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Indians-Tigers Preview

Jul 11, 2009 - 4:43 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Cleveland (34-52) at Detroit (46-38), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers have been practically unbeatable at Comerica Park lately. They've enjoyed success wherever they've faced the Cleveland Indians this season.

The AL Central-leading Tigers go for their fourth win in a row overall and seventh straight over the last-place Indians on Saturday night when they continue their three-game set.

Detroit (47-38) defeated Cleveland 5-1 in Friday's series opener for its 11th win in 12 home games.

The Tigers look to win their third consecutive series against Cleveland this season with right-hander Armando Galarraga (5-7, 5.03 ERA) on the mound. After matching a career worst with six walks in a 5-3 victory at Oakland on June 30, Galarraga struck out seven with one free pass in Monday's 4-3 loss to Kansas City.

"I thought he had good action on his ball," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told the team's official Web site, "and I thought most of his sliders were better tonight. He threw a couple effective changeups, I thought. He attacked the strike zone, pretty much down, better than he has been. I thought he was really, really good."

Galarraga is 3-1 with a 4.34 ERA in six career starts against the Indians, including a 6-5 loss at Comerica Park on May 1 when he walked three and yielded five runs and eight hits over five innings. Detroit, though, won the final two games of that series, then swept a three-game set at Progressive Field from May 8-10.

Making his first career start versus Detroit, Carl Pavano (7-7, 5.36) defeated Galarraga after giving up two runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings.

Cleveland's veteran right-hander is looking to build off a 5-2 win over Oakland on Saturday when he gave up two runs and eight hits and won his first game since June 5.

"Carl was really good, using all his pitches," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

With one inning of work Saturday, Pavano will reach 100 for the first time since 2005 with the New York Yankees. He pitched 45 2-3 combined innings in 2007 and 2008 with the Yankees.

"I feel good, but there's still a half season to go," Pavano said. "We're starting to get our lineup back together and we've got to keep pushing forward."

Cleveland (34-53), though, has lost 17 of 22 overall, including eight of its last 10 on the road. The Indians backed reigning Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee with four hits Friday.

"I was disappointed we couldn't get any runs for him," said Wedge, whose team is 1-3 on its six-game trip.

Ryan Garko extended his hitting streak to 10 with a fifth-inning solo home run in the loss.

Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore was 0 for 5 on Friday and batting .172 (5 for 29) against Detroit this season. Sizemore, though, is 6 for 17 with three homers lifetime against Galarraga.

Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera looks to push his hitting streak to 11 following Friday's 1-for-4 effort. He is hitting .398 at Comerica Park in 2009.

Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames hit his fourth homer in six games with a two-run shot in the eighth inning.