GDT: 5/14/12 - DET (17-17) AT CWS (16-19) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Smyly puts AL-leading ERA on line vs. White Sox

By Paul Casella / MLB.com | 5/13/2012 9:25 PM ET

The Tigers probably aren't the team that White Sox starter John Danks would like to be welcoming to U.S. Cellular Field on Monday for the first of a brief two-game set.

Danks faced the Tigers more than any other team last year and didn't fare all too well in those four outings. He went just 1-3 and posted a 7.89 ERA, Danks' highest against any team that he faced more than once.

Not only would Danks like to improve on that number against the Tigers, but he'd like to continue trimming his 2012 ERA. Even with his most productive start of the season his last time out -- allowing just two runs over seven innings Tuesday against the Indians -- Danks' season ERA still sits at 5.89.

"What a relief, almost," Danks said after Tuesday's game, even though he settled for a no-decision. "It's definitely good to have a respectable outing. I feel like I've obviously let a lot of people down the last month or so and I've just been frustrated."

Tigers starter Drew Smyly, meanwhile, doesn't even know what a bad start in the Major Leagues feels like yet.

The 22-year-old southpaw, who made his Major League debut on April 12, has allowed six earned runs combined in his six starts and carries a 1.59 ERA into the series opener on Chicago's South Side. In a May 4 start against the White Sox, Smyly allowed two earned runs over seven innings, marking the only outing in which he's allowed more than one run.

Unfortunately for Smyly, all of his two-runs-or-less outings -- aside from one -- have gone for naught, as he's settled for five no-decisions and has just one victory to his name.

"That's out of my control," Smyly said. "All I can hope to do is just go out and be in position to get a win. If you start trying to mess around with [personal victories], then it's not going to be good for you."

Tigers: Raburn returns to lineup
Ryan Raburn's absence from the Tigers' lineup because of a stiff back lasted just one day, as he was back in manager Jim Leyland's lineup for Sunday afternoon's 3-1 victory over the A's.

Raburn tweaked his back while diving for a ball in left field on Thursday night, but remained in the lineup and also played on Friday before sitting out Saturday. Along with his back pain, Raburn has also been struggling with the bat, as his 1-for-3 effort Sunday raised his season average to just .135.

White Sox: Dunn focusing on the home run
While Adam Dunn's strikeout numbers haven't exactly improved this season, he has seemingly re-discovered his power stroke in his second season with the White Sox.

Dunn enters Monday having already matched his season total from last year with 11 home runs. Two of those came against the Tigers when the clubs met from May 4-6, including a two-run, game-winning homer in the top of the ninth on May 5.

"If I'm swinging at a lot of stuff, I'll go up and say, 'I'm going to try to hit a home run, and that zones you up," Dunn said. "You won't swing at a pitch that you can't square up to hit a home run. It's not necessarily that I'm going to hit a home run, but you are kind of thinking, 'Let's get a pitch to try to hit a home run here.'

"You don't hit a lot of home runs doing that, but you don't swing at a lot of bad pitches. It's still hard to go up and hit a home run when you are trying."

Worth noting
• The White Sox are 1-14 when scoring three runs or fewer this season.

• Current Tigers players are hitting a combined .302 (61-for-202) against Danks with 15 doubles and seven home runs.





Tigers: LHP Drew Smyly (1-0, 1.59 ERA)

Smyly has allowed two runs or less in each of his first six Major League starts, including six innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts against the White Sox on May 4 in Detroit. He entered Sunday as the American League's ERA leader at 1.59.


White Sox: LHP John Danks (2-4, 5.89 ERA)

Danks called his seven-inning outing against the Indians on Tuesday "a relief," even though he didn't get the win. After struggling in his previous two starts, Danks allowed just two runs in the White Sox victory.









INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery, 60-day disabled list on April 4).
• RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring, 15-day disabled list on April 4).
• C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 12).
• LHP Daniel Schlereth (left shoulder tendinitis, 15-day DL on April 21).






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• TUESDAY, May 15:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (2-3, 5.73 ERA)) AT White Sox (RHP Jake Peavy (4-1, 1.89 ERA)), 2:10 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• WEDNESDAY, May 16:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (3-3, 5.18 ERA)) VS Twins (RHP Nick Blackburn (1-4, 7.18 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• THURSDAY, May 17:
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (0-1, 0.54 ERA)) VS Twins (RHP P.J. Walters (0-1, 3.00 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:


DET Batting

Jackson, A, CF -- .320
Dirks, LF -------- .371
Cabrera, Mi, 3B -- .294
Fielder, 1B ------- .266
Young, D, DH ---- .228
Raburn, 2B ------ .135
Boesch, RF ------ .231
Peralta, Jh, SS -- .257
Laird, C --------- .300


CWS Batting

De Aza, CF ------ .286
Beckham, 2B ----- .208
Dunn, A, DH ------ .250
Konerko, 1B ------- .333
Rios, RF ---------- .282
Pierzynski, C ------ .257
Ramirez, Al, SS ---- .199
Viciedo, LF -------- .196
Morel, 3B --------- .182

DET - Top 1st
B:1 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks walks.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Andy Dirks to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Prince Fielder doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Andy Dirks scores. Miguel Cabrera scores.
2 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:1
Delmon Young doubles (6) on a line drive to center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Prince Fielder scores.
3 - 0

Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Brennan Boesch grounds out, pitcher John Danks to first baseman Paul Konerko.


CWS - Bot 1st
B:1 S:1 O:0
Alejandro De Aza singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Gordon Beckham flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Adam Dunn homers (12) on a fly ball to right field. Alejandro De Aza scores.
3 - 2

B:0 S:1 O:2
Paul Konerko flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Alex Rios flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

3 - 2 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson doubles (10) on a ground ball to left fielder Dayan Viciedo.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Andy Dirks hit by pitch.

On-field Delay.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera flies out to left fielder Dayan Viciedo.


CWS - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:1 O:1
A. J. Pierzynski flies out sharply to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Alexei Ramirez pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Dayan Viciedo pops out to second baseman Ryan Raburn.

3 - 2 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:1 S:2 O:0
Prince Fielder singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to left fielder Dayan Viciedo. Prince Fielder to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ryan Raburn ground bunts into a force out, pitcher John Danks to third baseman Brent Morel. Prince Fielder out at 3rd. Delmon Young to 2nd. Ryan Raburn to 1st.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Brennan Boesch singles on a soft ground ball to left fielder Dayan Viciedo. Delmon Young to 3rd. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Jhonny Peralta walks. Delmon Young scores. Ryan Raburn to 3rd. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.
4 - 2

B:0 S:0 O:2
Gerald Laird out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Ryan Raburn scores.
5 - 2

B:4 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson walks. Brennan Boesch to 3rd. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Andy Dirks grounds into a force out, second baseman Gordon Beckham to shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Austin Jackson out at 2nd.

CWS - Bot 3rd
B:2 S:2 O:1
Brent Morel grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Alejandro De Aza out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Gordon Beckham out on foul tip.

5 - 2 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:2 S:2 O:0
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Prince Fielder singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Alex Rios. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Zach Stewart replaces John Danks.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Delmon Young out swinging. Miguel Cabrera steals (1) 3rd base.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ryan Raburn flies out softly to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Brennan Boesch grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.


CWS - Bot 4th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Adam Dunn called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:1
Paul Konerko singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Alex Rios pops out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:1 S:0 O:3
A. J. Pierzynski flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

5 - 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:4 S:2 O:0
Jhonny Peralta walks.

With Gerald Laird batting, throwing error by Zach Stewart on the pickoff attempt, Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Gerald Laird out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Brent Morel to second baseman Gordon Beckham. Jhonny Peralta to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out softly, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Andy Dirks grounds out to first baseman Paul Konerko.


CWS - Bot 5th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Alexei Ramirez singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Dayan Viciedo homers (4) on a fly ball to left center field. Alexei Ramirez scores.
5 - 4

B:2 S:2 O:1
Brent Morel pops out to second baseman Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Alejandro De Aza grounds out, pitcher Drew Smyly to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Gordon Beckham walks.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Adam Dunn out swinging.

5 - 4 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Delmon Young out swinging.


CWS - Bot 6th
Pitcher Change: Luke Putkonen replaces Drew Smyly.

B:3 S:3 O:1
Paul Konerko called out on .

B:1 S:2 O:1
Alex Rios singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:1
A. J. Pierzynski singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks. Alex Rios to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Alexei Ramirez walks. A. J. Pierzynski to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Dayan Viciedo singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Alex Rios scores. Pierzynski scores. Alexei Ramirez to 3rd.
CWS 6 - 5

B:1 S:2 O:1
Brent Morel singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Alexei Ramirez scores. Dayan Viciedo to 2nd.
CWS 7 - 5

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Luke Putkonen.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Alejandro De Aza called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:3
Gordon Beckham flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

CWS 7 - 5 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Ryan Raburn singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Alex Rios.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Hector Santiago replaces Zach Stewart.

B:4 S:0 O:0
Brennan Boesch walks. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Gerald Laird pops out to second baseman Gordon Beckham.

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


CWS - Bot 7th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Adam Dunn called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:2
Paul Konerko out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Alex Rios out swinging.

CWS 7 - 5 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Matt Thornton replaces Hector Santiago.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago replaces Andy Dirks.

Defensive Substitution: Brent Lillibridge replaces left fielder Dayan Viciedo, batting 8th, playing left field.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Ramon Santiago called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Prince
Fielder grounds into double play, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second
baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko. Miguel Cabrera out
at 2nd.


CWS - Bot 8th
Ramon Santiago remains in the game as the second baseman.

Defensive switch from second base to left field for Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:2 O:1
A. J. Pierzynski flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Octavio Dotel replaces Duane Below.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Alexei Ramirez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

With Brent Lillibridge batting, Alexei Ramirez steals (3) 2nd base.

Injury Delay.(BALL BOUNCED AND HIT R SANTIAGO IN THE FACE)

B:3 S:3 O:2
Brent Lillibridge out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Brent Morel out swinging.

CWS 7 - 5 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Addison Reed replaces Matt Thornton.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Delmon Young out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

With Jhonny Peralta batting, Ryan Raburn advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta walks.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Alex Avila replaces Gerald Laird.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Danny Worth replaces Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila grounds out, first baseman Paul Konerko to pitcher Addison Reed.

DET LOSES 5 - 7

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


Game Over- R H E

Tigers	5	12	0
White Sox	7	10	1

WP: Stewart (1-1, 2.19)
LP: Putkonen (0-2, 12.46)
SV: Reed (3)

Game Info



Danks, Jh pitched to 2 batters in the 4th.
Stewart pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

HBP: Dirks (by Danks, Jh).
Pitches-strikes:
Smyly 69-45, Putkonen 23-13, Below 24-17, Dotel 14-9, Danks, Jh 80-42,
Stewart 39-24, Santiago, H 20-9, Thornton 9-7, Reed 22-15.
Groundouts-flyouts: Smyly 2-5, Putkonen 0-0, Below 0-2, Dotel 0-0, Danks, Jh 6-3, Stewart 5-2, Santiago, H 0-1, Thornton 1-0, Reed 1-1.
Batters faced: Smyly 21, Putkonen 6, Below 6, Dotel 3, Danks, Jh 22, Stewart 11, Santiago, H 4, Thornton 3, Reed 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Below 2-0, Stewart 2-0, Santiago, H 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Phil Cuzzi. 1B: Greg Gibson. 2B: Vic Carapazza. 3B: Gerry Davis.
Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 11 mph, L to R.
T: 3:01.
Att: 23,538.