GDT: 8/16/10 - DET (57-60) AT NYY (72-45) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Scherzer feeling strong as Tigers head to NY

By Alex DiFilippo / MLB.com

The Tigers and Yankees will enter Monday's series opener with very different tastes in their mouth.

Detroit saw a 5-1 lead evaporate to the White Sox on Sunday before battling back and regaining the lead en route to a 13-8 win. It marked the first series victory for the Tigers since the All-Star break.

The Yankees, on the other hand, wasted a sparkling one-run outing from starter A.J. Burnett on Sunday and fell to the Royals, 1-0, on the road.

Detroit has a great opportunity to keep its winning ways rolling, as its two most reliable pitchers, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, are slated to start the first two games of the four-game set.

On Monday, Scherzer will take the hill for the Tigers coming off a seven-inning outing in which he surrendered only two runs (one earned) against the dangerous Rays offense, yet took the loss. It marked Scherzer's third consecutive start of at least 6 1/3 innings with two runs or fewer, but the Tigers' struggling offense has left him winless in four starts since July 21.

In only his second full Major League season, Scherzer said his arm is feeling better than it ever has before. And with the Tigers' record at 9-23 since the All-Star break, they are going to need Scherzer's arm if they are going to climb back into the American League Central race.

"My arm feels so much better than it did last year," Scherzer said. "The first full season, it was getting stretched out to 170 innings. It was a lot for me. This year, I feel so much better. My arm is recovering so much better, even on a five-day rotation. It feels like forever now.

"That's one positive when you look at this season as a whole, my arm staying healthy for the whole season. I'm really happy about that."

Yankees starter Javier Vazquez hasn't pitched as efficiently as Scherzer lately. The right-hander was roughed up in his last start against the Rangers, lasting only 4 1/3 innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. It marked his second-shortest start of the season, as he lasted only three innings on May 1.

In his past three starts, Vazquez (9-8) hasn't made it through the seventh inning, posting a 0-1 record with a 7.31 ERA. After his last start, Vazquez said his arm hasn't felt the same as it has in the past.

"It's just frustrating for me," Vazquez said of his recent struggles. "All my career, I'm used to pitching 91 to 94 [mph]. Just seeing 87 and 88 is kind of frustrating. I guess I have to pitch with that, if that's what I have. ... I've got a lot of innings in my arm. Maybe it's catching up to me."

Yankees: Damon returns to the Bronx
After being a valuable part of the Yankees' team that won the World Series in 2009, Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon will make his first trip to Yankee Stadium this season on Monday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi doesn't expect there to be any bad blood from the fans in New York. Instead, he thinks Damon will receive a warm welcome on his return.

"I think he'll get a warm ovation," Girardi said. "I think Johnny will have a smile on his face, and it'll be good to see Johnny. I think it'll be enjoyable, the first time he's come back.

"I always thought Johnny had a good relationship with the fans. Johnny's a very warm human being. I think that people really appreciated him."

Yankees fans may not appreciate it if Damon continues to have success against Monday's starter Vazquez. Damon is hitting .333 with two home runs in 24 at-bats against the right-hander.

Tigers: Cabrera drawing plenty of walks
In Sunday's victory against the White Sox, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera was walked three times to up his total to 17 free passes so far in the month of August.

He saw 19 pitches in his first three at-bats, only two of which were strikes. Cabrera lined one of those strikes to right field in the seventh inning for his 27th homer of the season and singled on the other.

On Saturday, Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez surpassed Cabrera in RBIs this season with his big three-homer game. Rodriguez now has 97 RBIs, while Cabrera sits in second place with 95. Cabrera only has two RBIs in his past 13 games.

Worth noting
Yankees left-hander Damaso Marte (left shoulder inflammation) was scheduled to throw from a half-mound on Sunday. Girardi said it would be difficult to envision Marte returning before Sept. 1.

... Tigers utility man Ryan Raburn has three home runs in his past four games, upping his season total to six.

... Tigers infielder Jhonny Peralta had a two-homer game on Sunday, marking his second multihomer game since the Tigers acquired him on July 30.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (7-9, 4.03 ERA)
Scherzer has three straight starts of at least 6 1/3 innings with two earned runs or fewer, but Detroit's offensive woes have left him winless in four starts since July 21. He hasn't won away from Comerica Park since mid-April in Seattle.

YANKEES: RHP Javier Vazquez (9-8, 4.90 ERA)
Vazquez hopes to rebound from a rough outing against the Rangers, when he allowed six runs on eight hits during 4 1/3 innings. He is trying to reverse a trend of not going seven innings; he hasn't reached the plateau in three starts.




INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25),
• LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Tuesday, August 17,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (13-7, 3.72 ERA)) AT Yankees (LHP CC Sabathia (15-5, 3.14 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Wednesday, August 18,
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (6-8, 5.16 ERA)) AT Yankees (RHP Dustin Moseley (2-2, 4.41 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & ESPN / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Thursday, August 19,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (5-10, 5.53 ERA)) AT Yankees (RHP Phil Hughes (13-5, 3.94 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & MLB NETWORK / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .303
Damon, DH .278
Boesch, RF .274
Cabrera, M, 1B .341
Guillen, C, 2B .270
Raburn, LF .238
Inge, 3B .254
Peralta, J, SS .238
Avila, C .219
Totals .266

NY Yankees AVG
Jeter, SS .279
Swisher, RF .294
Teixeira, 1B .256
Rodriguez, A, 3B .267
Cano, 2B .324
Posada, DH .251
Granderson, CF .240
Cervelli, C .248
Gardner, LF .285
Totals .268

Inning 1
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon lines out to pitcher Javier Vazquez.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

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

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Derek Jeter called out on .

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Nick Swisher called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Mark Teixeira grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen hits a ground-rule double (17) on a fly ball to right field.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Carlos Guillen scores.

DET 2, NYY 0



B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Alex Avila walks. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jhonny Peralta to 3rd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks. Alex Avila to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Injury Delay.(catcher)

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Alex Rodriguez out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Robinson Cano grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jorge Posada out swinging.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

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

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brett Gardner. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:1 O:2 - Brandon Inge grounds into a force out,
pitcher Javier Vazquez to second baseman Robinson Cano. Miguel Cabrera
to 3rd. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd. Brandon Inge to 1st.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta called out on .

DET 2, NYY 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Francisco Cervelli grounds out, second
baseman Carlos Guillen to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman
Miguel Cabrera. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Brett Gardner walks.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Derek Jeter grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Curtis
Granderson out at 3rd.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Nick Swisher out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Teixeira reaches on fielding error by shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Mark Teixeira to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Rodriguez flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Robinson Cano grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Max Scherzer.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ramiro Pena replaces third baseman Alex Rodriguez, batting 4th, playing third base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Sergio Mitre replaces Javier Vazquez.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera reaches on throwing error by shortstop Derek Jeter.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Brett Gardner.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn called out on .

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Nick Swisher.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Jorge Posada lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson walks.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Francisco Cervelli flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
With Brett Gardner batting, Curtis Granderson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alex Avila to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson singles on a fly ball to right fielder Nick Swisher.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
With Johnny Damon batting, Austin Jackson steals (18) 2nd base.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Johnny Damon pops out to third baseman Ramiro Pena.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out softly, catcher Francisco Cervelli to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez left the game due to an injured leg.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brett Gardner flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Derek Jeter singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Austin Kearns replaces Nick Swisher.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Austin Kearns grounds out softly, pitcher Max Scherzer to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Derek Jeter to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Mark Teixeira out swinging.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Austin Kearns remains in the game as the right fielder.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out softly, third baseman Ramiro Pena to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Kerry Wood replaces Sergio Mitre.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out softly, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Max Scherzer.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
New York Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher left the game due to an injured arm.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ramiro Pena pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Robinson Cano lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jorge Posada singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta, deflected by pitcher Phil Coke.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (13) on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch. Jorge Posada to 3rd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Phil Coke.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Francisco Cervelli grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta called out on .

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

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson walks. Alex Avila to 2nd.

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

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Johnny Damon called out on .

DET 2, NYY 0 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brett Gardner grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Derek Jeter grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Kearns singles on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Ryan Perry.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Mark Teixeira walks. Austin Kearns to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Marcus Thames replaces Ramiro Pena.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 2, NYY 0 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joba Chamberlain replaces Kerry Wood.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Jorge Posada remains in the game as the catcher, batting 6th.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from catcher to third base for Francisco Cervelli.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch pops out to catcher Francisco Cervelli in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (28) on a fly ball to right field.

DET 3, NYY 0

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

DET 3, NYY 0 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces right fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 3rd, playing left field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Ryan Raburn.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Robinson Cano walks.

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Jorge Posada grounds into a force out,
first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Robinson Cano
out at 2nd. Jorge Posada to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Jorge Posada to 2nd.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Francisco Cervelli walks. Jorge Posada to 3rd. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Injury Delay.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Brett Gardner walks. Jorge Posada scores. Curtis Granderson to 3rd. Francisco Cervelli to 2nd.

DET 3, NYY 1


B:3 S:2 O:3 - Derek Jeter grounds into double play,
shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Carlos Guillen to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Brett Gardner out at 2nd.

DET 3, NYY 1 final score, > click here for box score <