GDT: 9/14/11 - DET (86-62) AT CWS (73-74) - 2:10 p.m. ET

Tigers seek 12th straight victory behind Penny

By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 9/13/2011 11:32 PM ET

Getting the Tigers into early deficits his last two starts, Brad Penny will try to break that pattern on Wednesday against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field as Detroit goes for its 12th straight win.

If he can do so, the Tigers, who enter the day with a 12 1/2-game lead over Cleveland and Chicago and a magic number of four, would get one step closer to clinching the American League Central.

While Penny surrendered a four-spot in the first inning of Friday's start against the Twins, the Tigers then scored eight unanswered runs to get a 8-4 win and help Penny to his 10th win.

Overall, the right-hander tossed five innings of four-run ball, giving up five hits.

"After the first, I know I have to go throw zeros up, no matter what our offense does, to even have a chance of being in this game," Penny said after the start. "This team, they've been doing this all year. They're going to score a lot of runs. If you can keep them somewhat close, you've got a chance to win."

Before that start against Minnesota, Detroit rallied from a seven-run deficit in Penny's previous start to beat the White Sox and give Penny a no-decision on Sept. 3.

Meanwhile, White Sox rookie hurler Dylan Axelrod, who tossed two scoreless innings of relief on Sept. 7 in his big league debut, will make his first Major League start. He's taking the spot of Jake Peavy, who's been shut down for the year.

Going 9-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 26 appearances for Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte this season, the 26-year-old right-hander is ready for the opportunity.

"I'm definitely excited to get that chance. I want to go out there and see what I can do," Axelrod said. "It should be great."

Tigers: Magglio, Guillen dealing with limited roles
With Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen nursing injuries and struggling at times this season, both players have found themselves out of manager Jim Leyland's everyday rotation.

Guillen didn't see his first action of the season until July 16 and then found himself back on the disabled list less than a month later with a left wrist injury. Ordonez has also struggled to find his groove since missing about a month from May 11-June 13 because of weakness in his surgically repaired right ankle.

"I can't tell you enough about -- and I mean this sincerely -- how Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen have handled their situations," Leyland said. "Nobody could have handled it more professionally, and I know it's got to be tough on them and it's one that eats at me sometimes. But I can't tell you how proud I am of those guys. These guys have done a lot for this organization."

White Sox: Pierre a Clemente Award finalist
• Major League Baseball announced Chicago's Juan Pierre as one of 30 nominees for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award Monday.

The White Sox will acknowledge Pierre on Sept. 14 at U.S. Cellular Field as part of Roberto Clemente Day ceremonies.

• Paul Konerko needs just one home run for his seventh 30-home run season and two RBIs for his sixth 100-RBI campaign.

Worth noting
• Tigers relievers have 106 strikeouts over the club's last 38 games dating back to Aug. 4.

• Chicago has been outscored by Detroit, 42-6, since the seventh inning on Sept. 3 at Comerica Park.

Tigers: RHP Brad Penny (10-10, 5.19 ERA)

The Tigers have come back from big early deficits in Penny's last two starts, but as manager Jim Leyland pointed out, they can't keep counting on that. Penny recovered from a four-run opening inning to the Twins on Friday.


White Sox: RHP Dylan Axelrod (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Axelrod, who tossed two scoreless relief innings on Sept. 7, will make his first Major League start. The 26-year-old right-hander went 9-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 26 appearances at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.


Game Information



INJURY UPDATE:

• OF Brennan Boesch (right thumb surgery, 15-day disabled list on September 9).
• 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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• Thursday, September 15:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (14-8, 4.27 ERA)) AT
Athletics (RHP Brandon McCarthy (8-8, 3.39 ERA)),
10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Friday, September 16:
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (5-1, 2.28 ERA)) AT
Athletics (RHP Trevor Cahill (11-13, 4.32 ERA)),
10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Saturday, September 17:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (14-8, 4.83 ERA)) AT
Athletics (LHP Gio Gonzalez (12-12, 3.38 ERA)),
4:05 p.m. ET (? / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUP:

TIGERS
Andy Dirks, CF
Ramon Santiago, SS
Delmon Young, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Carlos Guillen, 2B
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Don Kelly, RF
Omir Santos, C

P: Brad Penny

WHITE SOX
Juan Pierre, LF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Paul Konerko, 1B
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Dayan Viciedo, DH
Alex Rios, CF
Alejandro De Aza, RF
Brent Morel, 3B
Gordon Beckham, 2B

P: Dylan Axelrod

DET - Top 1st
B:0 S:1 O:1
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:4 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago walks.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Delmon Young out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alexei Ramirez, deflected by second baseman Gordon Beckham. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Victor Martinez out swinging.

CWS - Bot 1st
B:0 S:1 O:1
Juan Pierre grounds out softly, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Alexei Ramirez singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Paul Konerko singles on a ground ball to left fielder Delmon Young. Alexei Ramirez to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:2
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out sharply, pitcher Brad Penny to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alexei Ramirez to 3rd. Paul Konerko to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Dayan Viciedo grounds out softly, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:0
Carlos Guillen homers (3) on a line drive to right center field.
1 - 0

B:0 S:3 O:1
Wilson Betemit out swinging.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Omir Santos grounds out, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Alex Rios singles on a ground ball to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:4 S:0 O:0
Alejandro De Aza walks. Alex Rios to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Brent Morel hits a sacrifice bunt. Fielding error by pitcher Brad Penny. Alex Rios to 3rd. Alejandro De Aza to 2nd. Brent Morel to 1st.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Gordon Beckham called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:2
Juan Pierre grounds into a force out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to catcher Omir Santos. Alex Rios out at home. Alejandro De Aza to 3rd. Brent Morel to 2nd. Juan Pierre to 1st.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Alexei Ramirez doubles (30) on a soft fly ball to right fielder Don Kelly. Alejandro De Aza scores. Brent Morel scores. Juan Pierre to 3rd.
CWS 2 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:2
Paul Konerko singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks. Juan Pierre scores. Alexei Ramirez scores.
CWS 4 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:3
A. J. Pierzynski flies out to right fielder Don Kelly.

CWS 4 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:0 S:3 O:1
Andy Dirks out swinging, catcher A. J. Pierzynski to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Delmon Young grounds out, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS - Bot 3rd
B:3 S:3 O:1
Dayan Viciedo out on foul tip.

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

B:4 S:0 O:2
Alejandro De Aza walks.

With Brent Morel batting, wild pitch by Brad Penny, Alejandro De Aza to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Brent Morel grounds out sharply, third baseman Wilson Betemit to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 4 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera called out on .

B:4 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez walks.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Rios. Victor Martinez to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Wilson Betemit out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Don Kelly grounds out to first baseman Paul Konerko.

CWS - Bot 4th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Gordon Beckham grounds out, third baseman Wilson Betemit to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Juan Pierre out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Alexei Ramirez walks.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Paul Konerko flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

CWS 4 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Omir Santos grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds out, second baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Ramon Santiago singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Delmon Young out swinging.

CWS - Bot 5th
B:1 S:0 O:0
A. J. Pierzynski singles on a ground ball to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Dayan Viciedo grounds into double play, second baseman Carlos Guillen to shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. A. J. Pierzynski out at 2nd.

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

CWS 4 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:0 S:2 O:0
Miguel Cabrera doubles (43) on a line drive to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Rios. Miguel Cabrera scores. Fielding error by center fielder Alex Rios.
CWS 4 - 2

B:0 S:0 O:1
Carlos Guillen lines out to right fielder Alejandro De Aza.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Wilson Betemit out on foul tip.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Juan Pierre in foul territory.

CWS - Bot 6th
B:0 S:2 O:0
Alejandro De Aza doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Brent Morel grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alejandro De Aza to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Gordon Beckham doubles (18) on a ground ball to third baseman Wilson Betemit. Alejandro De Aza scores.
CWS 5 - 2

On-field Delay.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Juan Pierre flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Alexei Ramirez pops out to second baseman Carlos Guillen.

CWS 5 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Jesse Crain replaces Dylan Axelrod.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Omir Santos out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Andy Dirks out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Ramon Santiago grounds out, first baseman Paul Konerko to pitcher Jesse Crain.

CWS - Bot 7th
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Brad Penny.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Paul Konerko called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Ryan Perry.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Dayan Viciedo out swinging, catcher Omir Santos to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 5 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
B:2 S:2 O:0
Delmon Young doubles (20) on a line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Miguel Cabrera walks.

Pitcher Change: Chris Sale replaces Jesse Crain.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds into double play, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko. Delmon Young to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Carlos Guillen flies out to right fielder Alejandro De Aza.

CWS - Bot 8th
Pitcher Change: Al Alburquerque replaces Ryan Perry.

B:3 S:3 O:1
Alex Rios called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alejandro De Aza singles on a ground ball to right fielder Don Kelly.

With Brent Morel batting, Alejandro De Aza steals (9) 2nd base.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Brent Morel reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to third baseman Wilson Betemit. Alejandro De Aza out at 3rd.

Injury Delay.

With Gordon Beckham batting, Brent Morel steals (4) 2nd base.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Gordon Beckham grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CWS 5 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jhonny Peralta replaces Wilson Betemit.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Don Kelly.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ryan Raburn homers (14) on a fly ball to left field.
CWS 5 - 3

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Magglio Ordonez replaces Omir Santos.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Magglio Ordonez walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Sergio Santos replaces Chris Sale.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brandon Inge replaces Andy Dirks.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Alex Avila replaces Brandon Inge.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila homers (19) on a fly ball to right center field. Magglio Ordonez scores.
TIED 5 - 5

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Delmon Young out swinging.

CWS - Bot 9th
Alex Avila remains in the game as the catcher.

Defensive switch from shortstop to third base for Ramon Santiago.

Jhonny Peralta remains in the game as the shortstop.

Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the right fielder.

Defensive Substitution: Austin Jackson replaces Magglio Ordonez, batting 9th, playing center field.

Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Al Alburquerque.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Juan Pierre walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alexei Ramirez out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Phil Coke to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Juan Pierre to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Phil Coke intentionally walks Paul Konerko.

With A. J. Pierzynski batting, Juan Pierre steals (26) 3rd base.

B:2 S:2 O:3
A. J. Pierzynski grounds into double play, second baseman Carlos Guillen to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Paul Konerko out at 2nd.

TIED 5 - 5 AFTER 9 INNINGS

DET - Top 10th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez doubles (34) on a line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Will Rhymes replaces Victor Martinez.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Carlos Guillen singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Alex Rios. Will Rhymes scores.
6 - 5

B:1 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

CWS - Bot 10th
Defensive switch from third base to second base for Ramon Santiago.

Will Rhymes remains in the game as the designated hitter.

Defensive Substitution: Danny Worth replaces second baseman Carlos Guillen, batting 6th, playing third base.

Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Phil Coke.

B:3 S:3 O:1
Dayan Viciedo called out on .

B:0 S:3 O:2
Alex Rios out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Alejandro De Aza out swinging.