GDT: 9/14/09 - DET (76-66) VS TOR (65-78) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- For the second time in five days, the Tigers avoided having to face an All-Star starter because he was pushed back a day out of a series finale. They're hoping this time has a better result.

What had been Roy Halladay's assignment in Monday's series finale between the Tigers and Blue Jays now falls to David Purcey, back from Triple-A Las Vegas to make his first Major League appearance since April. But Purcey is left-handed, and as Kansas City's Lenny DiNardo showed when the Royals pushed back Zack Greinke out of the Tigers series last week, it isn't always a blessing.

The Tigers awakened from their offensive struggles Sunday to put up 10 hits over six innings against rookie left-hander Ricky Romero. Now, they have to try to keep it going.

That includes catcher Gerald Laird, whose pair of RBI singles Sunday improved him to 5-for-10 with a double and three RBIs in his past four games, including three starts against left-handed pitchers.

"I've made some adjustments," said Laird, whose average dipped as low as .216 this week before rebounding eight points over his recent stretch. "I just want to have a good September and close out strong. Hopefully we're getting hot at the right time. If we get hot right now with our pitching, it's a scary team."

Contributions, like those from Laird and Adam Everett, surprisingly, have been among the strongest from the Tigers against left-handed pitching, a real surprise for a team with so many prominent right-handed hitters. Miguel Cabrera's RBI in Sunday's 7-2 victory over Toronto was just his 14th in more than 120 at-bats against lefties, despite a .322 average. That's in part because hitters ahead of him in the order have struggled to get on base, a factor that has changed a bit in recent days with Ryan Raburn taking over leadoff duties in lefty situations.

Raburn and Everett share the team lead, with 22 RBIs against southpaws. Brandon Inge, Placido Polanco and Magglio Ordonez have 17 each. None of them have done much in their limited at-bats against Purcey, who tossed seven quality innings against the Tigers in the second game of the season along with six scoreless innings last summer.

A win would not only salvage a split of the four-game series after the Blue Jays took the first two games, it would also salvage some momentum for the final few weeks of the playoff race. Detroit's magic number for clinching the division stands at 15 after Sunday's victory, but with 13 games looming against the Twins and White Sox over the final 2 1/2 weeks, those wins are far from automatic. Those meetings also make games like these against Toronto all the more important.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (16-8, 3.24 ERA)
Verlander still has a chance at his first 20-win season, but he's more concerned with helping the Tigers sew up a playoff berth. The way he's pitching, he's giving the Tigers their best chance to pick up an American League Central title down the stretch. He has given up two runs in 14 innings over his past two starts, but split the decisions at Tampa Bay and Kansas City thanks mainly to run support. His Opening Day loss at Toronto dropped him to 0-2 in as many career meetings with the Blue Jays, who have hit him for 14 runs on 15 hits over eight innings.

TOR: LHP David Purcey (0-2, 7.01 ERA)
After starting the season with Toronto, Purcey was soon in Triple-A Las Vegas, where he finished the season 9-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 24 starts with 139 1/3 innings pitched. He was recalled after the Triple-A regular season ended. He has made five starts with Toronto this year but was demoted after his April 27 loss to the Texas Rangers. His first start of the season was against Detroit, a no-decision after going seven innings, allowing three runs, two earned, five hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Last year he was 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA in 12 starts with Toronto. The first-round Draft pick (16th overall) from Oklahoma in 2004 made his Major League debut against Detroit on April 18, 2008, and held the Tigers to two hits, one earned run and seven walks in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision as the Blue Jays lost, 8-4.

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Tidbits

... Manager Jim Leyland said he hopes to give relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon the night off after both of them pitched in Sunday's 7-2 win. The game was a 4-2 score when Lyon pitched in the eighth, and by the time the Tigers tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the inning, Rodney had already warmed up.
... Ordonez is batting .500 (17-for-34) in 11 games this month. His average is up to .294, six points shy of what would be his fourth .300 season in five years with the Tigers, and he needs 12 more plate appearances to clinch his $18 million contract option for next year.
... Laird is 3-for-6 with two homers and four RBIs lifetime off Purcey.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Tuesday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 9-8, 3.60 ERA) vs. Royals (Robinson Tejeda, 2-1, 3.21 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Eddie Bonine, 0-0, 6.11 ERA) vs. Royals (Lenny DiNardo, 0-0, 3.60 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 12-6, 3.22 ERA) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 13-8, 2.19 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Toronto AVG
Scutaro, SS .283
Hill, A, 2B .287
Lind, DH .299
Wells, V, CF .259
Overbay, 1B .260
Encarnacion, 3B .202
Bautista, J, RF .228
Phillips, K, C .000
Snider, LF .222

Detroit AVG
Raburn, LF .280
Polanco, 2B .278
Ordonez, RF .294
Cabrera, M, 1B .335
Thames, DH .260
Inge, 3B .233
Granderson, CF .249
Laird, C .224
Everett, SS .240

Do we ever play against right handed pitchers anymore? Everytime I have a chance to sit down and watch the game, there seems to be a lefty pitching. Lefty means no Carlos fix for me!

Sorry, needed to vent, I feel much better now!

Pudgerocks wrote:

Do we ever play against right handed pitchers anymore? Everytime I have a chance to sit down and watch the game, there seems to be a lefty pitching. Lefty means no Carlos fix for me!

Sorry, needed to vent, I feel much better now!

The following is a desktop wallpaper of Carlos for ya!

click on the picture and it will open the wallpaper site:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Pudgerocks wrote:

Do we ever play against right handed pitchers anymore? Everytime I have a chance to sit down and watch the game, there seems to be a lefty pitching. Lefty means no Carlos fix for me!

Sorry, needed to vent, I feel much better now!

The following is a desktop wallpaper of Carlos for ya!

click on the picture and it will open the wallpaper site:

THANKS! I feel much better now!!!!!!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Marco Scutaro called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Aaron Hill singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Adam Lind grounds into double play,
first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Adam Everett to pitcher
Justin Verlander. Aaron Hill out at 2nd.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn homers (12) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 1, TOR 0



B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco walks.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez walks. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames lines out to left fielder Travis Snider.


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

DET 1, TOR 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Vernon Wells swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Lyle Overbay flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Edwin Encarnacion flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 1, TOR 0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird bunt pops into double play, pitcher David Purcey to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Curtis Granderson out at 1st.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett called out on .

DET 1, TOR 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Kyle Phillips swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Travis Snider swinging.

DET 1, TOR 0 after 2.5 innings

4 fot JV

Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to right fielder Jose Bautista.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco lines out to shortstop Marco Scutaro.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to left fielder Travis Snider.

DET 1, TOR 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Marco Scutaro pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Aaron Hill flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Adam Lind pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

DET 1, TOR 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Marcus Thames pops out to second baseman Aaron Hill.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge doubles (12) on a fly ball to left fielder Travis Snider.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

DET 1, TOR 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Vernon Wells singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Lyle Overbay singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Vernon Wells to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Edwin Encarnacion swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Jose Bautista called out on .

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Kyle Phillips grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, TOR 0 after 4.5 innings

6 for JV

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Gerald Laird singles on a ground ball to third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher David Purcey to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to center fielder Vernon Wells. Gerald Laird scores.
DET 2, TOR 0

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco pops out to second baseman Aaron Hill.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Bautista. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Jose Bautista in foul territory.

DET 2, TOR 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Travis Snider doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Marco Scutaro singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge. Travis Snider to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Aaron Hill singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Travis Snider scores. Marco Scutaro to 2nd.
DET 2, TOR 1


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Adam Lind homers (29) on a fly ball to left center field. Marco Scutaro scores. Aaron Hill scores.
TOR 4, DET 2


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Vernon Wells singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

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

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
With Lyle Overbay batting, Justin Verlander picks off Vernon Wells at 1st on throw to Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Lyle Overbay called out on .


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Edwin Encarnacion homers (7) on a fly ball to left center field.
TOR 5, DET 2



B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Jose Bautista pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

TOR 5, DET 2 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: John McDonald replaces center fielder Vernon Wells, batting 4th, playing left field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from right field to center field for Jose Bautista.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Travis Snider.


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

Justin from last year...

This start will probably knock him out of Cy Young contention

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge walks.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Travis Snider.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Shawn Camp replaces David Purcey.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Travis Snider.

TOR 5, DET 2 after 6 innings

How could our Tigers be crumbling before us?

The last 10 games have been horrendous.

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Kyle Phillips singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Travis Snider called out on .

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Marco Scutaro swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Aaron Hill grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Kyle
Phillips out at 2nd.

TOR 5, DET 2 after 6.5 innings

9 for JV

gdennis59 wrote:

How could our Tigers be crumbling before us?

The last 10 games have been horrendous.

Yesterday was great! got his 13th win.