GDT: 8/18/10 - DET (58-61) AT NYY (73-46) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tigers stand in way of Yankees' business

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com

It's a forgiving segment of the schedule, a chance for the Yankees to momentarily forget one of the most exciting pennant chases in the league. New York is neck-and-neck with Tampa Bay in the American League East but is playing though a section of the slate that presents 11 straight games against teams with losing records.

The Yankees kicked off that run with a 2-2 series against Kansas City, and they will try to guarantee at least a series split against Detroit on Wednesday. The Yankees -- who are tied with Cincinnati for the most winning series (24) in the Majors this season -- will conclude their stretch against sub-.500 teams this weekend against Seattle after the finale against the Tigers on Thursday.

And while that's going on, the Yankees will have to fight themselves to keep from paying attention to Tampa Bay. The two teams haven't been separated by more than two games since July 27, and they enter Wednesday's action in a dead heat at the top of the division. The Yankees and Rays will play each other seven times in September.

The Tigers are the immediate obstacle, though, and they boast one of the league's hottest hitters. Miguel Cabrera has been putting together the type of season that will earn him consideration for the AL's Most Valuable Player Award and has been especially good on the road this year, not to mention a thorn in the Yankees' side during his career.

Cabrera is batting .348 (71-for-204) with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 52 RBIs in 55 road games this season, a run of success that pales in comparison to what he's done against New York. Cabrera has hit safely in 20 of 21 career games against the Yankees, notching a .365 (27-for-74) average with 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs.

New York has its own star-studded offensive core, though, a unit perhaps best exemplified by the work from stars Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez missed Tuesday's game with a case of tightness in his left calf, but New York still stacked up enough offense to win without him.

The Yankees, who are also playing through a stretch of 17 home games in a 23-game span, will turn to erstwhile reliever Dustin Moseley on Wednesday. New York boasts the second-best home record (37-21) of any AL team this season, giving the Tigers another element that appears to be going against them.

Detroit will hand the ball to veteran Jeremy Bonderman, and the right-hander will be trying to rebound from two straight losses. Bonderman has posted an ERA over 5.00 in every month but May, and he's managed to complete six innings and hold the opposition to three earned runs or less 10 times this season.

Tigers: Jackson on display against former team
Outfielder Austin Jackson added another reference point to his standout rookie season Tuesday, when he homered against the Yankees, the team that drafted and developed him. With that hit, Jackson passed Matt Nokes (133) for the most hits by a Detroit rookie in the last 25 years. Now, Jackson is chasing Ricky Peters (139 hits in 1980).

Jackson, acquired last December in a three-team trade that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees, has made the transaction worth the Tigers' while. Granderson exited Tuesday's game hitting just .248, and reliever Phil Coke -- who was acquired with Jackson -- has posted a 1.37 ERA in his last 32 games for Detroit.

Yankees: No. 2 bats second with success
With Rodriguez ailing, the Yankees dropped Jeter in the batting order Tuesday. Jeter batted second for just the fourth time all season, yielding the top spot in the order to left fielder Brett Gardner. The Yankees got a single and two walks from Jeter, who has hit safely in 15 of his last 19 games, in his rare cameo out of the leadoff slot.

The Yankees got a home run from Granderson -- his 12th of the season and fifth of the second half -- on Tuesday, to provide a fitting counterpoint to Jackson's home run. New York only got one other extra-base hit, a double from Gardner, in the victory. Teixeira, Jeter and Gardner combined for five walks en route to the win.

Worth noting
Prior to Tuesday's game, Cabrera had hit safely in all 20 career games against the Yankees.

... Six of New York's last nine games have been decided by one run. The Yankees are 13-11 in those circumstances this season.

... New York's relief staff has held its opponents scoreless in 16 of its last 21 games.

... Detroit closer Jose Valverde has converted 23 straight save opportunities.

... New York is playing through a stretch of 36 games in 37 days and is 15-13 thus far.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (6-8, 5.16 ERA)
Bonderman has fallen into a pattern in which one or two really bad pitches ruin an otherwise solid start. In his last outing Friday against the White Sox in Chicago, two poorly placed fastballs led to a three-run home run and a two-run shot.

YANKEES: RHP Dustin Moseley (2-2, 4.41 ERA)
Moseley ran into trouble in the fifth inning of his last start, finishing with eight hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings vs. the Royals. He's 2-2 since replacing the injured Andy Pettitte in the rotation, with three starts of at least six innings.


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 6-2 loss to the Yankees last night, snapping the club’s three-game winning streak. Justin Verlander (13-8) took the loss for Detroit after allowing three runs in five innings of work. Austin Jackson and Brandon Inge both belted solo home runs for the Tigers. The Tigers continue a seven-game road trip with the third game of a four-game series at New York this evening. The Tigers return to Detroit to open a six-game homestand with Cleveland and Kansas City on Friday night.

GUILLEN PLACED ON DL, RHYMES RECALLED FROM TOLEDO: The Tigers today placed infielder Carlos Guillen on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 17 with a deep contusion in his left knee. To take Guillen’s spot in the club’s 25-man roster, the Tigers today recalled the contract of infielder Will Rhymes from Triple A Toledo. Rhymes hit .305 (111x364) with 59 runs scored, 20 doubles, seven triples, two home runs, 35 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 95 games with the Mud Hens.

DAMON RETURNS TO YANKEE STADIUM: Johnny Damon spent four seasons (2006-09) with New York and he returns to Yankee Stadium for the first time with the Tigers during the current four-game series. In 75 games during his career at Yankee Stadium, Damon is hitting .277 (77x278) with 56 runs scored, 18 doubles, 17 home runs and 42 RBI.

PITCHING IN VERSUS THE YANKEES: Tigers pitchers have compiled a 3.46 ERA (104.0IP/40ER) over the club’s last 12 games versus the Yankees dating back to April 27, 2009. During the 12-game stretch, club pitchers have limited the Yankees to a .245 batting average (97x396).

MIGGY’S A ROAD WARRIOR: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game at New York hitting .343 (71x207) with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 52 RBI in 55 games on the road this season. He is tops among American League players with a .343 batting average, 16 home runs, 52 RBI and a .652 slugging percentage on the road this season.

PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has converted each of his last 23 save opportunities for the Tigers, the third-longest such single-season streak in club history. He is third among American League relievers with a .162 batting average against this season, while he is tied for seventh with 23 saves and tied for 10th with 52 strikeouts.

RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters this evening’s game at New York hitting .326 (15x46) with two doubles, five home runs and 11 RBI over his last 12 games dating back to August 5. He is leading the American League with five home runs during that stretch, while he is second with 11 RBI and third with a .696 slugging percentage.

CABRERA HEADED TOWARDS 30 HOME RUNS, 100 RBI: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game at New York with 28 home runs and 96 RBI this season. With two more home runs it would mark the sixth time in his career he has hit 30-or-more home runs, while four more RBI would give him 100-or-more RBI for the seventh time in his career. Cabrera would be the first Tigers player with three straight seasons with 30-or-more home runs since Tony Clark did so in three straight years (1997-99), while he would be the first Tigers player with 100-or-more RBI in three straight seasons since Magglio Ordonez did so in three straight years (2006-08).

JACKSON IN A RARE CLASS OF TIGERS ROOKIES: Austin Jackson enters tonight’s game at New York with 69 runs scored, 134 hits, 26 doubles, seven triples and 18 stolen bases for the Tigers this season. He is just the third player in Tigers history to reach those totals in those categories during his rookie season, joining Roy Johnson (1929) and Barney McCosky (1939) in accomplishing the feat.

COKE PROVIDES RELIEF: Phil Coke enters tonight’s game versus the Yankees with a 4-2 record and 1.37 ERA (26.1IP/4ER) over his last 32 outings dating back to June 3. He is second among all American League relievers with seven wins this season.

AUSTIN ADDING UP THE HITS: Austin Jackson finished with a home run last night at New York to bring his season hit total to 134. His 134 hits mark the most in a single season by a Tigers rookie since Ricky Peters collected 139 hits during the 1980 season.

STOPPING THE RUNNING GAME: Tigers catchers have caught 10 of the last 23 runners attempting to steal over the club’s last 18 games dating back to July 30. Detroit catchers have combined to throw out 31.3 percent of runners attempting to steal (36x115) this season, second in the American League.


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)


• 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)

• Friday, August 20,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (3-5, 4.53 ERA)) VS Indians (RHP Justin Masterson (4-11, 5.23 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Saturday, August 21,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (8-9, 3.86 ERA)) VS Indians (RHP Josh Tomlin (1-2, 2.96 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .302
Santiago, 2B .274
Raburn, RF .234
Cabrera, M, 1B .337
Damon, DH .277
Peralta, J, SS .236
Inge, 3B .255
Avila, C .219
Kelly, LF .219
Totals .265

NY Yankees AVG
Gardner, LF .287
Jeter, SS .279
Teixeira, 1B .252
Cano, 2B .322
Swisher, DH .293
Posada, C .253
Granderson, CF .248
Kearns, RF .277
Pena, R, 3B .208
Totals .268

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Austin Jackson singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Ramiro Pena.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, Austin Jackson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Jorge Posada to second baseman Robinson Cano.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to right fielder Austin Kearns.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds into double play, shortstop Derek Jeter to second
baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira. Ramon Santiago
out at 2nd.

0-0 AFTER .5 INNING

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brett Gardner hit by pitch.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
On-field Delay.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Derek Jeter out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Teixeira homers (27) on a fly ball to right field. Brett Gardner scores.

NYY 2, DET 0



B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Robinson Cano homers (23) on a fly ball to right field.

NYY 3, DET 0



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

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Jorge Posada flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

NYY 3, DET 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (29) on a fly ball to left field.

NYY 3, DET 1



B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Johnny Damon flies out to right fielder Austin Kearns.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta lines out to shortstop Derek Jeter.


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

NYY 3, DET 1 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Kearns grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Ramiro Pena walks.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Brett Gardner flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

NYY 3, DET 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

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

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Don Kelly pops out to second baseman Robinson Cano.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Austin Kearns.

NYY 3, DET 1 AFTER 2.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Derek Jeter grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Teixeira hits a ground-rule double (28) on a fly ball to right field.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Robinson Cano walks.

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

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

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Jorge Posada grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to pitcher Jeremy Bonderman.

NYY 3, DET 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago lines out softly to second baseman Robinson Cano.

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

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (30) on a fly ball to right field.

NYY 3, DET 2



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


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Jhonny Peralta batting, Johnny Damon steals (8) 2nd base.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, first baseman Mark Teixeira to pitcher Dustin Moseley.

NYY 3, DET 2 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Curtis Granderson grounds out softly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:1 - Austin Kearns walks.

B:2 S:0 O:1 - Ramiro Pena triples (1) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Austin Kearns scores.

NYY 4, DET 2


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Brett Gardner doubles (14) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Ramiro Pena scores.

NYY 5, DET 2

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Derek Jeter grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:0 O:2 - Mark Teixeira reaches on fielding error by first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Brett Gardner scores. Mark Teixeira to 2nd. Throwing error by second baseman Ramon Santiago.

NYY 6, DET 2

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

B:2 S:1 O:3 - Robinson Cano flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

NYY 6, DET 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

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

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Avila walks.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Don Kelly homers (3) on a fly ball to right center field. Alex Avila scores.

NYY 6, DET 4



B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, pitcher Dustin Moseley to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Brett Gardner.

NYY 6, DET 4 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Nick Swisher flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Jorge Posada lines out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson homers (13) on a fly ball to right field.

NYY 7, DET 4



B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Austin Kearns flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

NYY 7, DET 4 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joba Chamberlain replaces Dustin Moseley.

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn doubles (14) on a fly ball to left fielder Brett Gardner.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Johnny Damon out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta flies out softly to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

NYY 7, DET 4 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brad Thomas replaces Jeremy Bonderman.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Ramiro Pena pops out to second baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brett Gardner flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Derek Jeter grounds out softly, pitcher Brad Thomas to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

NYY 7, DET 4 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Boone Logan replaces Joba Chamberlain.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brett Gardner.

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

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Don Kelly singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Boone Logan. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Kerry Wood replaces Boone Logan.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to left fielder Brett Gardner. Brandon Inge to 3rd. Don Kelly to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago called out on .

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn strikes out .

WHAT'S NEW! GRRRRRR.

NYY 7, DET 4 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Mark Teixeira singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Robinson Cano flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Nick Swisher hits a ground-rule double (27) on a fly ball down the right-field line. Mark Teixeira to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Brad Thomas intentionally walks Jorge Posada.

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Enrique Gonzalez replaces Brad Thomas.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Austin Kearns hits a ground-rule double (20) on a fly ball to
left-center field. Mark Teixeira scores. Nick Swisher scores. Jorge
Posada to 3rd.

NYY 9, DET 4



B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ramiro Pena pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


NYY 9, DET 4 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Chad Gaudin replaces Kerry Wood.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera hit by pitch.

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

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
On-field Delay.

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Johnny Damon singles on a line drive to right fielder Austin Kearns. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

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


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jhonny Peralta walks. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Johnny Damon to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: David Robertson replaces Chad Gaudin.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Brett Gardner. Miguel Cabrera scores.

NYY 9, DET 5



B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Ramiro
Pena. Johnny Damon out at 3rd. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd. Alex Avila to
1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Don Kelly grounds out softly, pitcher David Robertson to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

NYY 9, DET 5 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland ejected by HP umpire Eric Cooper.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brett Gardner called out on .

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Derek Jeter walks.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Teixeira walks. Derek Jeter to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Robinson Cano walks. Derek Jeter to 3rd. Mark Teixeira to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Nick Swisher grounds into double play, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to catcher Alex Avila. Mark Teixeira out at 3rd.

NYY 9, DET 5 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Mariano Rivera replaces David Robertson.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out softly, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

NYY 9, DET 5 FINAL >CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE<