GDT: 8/26/10 - DET (63-64) AT TOR (66-60) - 7:07 p.m. ET

Scherzer leads climbing Tigers into Toronto

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

When explaining his reasons for not accepting a move to the Red Sox with the Tigers' television crew recently, veteran outfielder Johnny Damon noted the following: None of Detroit's players were ready to throw in the towel.

The Tigers, with still a long climb ahead of them, took advantage of a weaker portion of their schedule recently to help prove that notion. And they'll have a scorching pitcher on the mound for the start of a four-game series on Thursday.

In the series opener against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Max Scherzer gets the ball for a club that has won five of six games against the Indians and Royals but still trails the Twins in the American League Central by nine games.

Scherzer gives them a reason to feel good crossing the border.

The 26-year-old right-hander has a 1.35 ERA in his past five starts, and a 2.05 ERA if you go back all the way to June 10. Since June 4, in fact, his ERA has dropped from 6.66 to the 3.73 mark he sports heading into Toronto.

His last time on the mound, Scherzer gave up two runs (only one of them earned) in seven innings against the Indians.

So what's changed?

"Right now, I'm executing pitches," Scherzer said after his last start. "Everybody wants to look at the difference between now and then, but I'm not. I'm going out there pitching. Next start I have is against Toronto. I'm going to go out there and try to execute as many pitches as I can and hopefully give the team a chance to win."

If the Tigers want that chance, they'll have to better themselves on the road, where they sport a 20-39 record heading into a 10-game swing.

"We haven't played well on the road all year, Tigers catcher Gerald Laird said after a 4-3, 12-inning loss to Kansas City on Wednesday. "We have to bring it all together now."

The Blue Jays have been bolstered by the hot bat of Lyle Overbay over the last week. Overbay has three home runs and 10 RBIs in Toronto's last eight games, providing some support lower in the order for Jose Bautista.

It's the continuation of Overbay's resurgence from the start of the year. Hitting just .197 until May 29, the first baseman is 73-for-250 since, with 12 of his 16 home runs on the season.

"It's bad to go through, but it's nice to go through in the same token," Overbay said of his early-season slump. "You kind of think you've seen everything and done everything, and then all of a sudden that happens. It's something that I've learned from and hopefully I'll be able to take that learning experience and progress."

Tigers: Jackson continues to make history
Outfielder Austin Jackson already has 146 hits on the year, which is the most in a single season by a Tigers rookie since Jake Wood notched 171 in 1961.

The 23-year-old's streak of four consecutive games with at least two runs scored ended Wednesday. It was the longest streak in franchise history since Alan Trammell had four straight multirun games July 28-31, 1986.

Blue Jays: Romero solid while under the weather
Despite being bothered by strep throat, Blue Jays Thursday starter Ricky Romero kept his club in the game during his Saturday start against the Red Sox, one in which the 25-year-old left-hander gave up four runs in seven innings during an eventual 5-4 loss in 11 innings.

"I know if I pitch my game, I'm in good shape," Romero said that night. "That's what I did today -- I threw strikes."

Against the Tigers, Romero is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in three career starts. This year, he gave up three runs in seven innings against them on July 22, but suffered the loss.

Worth noting
The Tigers' 20 road wins remain second-lowest in the American League, ahead of the Orioles.

... Miguel Cabrera's 26 intentional walks more than double the next-highest total among AL hitters. Joe Mauer and Robinson Cano have 12 each. Albert Pujols leads the Majors with 28.

... Aaron Hill was dropped to eighth in the order on Wednesday, the lowest the second baseman has hit in a start since April 6, 2007. Hill made the move pay off by snapping his 0-for-20 with a solo homer in the fifth.

... Bautista celebrated the second anniversary of his arrival in Toronto on Wednesday. Bautista, who was traded to the Blue Jays by the Pirates for Robinzon Diaz, has batted .246 with 56 home runs and 145 RBIs in 258 games with the Jays.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (9-9, 3.73 ERA)
No Tigers starter has been as stingy over the past month as Scherzer, who has a 1.35 ERA and 27 hits over 35 innings in his last five starts. He gave up an earned run over seven innings with eight strikeouts last Saturday against Cleveland.

BLUE JAYS: LHP Ricky Romero (10-7, 3.50 ERA)
According to manager Cito Gaston, Romero was dealing with an acute case of strep throat in his last outing vs. Boston. Fully healthy, the left-hander should bounce back from a mediocre performance that saw him surrender four runs over seven innings.




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).


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Friday, August 27,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (14-8, 3.65 ERA)) AT BLUE JAYS (RHP Shaun Marcum (11-7, 3.70 ERA)), 7:07 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Saturday, August 28,
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (7-9, 5.27 ERA)) AT BLUE JAYS (RHP Brandon Morrow (9-6, 4.39 ERA)), 1:07 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, August 29,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (6-11, 5.43 ERA)) AT BLUE JAYS (LHP Marc Rzepczynski (1-2, 6.31 ERA)), 1:12 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUP:

TIGERS

1. Jackson, CF
   
2. Santiago, 2B
   
3. Damon, DH
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Raburn, LF
   
6. Peralta, SS
   
7. Inge, 3B
   
8. Wells, RF
   
9. Laird, C
   

P: Max Scherzer

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, pitcher Ricky Romero to shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Jose Bautista.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Fred Lewis out swinging.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Yunel Escobar flies out to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Jose Bautista walks.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Vernon Wells called out on .

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

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

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds into double play, shortstop Yunel Escobar to
second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Ryan Raburn
out at 2nd.


Bottom Half

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

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
John Buck out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Lyle Overbay flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Casper Wells grounds out, pitcher Ricky Romero to second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Austin Jackson lines out to second baseman Aaron Hill.

0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Aaron Hill called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Edwin Encarnacion singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.
Edwin Encarnacion out at 2nd, left fielder Ryan Raburn to second
baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Fred Lewis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
With Yunel Escobar batting, Fred Lewis steals (14) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
With Yunel Escobar batting, Fred Lewis caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Gerald Laird to third baseman Brandon Inge.

0-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 - Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to left fielder Fred Lewis.

B:4 S:1 O:0 - Johnny Damon walks. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1 - Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -Ryan Raburn reaches on force attempt, throwing error by third baseman Edwin Encarnacion. Ramon Santiago scores. Johnny Damon to 3rd.


DET 1, TOR 0

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

B:1 S:0 O:1 -Jhonny Peralta homers (13) on a fly ball to left field.Johnny Damon scores. Ryan Raburn scores.

DET 4, TOR 0

B:3 S:1 O:2 -Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Lyle Overbay.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -Casper Wells walks.

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

B:2 S:0 O:2 -Gerald Laird homers (4) on a fly ball to left field. Casper Wells scores.

DET 6, TOR 0

B:1 S:1 O:3 -Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

DET 6, TOR 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half


B:1 S:2 O:1 -Yunel Escobar grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:1 -Jose Bautista doubles (27) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -Vernon Wells flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -Adam Lind lines out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 6, TOR 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half


B:3 S:1 O:1 -Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -Johnny Damon grounds out to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

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

DET 6, TOR 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half


B:1 S:2 O:1 -John Buck grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

B:3 S:2 O:3 -Aaron Hill flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET 6, TOR 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half


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

B:3 S:3 O:2 -Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -Brandon Inge walks.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -Casper Wells walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -Pitcher Change: Casey Janssen replaces Ricky Romero.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -Gerald Laird lines out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

DET 6, TOR 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -Edwin Encarnacion singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -Fred Lewis out swinging.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -Yunel Escobar grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Edwin Encarnacion out at 2nd.

DET 6, TOR 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Vernon Wells.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to left fielder Fred Lewis. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:0 -Johnny Damon singles on a line drive to left fielder Fred Lewis. Austin Jackson to 3rd. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -Miguel Cabrera lines out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.

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

B:4 S:2 O:2 -Jhonny Peralta walks. Austin Jackson scores. Ramon Santiago to 3rd. Johnny Damon to 2nd.

DET 7, TOR 0

B:1 S:1 O:3 -Brandon Inge pops out to first baseman Lyle Overbay in foul territory.

DET 7, TOR 0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half


B:0 S:1 O:0 -Jose Bautista homers (41) on a fly ball to left field.

DET 7, TOR 1

B:1 S:2 O:1 -Vernon Wells grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -Adam Lind grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -John Buck pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

DET 7, TOR 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half


B:0 S:0 O:0 -Pitcher Change: Shawn Camp replaces Casey Janssen.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -Casper Wells called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2 -Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Vernon Wells.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Fred Lewis.

DET 7, TOR 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -Lyle Overbay called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2 -Aaron Hill flies out to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -Edwin Encarnacion singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -Fred Lewis out swinging.

DET 7, TOR 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half


B:0 S:0 O:0 -Pitcher Change: Jesse Carlson replaces Shawn Camp.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -Johnny Damon lines out to left fielder Fred Lewis.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -Miguel Cabrera doubles (40) on a line drive to center fielder Vernon Wells.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

DET 7, TOR 1 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half


B:0 S:0 O:0 -Pitcher Change: Eddie Bonine replaces Max Scherzer.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -Yunel Escobar grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

B:3 S:1 O:2 -Vernon Wells doubles (38) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -Adam Lind flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

DET 7, TOR 1 FINAL >CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE<