GDT: 8/21/10 - DET (59-63) VS CLE (50-72) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tigers have enjoyed playing Indians at Comerica

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com

At Comerica Park, the Tigers are in a happy place. At home against the Indians, they're even happier.

Detroit, which owns a 39-24 mark at home compared to a 20-39 record on the road, is even better inside the friendly confines of its own ballpark when Cleveland comes to town.

Despite having fallen well behind the Twins and the White Sox in the American League Central standings, the Tigers can take solace in the fact that they're 13-2 against the Indians at home in the teams' past 15 meetings.

Max Scherzer, who has quietly become one of baseball's most consistent pitchers over the past month, will take the ball on Saturday hoping to keep the dominance against the Indians alive at Comerica Park.

Scherzer, who won for the first time in his past five outings when he pitched six scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium on Monday, has compiled a 1.37 ERA over his past four starts.

"I was pitching behind in the count a lot [against the Yankees] -- 2-0, 1-0, 3-1," Scherzer said of his scoreless outing. "I was still able to execute pitches in those situations and not walk them. ... It just shows you how much execution comes into play."

The Detroit right-hander will meet Indians rookie Josh Tomlin, who is 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA in four starts with the club.

"He needs to throw strikes and change speeds like he always does," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "He doesn't need to do anything different. He's got to keep them at bay because their guy is throwing the ball well, too. You have to keep our team in the game and give us a chance."

Indians: Nix on a hot streak
Jayson Nix, who broke up Tigers starter Armando Galarraga's perfect game with a double to left field in the fifth inning on Friday, is riding a six-game hitting streak. Cleveland is 22-23 against the American League Central this year. The Indians have been shut out 10 times this season.

Tigers: Cabrera continues to hammer Indians
After going 2-for-5 with an RBI on Friday, Miguel Cabrera has 13 homers and 44 RBIs against the Indians since he joined the Tigers in 2008. No other active player has as many homers or RBIs against Cleveland in that stretch. Don Kelly's four hits on Friday night is a career-high. He had more hits in the game than Cleveland's entire lineup (three).

Worth noting
Five members of Cleveland's lineup in Galarraga's near-perfect game are no longer with the team, including Jhonny Peralta, who now plays for Detroit.

... The Tigers' Magglio Ordoñez, out since fracturing his right ankle on July 24, was expected to have his cast removed on Friday.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (8-9, 3.86 ERA)
Scherzer earned his first win in five starts with six scoreless innings Monday at Yankee Stadium, but he has quietly been one of baseball's best pitchers for nearly a month. He owns a 1.37 ERA and a .610 OPS over his past last four starts.

INDIANS: RHP Josh Tomlin (1-2, 2.96 ERA)
In his last start on Aug. 11, Tomlin was tagged for three runs (two earned) on 10 hits over five innings in a loss to the Orioles. The rookie righty has yielded two or fewer earned runs in three of his first four Major League starts.


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers blanked the Indians 6-0 last night at Comerica Park, snapping the club’s three-game losing streak. Armando Galarraga (4-5) earned the win for Detroit as he fanned eight batters in seven innings of work. Don Kelly led the Tigers with four hits, while Austin Jackson and Brandon Inge both finished with three hits. The Tigers continue a six-game homestand with the second game of a three-game series against Cleveland this evening. The homestand continues with a three-game series versus Kansas City beginning on Monday night.

RACKING UP THE WINS OVER CLEVELAND AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers have won 13 of the club’s last 15 games over the Indians at Comerica Park dating back to May 2, 2009, including 10 of the last 11 contests.

MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE TRIBE: Since joining the Tigers in 2008, Miguel Cabrera is hitting .328 (64x195) with 13 home runs and 44 RBI in 49 games against the Cleveland Indians. He is tops among all active major league players with 13 home runs and 44 RBI versus the Indians during that stretch.

JACKSON SWINGS INTO ACTION VERSUS CLEVELAND: Austin Jackson enters tonight’s game versus Cleveland having hit safely in 10 of his 12 games against the Indians this season. He is hitting .407 (22x54) with 12 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, two RBI and seven stolen bases versus the Indians in 2010. Jackson is tops among all major league players with 12 runs scored, 22 hits and seven stolen bases against Cleveland this season.

GALARRAGA DOMINANT AGAINST TRIBE: Armando Galarraga worked at least seven innings, while allowing no runs and three-or-fewer hits in each of his last two starts versus Cleveland. Since 1969, Minnesota’s Scott Baker is the only other pitcher with consecutive such starts during a season against the Indians. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)

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 .159 batting average against this season, while he is tied for eighth with 23 saves and tied for ninth with 53 strikeouts.

RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters this evening’s game versus Cleveland hitting .309 (17x55) with four doubles, five home runs and 11 RBI over his last 14 games dating back to August 5. He is tied for the American League lead with five home runs during that stretch, while he is second with a .655 slugging percentage and fifth with 11 RBI.

JACKSON IN A RARE CLASS OF TIGERS ROOKIES: Austin Jackson enters tonight’s game versus Cleveland with 70 runs scored, 140 hits, 26 doubles, seven triples and 19 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 Indians with a 4-2 record and 1.32 ERA (27.1IP/4ER) over his last 33 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 three hits last night versus the Indians to bring his season hit total to 140. His 140 hits mark the most in a single season by a Tigers rookie since Steve Kemp collected 142 hits during the 1977 season.

BOESCH CLOSING IN ON 100 HITS: Brennan Boesch enters tonight’s game against the Indians with 99 hits, one hit shy of reaching 100 in his rookie season. Once he reaches 100 hits, he will join Austin Jackson (140 hits) to give the Tigers their first rookie duo with 100-or-more hits since Lou Whitaker (138 hits) and Alan Trammell (120 hits) did so during the 1978 season.

JACKSON’S THREE-HIT MAGIC: Austin Jackson collected three hits last night versus the Indians, marking the 12th time he has record three-or-more hits in a game this season. His 12 games with three-or-more hits are the most by a Tigers rookie since Ricky Peters posted 15 games with three-or-more hits in 1980.

ORDONEZ UPDATE: Magglio Ordonez had his cast removed yesterday, followed by repeat X-rays and a CT scan and he will be referred to Dr. Phillip Kwong (foot and ankle specialist) of the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles. Ordonez has been placed in a removable boot and he remains on crutches with limited weight bearing at this time.

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),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4)
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).


To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official Press Pass game notes

On television

•

On radio

• ,
• XM Channel Schedule
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Sunday, August 22,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (13-8, 3.77 ERA)) VS INDIANS (RHP Jeanmar Gomez (3-1, 1.84 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Monday, August 23,
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (6-9, 5.37 ERA)) VS ROYALS (LHP Bruce Chen (8-6, 4.61 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Tuesday, August 24,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (5-11, 5.76 ERA)) VS ROYALS (RHP Kyle Davies (6-7, 5.14 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Wednesday, August 25,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (4-5, 4.21 ERA)) VS ROYALS (RHP Sean O’Sullivan (0-4, 6.75 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Cleveland AVG
Crowe, CF .250
Cabrera, A, SS .286
Choo, RF .290
Hafner, DH .268
Nix, J, 3B .250
Duncan, S, LF .239
LaPorta, 1B .240
Donald, 2B .256
Gimenez, C .179
Totals .248

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .306
Rhymes, 2B .286
Raburn, LF .233
Cabrera, M, DH .340
Boesch, RF .272
Peralta, J, SS .235
Inge, 3B .262
Avila, C .217
Kelly, 1B .241
Totals .267

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Trevor Crowe pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out, first baseman Don Kelly to pitcher Max Scherzer.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Shin-Soo Choo reaches on fielding error by second baseman Will Rhymes.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Travis Hafner batting, Shin-Soo Choo steals (15) 2nd base.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Travis Hafner reaches on fielding error by right fielder Brennan Boesch. Shin-Soo Choo scores.

CLE 1, DET 0



B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jayson Nix called out on .

CLE 1, DET 0 AFTER .5 INNING

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Austin Jackson doubles (27) on a line drive to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Will Rhymes out on a sacrifice bunt to first baseman Matt LaPorta. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn doubles (16) on a ground ball to left fielder Shelley Duncan. Austin Jackson scores.

CLE 1, DET 1



B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Josh Tomlin intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch grounds into a force out, fielded by shortstop Asdrubal
Cabrera. Ryan Raburn to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd. Brennan Boesch
to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Jhonny Peralta batting, wild pitch by Josh Tomlin, Ryan Raburn
scores. Brennan Boesch advances to 3rd, on throwing error by catcher
Chris Gimenez.

DET 2, CLE 1



B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Trevor Crowe.

DET 2, CLE 1 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Shelley Duncan grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Donald out swinging.

DET 2, CLE 1 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Alex Avila pops out to third baseman Jayson Nix.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Don Kelly lines out softly to center fielder Trevor Crowe.

DET 2, CLE 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Chris Gimenez walks.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Trevor Crowe singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Chris Gimenez to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Alex Avila. Chris Gimenez to 3rd. Trevor Crowe to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Travis Hafner singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.
Chris Gimenez scores. Trevor Crowe to 3rd. Asdrubal Cabrera to 2nd.

CLE 2, DET 2



B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Jayson Nix grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second
baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Don Kelly. Travis Hafner out at
2nd.

CLE 2, DET 2 AFTER 2.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Jason Donald to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, second baseman Jason Donald to pitcher Josh Tomlin.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Trevor Crowe.

CLE 2, DET 2 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

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

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Matt LaPorta flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

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

CLE 2, DET 2 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (38) on a line drive to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch flies out to left fielder Shelley Duncan in foul territory.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Trevor Crowe. Miguel Cabrera scores.

DET 3, CLE 2

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Trevor Crowe.

DET 3, CLE 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Chris Gimenez walks.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Trevor Crowe grounds into double play, second baseman Will Rhymes to
shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Don Kelly. Chris Gimenez out
at 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Asdrubal Cabrera out swinging.

DET 3, CLE 2 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Don Kelly homers (4) on a line drive to right field.

DET 4, CLE 2



B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Austin Jackson hits a ground-rule double (28) on a line drive to left-center field.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Will Rhymes flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, second baseman Jason Donald to first baseman Matt LaPorta. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

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


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch doubles (21) on a line drive to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Austin Jackson scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

DET 5, CLE 2


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta pops out to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

DET 5, CLE 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Travis Hafner singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Jayson Nix out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Shelley Duncan out swinging.

FOR MAX

DET 5, CLE 2 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

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

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Don Kelly out swinging.

DET 5, CLE 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Matt LaPorta grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jason Donald out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Chris Gimenez out swinging.

FOR MAX!

DET 5, CLE 2 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Justin Germano replaces Josh Tomlin.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Jayson Nix to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Will Rhymes bunt grounds out, pitcher Justin Germano to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, second baseman Jason Donald to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

FOR MAX!

DET 5, CLE 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

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

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Trevor Crowe grounds out, pitcher Phil Coke to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera bunt grounds out, pitcher Phil Coke to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo grounds out to first baseman Don Kelly.

FOR MAX!

DET 5, CLE 2 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joe Smith replaces Justin Germano.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Trevor Crowe.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a soft ground ball to second baseman Jason
Donald. Brennan Boesch advances to 2nd, on throwing error by second
baseman Jason Donald.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, second baseman Jason Donald to first baseman Matt LaPorta. Brennan Boesch to 3rd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

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


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Shelley Duncan.

DET 5, CLE 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Phil Coke.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Travis Hafner flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jayson Nix called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Shelley Duncan pops out to first baseman Don Kelly.

DET 5, CLE 2 FINAL >CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE<