GDT 10/4/09 - DET (85-76) VS CWS (79-82) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The weight on the mighty right shoulder of Justin Verlander just grew a lot heavier. But if the Tigers have to ride the fate of their season on one game Sunday, it's fitting they ride it with him.

"One hundred sixty-one games ... it comes down to one game," catcher Gerald Laird said.

Whether it's a masterpiece or a grind-out game, whether they're uptight or loose, the Tigers just need to come out on the winning end.

With Detroit and Minnesota now tied atop the American League Central, just about everything rides on Sunday -- no magic numbers, no what-if scenarios, no talk of when a Division Series would begin, no rah-rah speeches.

"These guys have been in. Some of these guys have gone to the World Series," manager Jim Leyland said. "If there was some magic talk that I thought would help, I'd give them a magic talk. The Detroit Tigers know that to continue the season, they have to most likely win [Sunday]."

If both the Tigers and Twins win or they both lose, they'll give the Metrodome one more game Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET for a one-game playoff. If one team wins Sunday and the other loses, that squad will claim the AL Central and meet the Yankees in the AL Division Series.

After Friday night's loss, Leyland went around the Tigers' clubhouse and told his players to assume they wouldn't get any help, that the Twins would win Saturday and Sunday. Now that Detroit lost sole command of the division, the players met on their own after Saturday's loss and talked much about the same thing.

"Do you want to play on," Laird said, "or do you want to go home? I'm sure everyone's going to come in ready to play tomorrow, and I expect to win."

Five days ago, Verlander's eight innings helped the Tigers avoid falling into a first-place tie with the Twins. Now, the teams are even, and Detroit needs Verlander to ensure that its season doesn't end Sunday.

The tuneup for the postseason that the Tigers hoped to give their ace has now become potentially the game that knocks them out of the postseason if they can't pull it out. To add a little spice to the mix, it's far from an easy matchup against a White Sox team playing with nothing to lose and playing with a history of success against Verlander until this year, when he has tossed two gems against them.

A Tigers offense that was starting to produce in the clutch has scored one run in its past 19 innings heading into a matchup with John Danks, who has nine quality starts in his past 10 innings, including a complete-game three-hitter.

If there was ever a time for a No. 1 starter, this is it. And as stunned as the Tigers feel about their precarious situation, it's Verlander that gives them reason for confidence.

"He's our ace," third baseman Brandon Inge said. "That's what you have him for."

He was there Tuesday night, when he lasted eight innings and 129 pitches to thwart a Twins comeback and keep Minnesota from tying the division that night.

Verlander has shown a way of making his team play great behind him when he gets rolling. Right now, the Tigers are looking for a win, however it comes.

"We need to win," shortstop Adam Everett said. "It doesn't matter how we get it. It doesn't matter how ugly or how pretty it is. We just need to win."

It's a historic turn. Three days ago, the Tigers had a chance to finish off the AL Central if they could beat the Twins at Comerica Park. Now, one more loss, and they could be finished.

"I hope we get tight, to be honest with you," Leyland said. "We've done everything we can to make them aware of the [race], to embrace it, enjoy it. For whatever reason, it hasn't seemed to work. Maybe if they tense up a little bit, maybe they'll be better. I don't know."

No team in Major League history has led a division or league by three games with four games to play and not won. Nor has any team that led its division or league continuously since at least May 10, as the Tigers have done, lost it in the final week, according to STATS.

But once the Twins beat Royals ace Zack Greinke on Saturday afternoon and the Tigers fell to the White Sox at night, the momentum shifted. As if the White Sox haven't proven a challenging enough foe for him over the years, Verlander now arguably has to pitch against history. But obviously, he can't think that way.

Nor can the Tigers feel like just a couple of runs will be enough for Verlander to carry.

"You can't come in here with that attitude," Laird said. "I figure we've got to come in here and jump on the board quick. I feel when we get going and we score first, we have big innings early. If we can get Verlander a three-, four-, five-run lead and take the pressure off a little bit, I think it'll be fine. But we have to come in here ready to swing the bats and get off to a good start, give Verlander that early cushion."

Laird went so far as to say he still feels they're in the driver's seat. They control their own fate, and they have their best pitcher going. They can still win out and take the crown, but Sunday now is the first step.

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Pitching matchup


DET: RHP Justin Verlander (18-9, 3.45 ERA)
Verlander missed out on a quality start Tuesday night against the Twins, but his eight innings and four runs allowed held onto what was once a five-run lead.

CWS: LHP John Danks (13-10, 3.69 ERA)
During Monday's 6-1 victory over the Indians at Progressive Field, Danks accomplished two personal goals. The left-hander hurled his first complete game as a professional, and he set a single-season high in victories at 13 -- a total that figures to lead the White Sox in 2009. Danks will make one more start in search of another goal, which is reaching 200 innings pitched in 2009. Danks enters the game against the Tigers needing 4 2/3 innings to reach that target for the first time in his three-year career. Danks is one of just three pitchers in the history of the White Sox to make 25 starts in each of his first three seasons with the team. He has a 0-1 record against Detroit this season.

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Tidbits

... Magglio Ordonez has an 11-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .450 (18-for-40). His .416 average since Sept. 1 leads all AL players. He's also 11-for-20 lifetime against Danks, with three doubles, a homer and six RBIs.
... Carlos Guillen is 4-for-9 off Danks.
... The six stolen bases allowed by the Tigers on Saturday marked their highest total since the Angels swiped six on August 17, 2003. It's tied for the highest total against the Tigers since at least 1954.
... Placido Polanco's eighth-inning RBI broke a string of 27 consecutive scoreless innings from White Sox pitchers.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

Tie Breaker- If Needed:

• Tues: Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello, 14-9, 4.04 ERA) at Twins (RHP Scott Baker, 15-9, 4.36 ERA), 5:00 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

WHITE SOX

1. Scott Podsednik, DH
   
2. Gordon Beckham, 3B
   
3. Carlos Quentin, LF
   
4. Jermaine Dye, RF
   
5. Mark Kotsay, 1B
   
6. Alex Rios, CF
   
7. Alexei Ramirez, SS
   
8. Ramon Castro, C
   
9. Brent Lillibridge, 2B
   

P: John Danks

TIGERS

1. Raburn, LF
   
2. Polanco, 2B
   
3. Ordonez, RF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Guillen, DH
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Granderson, CF
   
8. Laird, C
   
9. Everett, SS
   

P: Justin Verlander

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik called out on .

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

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Carlos Quentin flies into double play,
center fielder Curtis Granderson to second baseman Placido Polanco.
Gordon Beckham out at 2nd on the throw.

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco pops out to second baseman Brent Lillibridge.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (24) on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Carlos Quentin. Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
John Danks intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen walks. Ryan Raburn scores. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd. DET 1, CWS 0



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

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

DET 1, CWS 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Jermaine Dye lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Mark Kotsay pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Alex Rios grounds out, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, CWS 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Gerald Laird singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher John Danks to first baseman Mark Kotsay. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn homers (15) on a fly ball to left field. Gerald Laird scores.
DET 3, CWS 0

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco lines out softly to second baseman Brent Lillibridge.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Quentin.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into a force out,
shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Brent Lillibridge. Magglio
Ordonez out at 2nd.

DET 3, CWS 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Castro lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Brent Lillibridge walks.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
With Scott Podsednik batting, Brent Lillibridge caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Adam Everett.

DET 3, CWS 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen pops out to third baseman Gordon Beckham.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Brent Lillibridge to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

DET 3, CWS 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Gordon Beckham flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Quentin flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Gerald Laird walks.

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Adam Everett singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher John Danks. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Ryan Raburn grounds into double play,
third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Mark Kotsay. Gerald Laird
out at 3rd. Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

DET 3, CWS 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Jermaine Dye swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Mark Kotsay grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Justin Verlander.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Alex Rios flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 3, CWS 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez homers (8) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 4, CWS 0



B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera lines out sharply to third baseman Gordon Beckham.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Quentin.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Brandon Inge grounds into a force out,
shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Brent Lillibridge. Carlos
Guillen out at 2nd. Brandon Inge to 1st.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson lines out to right fielder Jermaine Dye.

DET 4, CWS 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

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

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Ramon Castro swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brent Lillibridge called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Scott Podsednik grounds out, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 4, CWS 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Jayson Nix replaces third baseman Gordon Beckham, batting 2nd, playing third base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Dewayne Wise replaces right fielder Jermaine Dye, batting 4th, playing right field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Daniel Hudson replaces John Danks.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Adam Everett swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn homers (16) on a fly ball to left center field.
DET 5, CWS 0



B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, pitcher Daniel Hudson to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

DET 5, CWS 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Jayson Nix called out on .

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

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Dewayne Wise flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 5, CWS 0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alexei Ramirez.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Clete Thomas replaces Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Brent Lillibridge.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to right fielder Dewayne Wise.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alex Rios. Clete Thomas to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Curtis Granderson batting, wild pitch by Daniel Hudson, Clete Thomas to 3rd. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson called out on .

DET 5, CWS 0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Clete Thomas remains in the game as the right fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Mark Kotsay grounds out softly, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Alexei Ramirez singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Alex Rios to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Castro doubles (8) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Alex Rios scores. Alexei Ramirez to 3rd.
DET 5, CWS 1



B:1 S:0 O:1 - Brent Lillibridge singles on a line
drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Alexei Ramirez scores. Ramon
Castro scores. DET 5, CWS 3



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

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Scott Podsednik batting, wild pitch by Justin Verlander, Brent Lillibridge to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Scott Podsednik pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Jayson Nix walks.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Justin Verlander.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Quentin flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 5, CWS 3 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Carlos Torres replaces Daniel Hudson.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Gerald Laird singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Rios.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Carlos Torres to first baseman Mark Kotsay. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Gerald Laird to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Placido Polanco flies into double play,
right fielder Dewayne Wise to catcher Ramon Castro. Gerald Laird out at
home on the throw.

DET 5, CWS 3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Dewayne Wise singles on a ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Mark Kotsay grounds into a force out,
shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Dewayne Wise
out at 2nd. Mark Kotsay to 1st.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Alex Rios grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Mark Kotsay out at 2nd.

Tigers WIN 5-3

October 4, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Chi White Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0		3	7	0
Detroit	1	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	X		5	12	0

Chi White Sox AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Podsednik, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .304 Beckham, 3B 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270 --Nix, J, 3B 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .224 Quentin, LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .236 Dye, RF 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 --Wise, RF 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .225 Kotsay, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278 Rios, CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .247 Ramirez, A, SS 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .277 Castro, R, C 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 .219 Lillibridge, 2B 2 0 1 2 1 1 1 .158 Totals 31 3 7 3 2 5 9 BATTING 2B: Castro, R (8, Verlander). TB: Beckham; Wise; Rios; Ramirez, A 2; Castro, R 2; Lillibridge. RBI: Castro, R (25), Lillibridge 2 (3). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Quentin. GIDP: Rios. Team RISP: 2-for-4. Team LOB: 3. BASERUNNING CS: Lillibridge (3, 2nd base by Verlander/Laird). FIELDING Outfield assists: Wise (Laird at home). DP: 2 (Beckham-Kotsay, Wise-Castro, R).		Detroit AB- -R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Raburn, LF 4 3 3 3 1 0 2 .288 Polanco, 2B 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 .286 Ordonez, RF 4 1 4 1 0 0 0 .309 --1-Thomas, C, PR-RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .323 Guillen, C, DH 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .245 Inge, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .230 Granderson, CF 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 .248 Laird, C 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 .229 Everett, SS 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .238 Totals 32 5 12 5 4 3 19 1-Ran for Ordonez in the 7th. BATTING 2B: Ordonez (24, Danks). HR: Raburn 2 (16, 2nd inning off Danks, 1 on, 1 out; 6th inning off Hudson, D, 0 on, 2 out), Ordonez (8, 5th inning off Danks, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Raburn 9; Ordonez 8; Guillen, C; Inge; Laird 2; Everett. RBI: Guillen, C (41), Raburn 3 (45), Ordonez (48). 2-out RBI: Raburn. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Granderson 4; Polanco. S: Everett 2. GIDP: Raburn. Team RISP: 2-for-8. Team LOB: 9. FIELDING Outfield assists: Granderson (Beckham at 2nd base). DP: 2 (Granderson-Polanco, Polanco-Everett-Cabrera, M).
Chi White Sox IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Danks (L, 13-11) 5.0 7 4 4 4 1 2 3.77 Hudson, D 2.0 3 1 1 0 2 1 3.38 Torres, C 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6.04		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Verlander (W, 19-9) 7.2 6 3 3 2 5 0 3.45 Rodney (S, 37) 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.33
WP: Hudson, D, Verlander. IBB: Cabrera, M (by Danks). Pitches-strikes: Danks 89-53, Hudson, D 36-23, Torres, C 15-10, Verlander 120-78, Rodney 14-11. Groundouts-flyouts: Danks 9-5, Hudson, D 1-3, Torres, C 1-1, Verlander 5-11, Rodney 3-1. Batters faced: Danks 25, Hudson, D 9, Torres, C 4, Verlander 29, Rodney 4. Inherited runners-scored: Rodney 2-0. Umpires: HP: Jeff Nelson. 1B: Bob Davidson. 2B: Tim Tschida. 3B: Mark Carlson. Weather: 54 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, R to L. T: 2:26. Att: 35,806. October 4, 2009

Now go Tigers!!!!!! I's still afraid about the yankees but this is baseball and yes the Tigers have heart. C'mon boys!!!

Jeff Nelson wore an umpire jacket [ with the white stripes around the shoulder] along with the base umps

Only the second time all season at Comerica;


Phil Cuzzi did so back on April 13th's game against Chicago;


I don't care for the umpire jackets; I rather see them wear coats than jackets [ they have three different styles of jackets to boot!]

But at least they all looked uniform;