Detroit Tigers Notes And Quotes 8-8-11

--RHP Max Scherzer allowed four runs in five innings, the first time in more than a month he has given up more than two earned runs. Scherzer had been plagued by high pitch counts by the middle innings in recent starts and because of that, he might have worked one more inning before coming out following a 46-minute rain delay. Scherzer had allowed a total of eight earned runs in his previous starts.

--LHP Duane Below is adjusting to life in the bullpen after a career in the minors primarily built on starting. Below made his second relief appearance after starting twice for Detroit. He came in for RHP Max Scherzer following a 46-minute rain delay and retired all seven batters he faced, including striking out the side in the sixth and getting three ground-ball outs in the seventh. "I'm still trying to make it," he said. "I just try to be ready when they call my name and just make sure that I prepare and get ready the same way I would as a starter. I just have to do it quicker. That's the biggest thing right now, just making sure that I'm ready to get ready."

--1B Miguel Cabrera doubled in one of Detroit's runs in his fifth two-hit game of the last two series. Cabrera had 11 hits in six games and sprayed them around the field as he typically does. He is one player exempt from manager Jim Leyland's policy of resting his regulars, except via the DH route.

--3B Ryan Raburn hit third and played third base for Detroit as manager Jim Leyland crammed his lineup with right-handed hitters in a vain effort to counter LHP Bruce Chen of Kansas City. Leyland went with Raburn, who has hit well in his sparse second-half playing time, over switch-hitting 3B Wilson Betemit, who has hit eighth or ninth since being acquired from Kansas City.

--RHP Al Alburquerque worked two-thirds of an inning to close out the eighth. Alburquerque made his return from nine days of inactivity on Aug. 4 and this was his first action since then. Alburquerque was firing high-90s fastballs and showing his sharp slider. He'll get a day off like his teammates with Detroit not scheduled Monday.

--DH Victor Martinez was held out of Detroit's starting lineup after suffering a sharp pain in his left knee Saturday night trying to avoid getting tagged out at home plate. Martinez had to be helped off the field but was walking on his own in the clubhouse later. Detroit does not play Monday, so manager Jim Leyland opted to be as cautious as possible by holding him out Sunday. "I got a good feeling about it when I saw him walking to the bus (Sunday) morning," Leyland said. "It was pretty much normal. The biggest test was the first step to get on the bus, and that was pretty normal, too. I expected more stiffness than I saw as he came out of the hotel. Not that it's 100 percent, but it is certain that it appears to be better."

--RHP Justin Verlander will start in turn Thursday against the Cleveland Indians, giving him two starts against the second-place team in the AL Central. Manager Jim Leyland said that means RHP Brad Penny, who only pitched nine games a year ago, will skip a start this week to accommodate the Tigers ace. Pushing RHP Rick Porcello back a day was an option that was discarded. "He was drained," said Leyland, after Verlander went seven innings Saturday in winning his 16th game of the season. "He was spent, I could see that. But I thought he pitched great. We'll wait and see. I think he'll be fine. I have a bunch of different scenarios. I've got it mapped out for the whole season, but it doesn't mean it's going to stay that way."

BY THE NUMBERS
9 -- Place on Detroit's all-time strikeout list held by RHP Justin Verlander after fanning eight in earning his 16th victory of the season. Verlander has struck out 1,151 batters in his six full seasons (plus two 2005 starts) in the majors. He'll need 49 more to replace RHP Dizzy Trout for eighth place on the list.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Who knows if I'm going to be able to face him again. Is he going to have a job next year?" -- Angels RHP Jered Weaver's cold response when asked why he didn't just wait until next season to get back at Detroit 2B Carlos Guillen, who hot-dogged a home run off Weaver on July 31, prompting the pitcher to throw a pitch above the head of the next batter, C Alex Avila, and get ejected from the game. Weaver was suspended for six games for his action.

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