GDT: 9/16/08 - DET (70-79) AT TEX (74-77) - 8:05 p.m. ET

ARLINGTON -- While the Detroit Tigers are far from setting their 2009 rotation, right-hander Zach Miner has certainly put himself in the mix.

But he knows he can take himself out of the mix, too, if he continues to have rough outings like his last start. Miner didn't make it to the fifth inning after the A's tagged him for eight runs on 11 hits.

"I can't get caught up with anything, you've just got to take the good with the bad," Miner said. "I had a bad inning my last time out, but I'm not too worried about it. I can't go and reinvent my throwing style or anything like that."

Miner said he expects a better start against the Rangers on Tuesday after his bullpen session went well, and as he continues to work on staying consistent.

As for if there's any pressure to finish strong down the stretch to go into Spring Training as one of the Tigers' front-five, Miner said: "That's really out of my control. There are a lot of variables to that and, as a player, I really don't have any control over it."

Pitching matchup


DET: RHP Zach Miner (8-4, 4.29 ERA)
After Miner's outings in July and August became a godsend to the Tigers' rotation, Miner is struggling down the stretch. The latest example came Monday against the A's, who roughed him up for eight runs on 11 hits and forced him to use 110 pitches over 4 1/3 innings. That outing alone bumped up his ERA by more than half a run. He'll have a couple extra days of rest thanks to weekend postponements in Chicago before facing the Rangers, whom he beat in April with 3 1/3 hitless innings of relief.

TEX: RHP Kevin Millwood (9-9, 5.15 ERA)
Millwood is trying to break a two-game losing streak and is 3-3 with a 4.46 ERA in his last six starts since coming off the disabled list (strained left groin) on Aug. 15. He beat the Tigers, 9-1, on Aug. 20 with a six-hitter for the first of two straight complete games. He is now 4-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 starts against the Tigers in his career. He is 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 11 starts at home this season.

Tidbits

Dating back to the 2004 season, the Tigers have won five straight series against the Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. ...

Tigers reliever Kyle Farnsworth allowed four runs, all earned, in 2/3 of an inning on Monday night as he took the loss, his first as a Tiger. ...

The Tigers are currently on a five-game losing streak, including an 0-3 start to their current nine-game road trip.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSND

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Wed., Sept 17: Tigers (Freddy Garcia, 2008 debut) at Rangers (Dustin Nippert (3-4, 6.20 ERA)), 8:05 p.m. ET

• Thurs., Sept 18: Off-day

• Fri., Sept 19: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 12-6, 3.58) at Indians (Fausto Carmona, 8-7, 5.16), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:


Detroit
Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Joyce, LF
Sheffield, DH
Inge, 3B
Ryan, C
Santiago, SS


Texas
Boggs, LF
Young, SS
Hamilton, DH
Byrd, CF
Blalock, 1B
Cruz, RF
Davis, C, 3B
Laird, C
Vazquez, 2B

GO MINER!!!

actually, he's doin' great! 1-0 at the 3rd!

Sac fly scores the run, 1-1 Tie.

The .200 hitter takes a hit away, 3 out.

Magglio's done a total turnaround from last night...

Wow, Miggy scores, Rangers throw away the ball and Joyce scores on Inge single. Inge goes to 2nd.



3-2

:dusty: singles, Inge scores

4-2 after 6.5 innings

grounds out

Zach still pitching

Blalock flies out

Cruz flies out

Davis - grounds out
1-2-3

after 7 innings

4-2

Loe pitching

:curtis:

:placido: flies out

singles to lf

4-2

Laird -

Zach over 100 pitches - gets out the last 11 in a row

:fossum: coming in to pitch

Pinch hitter Metcalf - pops out

Boggs -

Top of 9th

Wright pitching

:joyce: grounds out

:sheff: singles

gidp - 3 outs

bottom of the 9th

4-2

:rodney: closing

Young - walks

Hamilton - singles
Get it together Rodney!!!!

Byrd - 2 rbi triple

tied game 4-4

Blalock - intent walk