Starting Five: Tigers Stop Slide by Sweeping Imperfect White Sox

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Tigers got a couple of badly needed victories Friday against the team that had been chasing them. Lost amid the excitement of Mark Buehrle's perfect game on Thursday was the fact that it helped the White Sox pull into a virtual tie with the Tigers for the AL Central lead. The Tigers had been alone at the top since May 16.

The Tigers had lost five of their previous six. But just when it seemed the Sox were ready to reel them in, the Tigers swept a doubleheader from Chicago, winning 5-1 and 4-3. They won the second game thanks to an eighth-inning bases loaded walk, issued by Matt Thornton to Clete Thomas. Carlos Guillen also homered in his first day off the disabled list.

"It was a big day," manager Jim Leyland said. "A good day for us."

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

From the Trainers' Room...
Cubs lefty Ted Lilly was scratched from Saturday's start after coming up with a sore shoulder. He was set to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. Any extended absence for Lilly would be bad news for the Cubs. Lilly is the team's leader with nine victories. The Cubs had been playing well and on Thursday pulled within one game of first, the closest they had been since May 16.

By The Numbers...
Matt Holliday got his Cardinals career off to a good start with four hits. Holliday had been 8 for 16 with two homers, including a grand slam, in his final four games with the A's. If he finishes the weekend with two more big games with the Cardinals, Holliday could win Player of the Week in both leagues. Well, he won't, but it's fun to think of such things.

In Their Own Words...
"No more talk. That doesn't mean I don't have a lot to say, but I'm not going to say it." -- Blue Jays CEO Paul Beeston, speaking to reporters before Friday's game about the Roy Halladay saga. For his part, Halladay said his latest feeling is that he's not going to be traded.

Advance Scouting...
The Braves and Brewers, two of the half-dozen teams jockeying around for playoff position in a crowded National League, will meet in Milwaukee tonight (7:05 PM ET), each sending an intriguing pitcher to the mound. Rookie phenom Tommy Hanson takes his 5-0 record to the mound against Brewers' ace Yovanni Gallardo.