlos Santana singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jason Kipnis scores. Travis Hafner to 2nd.
CLE 1 - 0

B:0 S:1 O:3
Kosuke Fukudome grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CLE 1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:1 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to first baseman Carlos Santana.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds out, first baseman Carlos Santana to pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

CLE - Bot 2nd
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 2nd, playing left field.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Shelley Duncan grounds out, third baseman Wilson Betemit to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Lonnie Chisenhall doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Lou Marson grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Lonnie Chisenhall to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Ezequiel Carrera doubles (4) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Lonnie Chisenhall scores.
CLE 2 - 0

B:3 S:2 O:2
Jason Kipnis homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Ezequiel Carrera scores.
CLE 4 - 0

B:1 S:2 O:2
Asdrubal Cabrera hit by pitch.

Coaching visit to mound.

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

CLE 4 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:3 S:1 O:0
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ezequiel Carrera.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Wilson Betemit singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kosuke Fukudome. Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Shelley Duncan.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds into a force out, first baseman Carlos Santana to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Alex Avila to 3rd. Wilson Betemit out at 2nd. Andy Dirks to 1st.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Don Kelly pops out to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall in foul territory.

CLE - Bot 3rd
Detroit Tigers left fielder Brennan Boesch left the game due to an injured hand.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Carlos Santana called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:1
Kosuke Fukudome doubles (19) on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Shelley Duncan flies out to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Lonnie Chisenhall pops out to third baseman Wilson Betemit in foul territory.

CLE 4 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to first baseman Carlos Santana.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to first baseman Carlos Santana.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ryan Raburn triples (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Shelley Duncan. Victor Martinez scores.
CLE 4 - 1

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

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Wilson Betemit doubles (18) on a line drive to center fielder Ezequiel Carrera. Ryan Raburn scores. Alex Avila scores.
CLE 4 - 3

B:0 S:1 O:3
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

CLE - Bot 4th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Lou Marson doubles (7) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Ezequiel Carrera grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Lou Marson to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Jason Kipnis singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks. Lou Marson scores.
CLE 5 - 3

B:0 S:0 O:1
Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Dirks. Jason Kipnis scores. Asdrubal Cabrera to 3rd. Throwing error by center fielder Andy Dirks.
CLE 6 - 3

With Travis Hafner batting, wild pitch by Rick Porcello, Asdrubal Cabrera scores.
CLE 7 - 3

B:3 S:3 O:2
Travis Hafner out swinging.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Carlos Santana doubles (22) on a fly ball to center fielder Andy Dirks.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: David Pauley replaces Rick Porcello.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Kosuke Fukudome doubles (20) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Carlos Santana scores.
CLE 8 - 3

B:0 S:2 O:3
Shelley Duncan pops out to second baseman Ryan Raburn.

CLE 8 - 3 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Andy Dirks flies out to right fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Carlos Santana.

CLE - Bot 5th
B:3 S:2 O:1
Lonnie Chisenhall singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks. Lonnie Chisenhall out at 2nd, center fielder Andy Dirks to second baseman Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Lou Marson grounds out, third baseman Wilson Betemit to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Ezequiel Carrera flies out to center fielder Andy Dirks.

CLE 8 - 3 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Miguel Cabrera doubles (31) on a fly ball to left fielder Shelley Duncan.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Jason Kipnis to first baseman Carlos Santana. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Ryan Raburn pops out to first baseman Carlos Santana in foul territory.

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

CLE - Bot 6th
B:2 S:1 O:0
Jason Kipnis doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Travis Hafner singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Dirks. Jason Kipnis scores.
CLE 9 - 3

B:0 S:0 O:2
Carlos Santana grounds into a force out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Travis Hafner out at 2nd. Carlos Santana to 1st.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Kosuke Fukudome singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Carlos Santana to 3rd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Shelley Duncan singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly. Carlos Santana scores. Kosuke Fukudome to 2nd.
CLE 10 - 3

B:2 S:3 O:3
Lonnie Chisenhall out swinging.


CLE 10 - 3 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
Defensive Substitution: Jason Donald replaces shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, batting 3rd, playing shortstop.

Defensive Substitution: Austin Kearns replaces left fielder Shelley Duncan, batting 7th, playing left field.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Wilson Betemit grounds out, second baseman Jason Kipnis to first baseman Carlos Santana.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Austin Kearns.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Austin Kearns.

CLE - Bot 7th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Lou Marson flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Daniel Schlereth replaces David Pauley.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Ezequiel Carrera grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jason Kipnis singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jason Donald flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

CLE 10 - 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Don Kelly out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Magglio Ordonez called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Jason Donald to first baseman Carlos Santana.

CLE - Bot 8th
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Matt LaPorta replaces Travis Hafner.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Matt LaPorta out swinging.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Carlos Santana grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Kosuke Fukudome pops out to third baseman Wilson Betemit.

CLE 10 - 3 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Matt LaPorta remains in the game as the designated hitter.

Pitcher Change: Frank Herrmann replaces Ubaldo Jimenez.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out to first baseman Carlos Santana.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Ezequiel Carrera.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Austin Kearns.