GDT: 4/26/09 - DET (9-8) AT KC (9-8) - 2:10 p.m. ET

KANSAS CITY -- From Jim Leyland's perspective, the bottom of the Tigers' batting order has the potential to be top-notch.

Detroit's manager felt good about the bottom of the order coming out of Spring Training, and the collective opening-month performance of the guys in the lower half of the lineup has justified that optimism.

"It's been nothing short of fantastic so far," Leyland said.

With guys like Gerald Laird, Brandon Inge, Josh Anderson, Ramon Santiago and Adam Everett anchoring the bottom of the order, opposing pitchers know they can't breathe a sigh of relief once they get past the heart of the lineup.
On Saturday, the Nos. 6-9 hitters combined for eight hits. Laird had three hits and a homer. Inge banged out two hits. Anderson offered a two-run triple and Everett had two hits. All four guys are at .300 or better. Inge has been on a homer/RBI binge through April, and Santiago had 11 runs batted in through the opening 15 games. Throw in the solid batting averages from those in the mix, and the Tigers can envision having a lineup from Nos. 1-9 that makes a pitcher constantly work under stress.

"The bottom of the order looks good," Anderson said. "We know who our big boppers are. If the other guys in the lower half of the lineup can support them by not making anything easy for the pitcher, it's going to be a good situation.

"Are we going to be hot all season at the bottom of the order? I don't know, but the fact is that we want to see pitches and not just give things away."

The bottom of the order will try to keep it going Sunday when the Tigers close out their road trip by taking on Kansas City's veteran right-hander Sidney Ponson.

"I feel our lineup top to bottom is as good as anybody's lineup," Anderson said. "You look at what a guy like Santiago has done. Phenomenal job. He has gotten big hits in big situations. Everybody down there has been chipping in."

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (2-0, 1.96 ERA)
After dominant outings in his first two starts, Galarraga finally had a struggle on his hands Tuesday, thanks to the Angels. A combination of well-placed singles and early walks pushed Galarraga's pitch total past 80 before he could get the second out of the third inning. He made it through five innings, but needed 110 pitches to do it. Fortunately for Galarraga, he has an excellent chance for a rebound at Kansas City, where his last outing, on July 23, saw him take a perfect game into the seventh inning before finally giving up a run on three hits.

KC: RHP Sidney Ponson (0-2, 7.04 ERA)
After making it through his first two starts with creditable six-inning outings, Ponson bogged down Tuesday night at Cleveland. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits and four walks. He also gave up his first homer of the year, Grady Sizemore's three-run shot. Ponson's command was off; he made 80 pitches and only 43 were strikes. So he'll have to upgrade his performance against the Tigers, against whom he's 4-4 with a 6.62 ERA in nine career games.

Tidbits

... Joel Zumaya made his Major League return by working the ninth inning on Saturday. Zumaya allowed two hits, but no runs. It was his first Major League appearance since Aug. 12, 2008.
... The Tigers will be monitoring left-hander Dontrelle Willis' rehab start Sunday for Double-A Erie. "I think the process is Lakeland, Erie and Toledo -- but I can't tell you when that would happen," Leyland said. "Some of that will depend on how he does [Sunday], and how he feels afterwards."
... Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, who guided the Spartans to the NCAA title game against North Carolina, will throw out the first pitch at Monday's Tigers-Yankees game in Comerica Park.

To track MLB play-by-play: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FS-D HD

On radio
• WXYT 1270

Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. Yankees (CC Sabathia, 1-1, 4.81 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 1-1, 2.77 ERA) vs. Yankees (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Yankees (Joba Chamberlain, 0-0, 3.94 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

Starting Lineups:

Detroit ________AVG
Granderson, CF__ .264
Polanco, 2B _____ .271
Ordonez, RF _____ .273
Cabrera, M, DH ___.385
Larish, 1B _______ .154
Inge, 3B _________ .322
Anderson, J, LF ___ .300
Everett, SS ______ .303
Sardinha, D, C ____ .000

Kansas City ______ AVG
Crisp, CF _________ .262
DeJesus, D, LF ____ .215
Teahen, 3B _______ .339
Guillen, DH ________ .143
Jacobs, 1B ________ .259
Callaspo, 2B _______ .380
Olivo, C ___________ .200
Maier, RF __________ .182
Aviles, M, SS _______ .169

Dane Catching... what happened to Treanor?

Just found...

Quote :

TREANOR PLACED ON DISABLED LIST, SARDINHA’S CONTRACT PURCHASED: The Tigers today announced that catcher Matt Treanor has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip strain. The Tigers today purchased the contract of catcher Dane Sardinha from Triple A Toledo. Sardinha batted .231 (3x13) in five games with Toledo.

Hi GG

Ouch. Way to make the out Gala, but please don't make a habit of that!

End of 4. Tigs up 2-1 courtesy of Brandon's 2 run round tripper.

Anderson leads off the 5th...

Anderson lines a single to right. Everett up.

Ist pitch to Everett and Anderson steals 2nd.

Everett grounds out 4-3, moving Anderson to 3rd with 1 away.

Squeeze but Sardinha can't get the bunt down.

Sardinha lines out to CF, but Anderson gets back to tag up and comes home unchallenged.

Tigs up 3-1

Granderson grounds out 4-3.

Tigs lead 3-1, middle of the 5th.

Bottom of the 5th...

Coco Crisp walks. Season high 4th BB for Gala.

DeJesus up.

Crisp caught stealing by Sardinha!

1 away

hi gang

laprimamirala wrote:

hi gang

Prima.

DeJesus K's, but Gala hits Teahen. 2 away, runner on 1st.

Jose Guillen up, but K's

Inning over. Tigs lead 3-1, end of 5th

My work computer died this morning while I was working. I had to drive in to the office (1.15 -hour drive) and get it reimaged. Not everything transferred over, so I'm plodding along *sigh*
but at least our Tigs are holdin' em!

Top of 6th

Polanco leads off, grounding out 5-3.

Maggs up...

Maggs F7

Miggy up, and singles to left center

laprimamirala wrote:

My work computer died this morning while I was working. I had to drive in to the office (1.15 -hour drive) and get it reimaged. Not everything transferred over, so I'm plodding along *sigh*
but at least our Tigs are holdin' em!

Hope you can see the game and not relying on my lousy descriptions!!!


GoGetEm is so much better at this than me!!!

Larish out 1-3. Miggy LOB.

Tigs up 3-1 middle of the 6th.

1B Jacobs leads off...

Grounds out 5-3.

Callaspo up...

Callaspo doubles off the wall in right. Stayed in the park by about 2 feet. 3rd hit for the Royals. Tying run (Olivo) at the plate.

Seay and Rincon up in the bullpen...

Olivo strikes out (2-3). 2 away. Maier up.

Liner down the right field line hooks foul by about 5 feet. Otherwise that would have tied it up. Too close.

Full count......

Ball 4 in the dirt. Maier walks.

Visit to the mound...

Aviles up...

Aviles out 6-3. Close play. 2 LOB but Tigs still lead by 2, end of the 6th.