GDT: 7/2/08 - DET (42-41) AT Minn (46-38) - 1:10 p.m. ET

MINNEAPOLIS -- Curtis Granderson is on a tear. It's probably no coincidence that the Tigers are, too.

Granderson has batted a blistering .398 (33-for-83) since June 7. The Tigers are 18-5 in those games.

"That's huge for us, when he gets on base, we usually do pretty good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He's our excitement part of the team. He gets the guys in the stands going, the guys in the dugout going -- with his hitting, and his legs. He's our catalyst; he's the guy that makes us go."

Granderson had reached base in each of those 23 contests when he had a plate appearance until going 0-for-5 against Minnesota on Tuesday -- Detroit was defeated, 6-4.

The Tigers were 24-36 and 10 games out of first place on June 6. The club is now 42-41 and six games out.

"Whether you are in first place or last place in April, no team is going to make it to the playoffs on that," Granderson said. "Right now, we are just past the halfway mark, we still have a lot of baseball left to play."

Granderson compares his season turnaround -- he was batting .238 on June 7 and is now batting .295 -- to a game of basketball.

"You come out there one day, you feel great, everything is going to go in, it doesn't matter who you're guarding," Granderson said. "Next day you come out there, you have the same opponent, everything is the exact same and you just can't get a shot to fall. I looked at a lot of film, and everything looked the same when I was going good, going bad. Now all of a sudden things are starting to click and feel better. I really haven't done too much."

Granderson said he puts pressure on himself, whether at the top of the lineup or at the bottom, to get things started for the rest of the team.

"If I don't have things get off to a good start, there is a good chance things may or may not go that way [for the team] -- I put that pressure on myself," Granderson said. "I don't necessarily have to have a good hit or anything like that, just a quality at-bat, or a good-pitch at-bat, a hard-hit ball, something like that throughout the course of the game, to get the rest of the guys behind me to do some damage like they are capable of doing."




Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Eddie Bonine (2-0, 3.98 ERA)
Bonine threw eight innings of one-run ball in his third Major League start Friday against the Rockies. While keeping Colorado hitless through four innings, he threw plenty of strikes down in the zone, which translated into 17 of his 22 outs coming via ground balls. The right-hander stayed true to his reputation as a strike-thrower, tossing 69 of his 99 pitches over the plate. All three of his starts occurred during Interleague Play, but now Bonine will get his first taste of an American League lineup.

MIN: RHP Nick Blackburn (6-4, 4.05 ERA)
Blackburn struggled to keep the ball in the ballpark during his last start against the Brewers. In his 4 2/3 innings, the right-hander gave up a total of six runs -- all coming on four homers. Blackburn didn't issue a walk in the start but the sinkerball pitcher needs to keep the ball down in the zone more than he did in his last start to be successful. Next up will be his second start of the season against Detroit. Blackburn gave up four runs over 5 2/3 innings in that start at Comerica Park.



Tidbits

Leyland is not a fan of the Metrodome: "I will not miss the place, by any means, when they go to their new stadium. Although I might if it's 15 degrees." ... Dane Sardinha will get the start at catcher on Wednesday against the Twins, according to Leyland, resting Ivan Rodriguez ... Leyland on Twins manager Ron Gardenhire: "I think he is the best in the league, I've said it several times on the record. I don't usually say best, because that's a tough word. I think there are some outstanding managers in the league -- I think he is the best. Year in, year out, I think he is consistent -- I think he's the best." ... Tuesday's loss snapped Detroit's six-game winning streak.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSND

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Thurs., July 3: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (4-9, 4.42 ERA)) at Mariners (RHP Carlos Silva (4-9, 5.69 ERA)), 10:10 p.m. ET

• Fri., July 4: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (6-5, 4.59 ERA)) at Mariners (LHP Erik Bedard (5-4, 3.79 ERA)), 4:10 p.m. ET

• Sat., July 5: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (7-2, 3.40 ERA)) at Mariners (RHP R.A. Dickey (2-4, 4.53 ERA)), 10:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS


Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .295
:placido: Polanco, 2B .317
Guillen, 3B .298
:thames: Thames, 1B .283
:joyce: Joyce, RF .207
:sheff: Sheffield, DH .232
Thomas, LF .318
:edgar: Renteria, SS .270
:dane: Sardinha, C .125


Minnesota AVG
Gomez, CF .269
Casilla, 2B .327
Mauer, C .323
Morneau, 1B .314
Kubel, DH .263
Young, LF .278
Buscher, 3B .345
Punto, SS .261
Span, RF .297

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It's a day game today! I thought it was a night game!

No live blog today .

Still scoreless in the 1st inning.

At least Gomez got a mouth full of dirt

something tells me we should probably write this one off and get ready for Seattle

1-2-3 inning for Bonine! Man...I like this kid! lol

Corners loaded, 2 out for the Tigers in the 3rd.

C'mon Polanco!!!

Force out, 6-4. Punto dove for it and bowled it to Casilla for the out. One of the best plays I've seen.

you guys will hafta be by yourself...gotta work..*sigh*

Hey guys, score?

The Twins are pissing me off! 5-0 in the bot of the 3rd! Bases loaded, 2 outs...and Bonine's day is done....here comes Fossum.

Shit. Looks like long day.

Looks that way....I just hope the bats come alive against Blackburn...he ain't "all that". lol

Well, name aint all too familiar with me so he must not be. We need Magglio and Miggy back - soon.

Well....if the bullpen can limit the damage, and we get 1 run each inning the rest of the way....we can still win this one.

Or we just have a 6-7 run surge, bullpen gives up no runs. and Jonesy gets the save!

WHAT THE HECK, I COME BACK FROM LUNCH, AND WE ARE ALREADY LOSING 5-0

A-Rod will NOT be participating in the HR Derby.

Clete strikes out

Rent flies out

NO LIVE BLOG??

I can set one up if you want

Nah, it's no big deal.

I thought it was a night game. What's the score?

I was looking forward to watching it tonight!


I should leave work

6-0 Twins

May as well stay at work.



Tigers will win 7-6 .


Hope FSN replays it at 7 pm