GDT: 6/18/08 - DET (33-38) VS SF (31-41) - 3:45 p.m. ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- Before the Tigers regain the full strength of their bullpen arsenal with Joel Zumaya's return this weekend in San Diego, the other half of their dynamic setup duo has some cleanup work to do.

One day after giving up a go-ahead homer to Giants rookie first baseman John Bowker in the eighth inning to help end Detroit's six-game winning streak, Fernando Rodney was ready to go back on the mound. His command had been shaken in his season debut, but his confidence had not.

"I'm feeling good," Rodney said Tuesday afternoon. "I know I can do better than that."

He might well have his chance. The way this series has unfolded, no lead appears safe.

The Tigers nearly came back after Rodney's rough outing Monday, putting the potential tying run on base before Giants closer Brian Wilson shut the door on the Tigers to preserve an 8-6 Giants win. Then Tuesday, Todd Jones escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam to hold onto a 5-1 win after the Tigers rallied for four runs in the final two innings.

They've been wild finishes to games that have actually featured solid starting pitching. Wednesday's rubber match will feature a different combination with struggling Barry Zito against sudden Tigers stalwart Armando Galarraga, who's coming off seven scoreless innings as part of a shutout in his last start.

Rodney's renewed health after missing more than two months of the season with shoulder tendinitis could put him in his best physical shape since 2006, when he was one of the American League's better middle relievers. It does not, however, change the key to Rodney's arsenal. As deceptive as he can be when he changes speeds, he needs to locate to make guys swing.

"Rodney's whole key is going to be his fastball," manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday. "If he doesn't locate his fastball and throw his fastball, the changeup will become less and less effective as he pitches over the years. More people will continue to sit on it.

"Fernando Rodney has probably one of the top five changeups I've seen. He's got such great arm speed on it and everything, and that's what sells the pitch. He just put it in a bad spot [Monday]."

Rodney knows it, but he also knows redemption comes quickly in the bullpen.

"I tried to make a good pitch," Rodney said. "He got me."

The way this series has gone, though, plenty of key pitches have gone out. Marcus Thames' ninth-inning homer tied a franchise record by extending his homer streak to five straight games. With the left-handed Zito on the mound, he'll undoubtedly have a shot at a sixth, not to mention what could be a ninth hit in a row to leave the yard.


Interleague record: 105-96 overall, 5-3 in 2008

2008 Interleague Schedule
• May 16 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-3
• May 17 at Diamondbacks: Won, 3-2
• May 18 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-0
• June 13 vs. Dodgers: Won, 5-0
• June 14 vs. Dodgers: Won, 12-7
• June 15 vs. Dodgers: Won, 5-4
• June 16 at Giants Lost, 8-6
• June 17 at Giants Won 5-1
• June 18 at Giants
• June 20 at Padres
• June 21 at Padres
• June 22 at Padres
• June 24 vs. Cardinals
• June 25 vs. Cardinals
• June 26 vs. Cardinals
• June 27 vs. Rockies
• June 28 vs. Rockies
• June 29 vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (6-2, 3.31 ERA)
Galarraga gave up no runs on three hits in his last start, though two hits came after the ball hit him in the foot and skewed into foul ground for infield singles. After the second one drilled his foot in the sixth inning, the team's trainer ran out to the mound to check Galarraga. He sat on the infield grass, holding his right lower leg in pain at one point, but he collected himself and finished the outing. The Tigers improved to 8-2 in games he starts. Galarraga has never faced the Giants in his short career. However, he has two impressive outings this season in Interleague Play.

SFG: LHP Barry Zito (2-9, 5.88 ERA)
Zito walked more batters (four) than he struck out (three) in his last start, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Athletics, his former team. He was one pitch away from a quality start, but walked in a run on a 3-2 count in the sixth inning before being pulled. He allowed three runs in a three-hit, one-walk third inning, and lasted less than six innings for the ninth time this season. He's 7-5 with a 2.68 ERA in 14 career starts against Detroit, but he hasn't faced them since jumping over to the Giants.


Tidbits

Brandon Inge is expected to start at catcher Wednesday and resume alternating starts with Ivan Rodriguez after Leyland rested him Tuesday to avoid aggravating a sore left oblique muscle. ... Edgar Renteria's infield single Tuesday marked his 2,000th career Major League hit. ... Gary Sheffield went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and two walks in his second rehab outing for Class A Lakeland. He was scheduled for four plate appearances to avoid aggravating his strained left oblique muscle, the injury that landed him on the disabled list at the end of May.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Thur., June 19: Off-day

• Fri., June 20: Tigers (RHP Eddie Bonine (1-0, 10.13ERA )) at Padres (RHP Cha Seung Baek (1-2, 4.84ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET

• Sat., June 21: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (5-6, 5.46 ERA)) at Padres (RHP Cha Seung Baek (1-2, 4.84ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET

• Sun., June 22: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (3-9, 4.55ERA)) at Padres (LHP Randy Wolf (5-5, 4.16 ERA)), 4:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS

DET
SS :edgar:
2B :placido:
3B
RF
1B
LF :thames:
C :pudge:
CF :curtis:
P

SFG
LF Lewis
3B Castillo
RF Winn
C Molina
CF Rowand
1B Bowker
2B Denker
SS Vizquel
P Zito

66 degrees at Game Time;

West Winds 10-15 mph



Tigers gonna win!


And Thames gonna hit another home run

I've been pretty busy with the new job this week, I've had to go to bed early so I there so is no way I can stay up for West Coast Games.

I'll be home in time to catch the end of this game.

See you then!

rickimouse wrote:

I've been pretty busy with the new job this week, I've had to go to bed early so I there so is no way I can stay up for West Coast Games.

Late nights for me too! I wish you well in your first week of your new job!

Hey!!! I might be able to watch past the 6th inning today!!!

at least the can do so on the plane tonight!

TigersGirl wrote:

Hey!!! I might be able to watch past the 6th inning today!!!

Too bad if you would have to stop on the 6th inning, you'll miss the last part of Armandos CG! :lol:

GO ARMANDO!!!!

I might miss this game too... if I do I'm going to be mad. I have to leave in 5 minutes to go to my dad's friend's house.

nice it is an afternoon game, though...give the guys a night out

laprimamirala wrote:

nice it is an afternoon game, though...give the guys a night out

That... OR

you're kidding, right?

Stat of the day: Barry Zito's career ERA against the Tigers...2.68.

Zito gonna be out of the game by the 5th

our guys will make sure of that!

Zito better lose. Let's make his quest for 20 easier!

Who says today's youth are the only ones technologically intelligent? This old fart figured out how to hook his cell phone up to the EXT IN on the car stereo so I can listen to the Tigers games on Mobile Gameday Audio without using headphones or the crappy little internal speaker on the phone!

Gooooo Tigers!

Old Farts!

I personally am one of the gals on the Titanum tire polish commercial! okay, mentally, anway!

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

Who says today's youth are the only ones technologically intelligent? This old fart figured out how to hook his cell phone up to the EXT IN on the car stereo so I can listen to the Tigers games on Mobile Gameday Audio without using headphones or the crappy little internal speaker on the phone!

Gooooo Tigers!

Don'tcha just feel cool as hell when you actually figure some of that out???

I sure do! 20 years ago, I'd have never DREAMED of listening to a ballgame on a phone, let alone on a phone through the car radio!

GO TIGERS!!!!

I just walked in the door, so I get to watch MOST of it...

GOOO GALARRAGA!!!!

Polly singles.

Walk.

2 on with one out.

BASEHIT MAGGS!!!!

Polly scores!!

Basehit Cabrera!!!!

Somebody scores (I missed who)

Go Tigers!!!

Tigers leading 2-0 with the bases loaded and only 1 out in the 1st.

:pudge: 2 out.