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Tigers, Indians try to cool off in second game of series

Sep 20, 2008 - 10:14 AM Detroit (71-81) at Cleveland (76-77), 7:05pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Suspensions are bound to be handed out. Players are bound to be fined. Until that happens, the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers have another ballgame to play.

After tempers flared in a bases-clearing brawl during Friday's series opener, a 6-5 Indians victory, the clubs will square off on Saturday. This time, they will have to keep their tempers in check - otherwise they may not have enough players left for the last week of the season.

The Indians fueled their own fire after the brawl, erasing a three-run deficit to rally from behind for the victory, which came courtesy of Jamey Carroll's RBI single to deep right field in the bottom of the ninth. Tthey get another opportunity to take out their aggression - this time on a familiar target, Tigers righthander Justin Verlander (10-16, 4.78 ERA).

Detroit's presumptive ace has endured a miserable 2008, and he's borne a good deal of that punishment at the hands of the Indians. In five starts against them, he has gone 1-4 with a 6.19 ERA. He's been difficult to hit at times, holding their bats to a .228 average - but giving up 15 walks in 30 2/3 innings has a way of coming back to haunt you.

His most recent outing against his American League Central foe was August 27 at Comerica Park, as he gave up five runs and seven hits over six innings, dropping a 9-7 decision. He didn't fare any better four weeks prior, allowing six runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

He will take on Cleveland lefthander Jeremy Sowers (3-8, 5.70), who is 1-3 with an 8.24 ERA against the Tigers in his career.