GDT: 8/21/09 - DET (64-56) AT OAK (53-67) - 10:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Blame it on whatever you want. Critique the road gray uniforms, the team plane, dress code, restaurants, whatever. But if anyone has an actual solid reason why the Tigers have struggled on the road as much as they have this season, the Tigers would like to know.

They have theories, but they'd rather have victories. And as they ready for a six-game West Coast swing that begins Friday night in Oakland, they need wins.

"I think if we can get on the road trip and split them, and play well at home, we'll be all right," Curtis Granderson said.

They would gladly take that, because it would be a marked improvement from their road treks this summer, when simply splitting or winning a road series has been tough.

The last time the Tigers took a road series, Dontrelle Willis was still in the rotation, and Jeremy Bonderman had joined them. They took three out of five from the White Sox in Chicago behind three one-run victories, holding onto their lead over what were then the second-place Twins.

They've played nine road series since then, and have lost all of them. They've had games close enough to take many of them, including last month's infamous three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium that included a pair of 2-1 defeats, and their trip to Cleveland that included a 13-inning loss on their way to losing two out of three.

But more maddening has been the low-scoring defeats, games in which an extra run or two could've made a difference. They scored just five runs total in the Bronx, and just seven runs over three games at Oakland at the end of June, when the A's took two out of three with 7-1 and 5-1 decisions.

The combined effect has been a team with baseball's third-best record at home at 40-20, trailing Boston and Tampa Bay, but the American League's third-worst record on the road (24-36) ahead of Baltimore and Kansas City. They also own the AL's second-worst batting average away from home at .242. Manager Jim Leyland likes to say he takes pride in taking his team on the road to show fans in other cities, which has to be tough on days when an opposing home pitcher makes the Tigers look helpless at the plate.

No matter what the reason, it's a challenge for them. As they ready for the home stretch in their playoff chase, it's potentially the biggest factor that could send them home for October if they can't fight it off.

The Tigers' big stretch of August home games is all but over, and what had been the team with the fewest home games in baseball entering the month is now pretty much even.

"It'll have to change," Leyland said of their road record, "or we won't win anything. We have to get better."

Granderson points to the fact that many American League teams have been tough at home this year; just four AL clubs are under .500 in their own surroundings. But he also admits it has to improve for them to be a playoff team.

It's a strange split for him especially, because he plays so well on the road. His .270 average away from Comerica Park is 33 points higher than his average in Detroit. His 17 homers as a visitor result in an .892 OPS on the road compared with .695 at home.

Considering all the travel he does in the offseason, he likes it.

"I enjoy being on the road," Granderson said. "I enjoy seeing different friends and family, things like that, trying different foods."

It'll all taste better, though, if they can start winning there more.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (9-5, 2.85 ERA)
Jackson continues to struggle with consistency on his slider and other secondary pitches -- a trend that began at the end of July -- but he's starting to find ways to get results with what Leyland calls his "pitchability." His six innings with three runs allowed on Saturday against Kansas City earned him just his second win in his past six outings. He's 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in two career starts against the A's, including a start on May 15 in which he threw seven innings of one-run ball for an easy win at Comerica Park, but he has never pitched in Oakland.

OAK: LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-3, 5.88 ERA)
The 23-year-old rookie issued a season-high six walks -- three of which went on to score -- in an 8-1 A's loss to the White Sox on Saturday. "Six walks -- you can't hide that," Gonzalez said. He allowed six runs (five earned) in five-plus innings. He was 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in his previous four starts. Gonzalez will look to regain that form against a Tigers lineup that scored three runs on seven hits in five innings against him on June 30.

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Tidbits

... Leyland still was debating Thursday whether to call up a 12th pitcher to balance out the bullpen after getting through this week's three-game home series with Seattle without one. That decision might not come until Friday morning or the weekend. "With the time change, you can get one out there," Leyland said. "You gain three hours."
... Look for Granderson to get a second consecutive game off against the lefty Gonzalez. He's expected to return to center field and leadoff Saturday.
... Magglio Ordonez is 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs lifetime against Gonzalez.
... The Tigers have at least one home run in nine consecutive games.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Saturday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 6-10, 5.16 ERA) at Athletics (Trevor Cahill, 6-12, 4.97 ERA), 9:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 10-7, 4.34 ERA) at Athletics (Brett Tomko, 2-2, 4.21 ERA), 4:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 13-7, 3.29 ERA) at Angels (Jered Weaver, 13-4, 3.89 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
:placido: Polanco, 2B .269
:thames: Thames, DH .248
Raburn, LF .268
Cabrera, M, 1B .335
Ordonez, RF .275
Inge, 3B .243
Thomas, C, CF .246
Laird, C .221
Everett, SS .240

Oakland AVG
Kennedy, A, 3B .281
Davis, R, CF .292
Suzuki, K, C .277
Hairston, S, LF .289
Sweeney, R, RF .272
Ellis, M, 2B .278
Cust, DH .230
Barton, D, 1B .147
Pennington, SS .270

let's show Jackson some love, boys - give the man some support this time, ok? He deserves it.

He and Justin both! They could both be 20 game winners but no...

BATS CAN'T ROLL!

ya got that right....

Current Conditions

Oakland Coliseum

Fair 71 F

Humidity: 60 %

Wind: from the WNW at 10 mph

Barometer: 29.83 in

last updated: 8/21/09 6:05 PM PDT

MudHens Hens
looking for their 6th straight win, up 4-1 in the 7th at Columbus! Mike
Hessman has gone deep for his 20th HR off the season!

MudHens Another day, another win - the Hens are 15-5 in August. Game recap: http://bit.ly/yx8nR26 minutes ago from web
26 minutes ago from web

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Rajai Davis.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Marcus Thames swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn homers (9) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 1, OAK 0


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, pitcher Gio Gonzalez to first baseman Daric Barton.

DET 1, OAK 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to center fielder Clete Thomas.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Rajai Davis pops out to catcher Gerald Laird in foul territory.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Kurt Suzuki walks.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Scott Hairston pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 1 inning

Raburn!

Inning 2
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge called out on .


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Clete Thomas swinging.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.
B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett on foul tip.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Sweeney doubles (20) on a fly ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn. (Ryan should have had that, but Everett was trying to catch it too, miscommunication!)


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Mark Ellis called out on .


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
With Jack Cust batting, wild pitch by Edwin Jackson, Ryan Sweeney to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Jack Cust singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Ryan Sweeney scores.
DET 1, OAK 1

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Daric Barton flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Cliff Pennington batting, throwing error by Edwin Jackson on the pickoff attempt, Jack Cust to 3rd.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Cliff Pennington swinging.

DET 1, OAK 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco lines out to right fielder Ryan Sweeney who makes a diving catch.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Daric Barton.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn homers (10) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 2, OAK 1

Wow Raburn! You fucking rock!

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

DET 2, OAK 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Rajai Davis flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Kurt Suzuki flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

DET 2, OAK 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Daric Barton.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge pops out to second baseman Mark Ellis.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas called out on .

DET 2, OAK 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Scott Hairston on foul tip.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ryan Sweeney singles on a ground ball to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Mark Ellis grounds out, pitcher Edwin Jackson to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Ryan Sweeney to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Jack Cust batting, wild pitch by Edwin Jackson, Ryan Sweeney to 3rd.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jack Cust on foul tip.

DET 2, OAK 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Rajai Davis.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Daric Barton.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to shortstop Cliff Pennington.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Marcus Thames called out on .

DET 2, OAK 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 - Daric Barton singles on a line drive to
left fielder Ryan Raburn. Daric Barton advances to 2nd, on fielding
error by left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Cliff Pennington out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Gerald Laird to second baseman Placido Polanco. Daric Barton to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Adam Kennedy reaches on a fielder's
choice out, second baseman Placido Polanco to catcher Gerald Laird.
Daric Barton out at home.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Rajai Davis singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Adam Kennedy to 2nd.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Kurt Suzuki on foul tip.

DET 2, OAK 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn swinging.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

9th by Gio.
5 by Jackson


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas singles on a line drive to center fielder Rajai Davis. Miguel Cabrera scores. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.
DET 3, OAK 1



B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Brad Ziegler replaces Gio Gonzalez.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird singles on a ground ball to shortstop Cliff Pennington. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Clete Thomas to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds out, second baseman Mark Ellis to first baseman Daric Barton.

DET 3, OAK 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Hairston grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney flies out to center fielder Clete Thomas.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Mark Ellis grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 3, OAK 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Placido Polanco called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Marcus Thames lines out to left fielder Scott Hairston.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Daric Barton.

DET 3, OAK 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Jack Cust singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Edwin Jackson.