GDT: 6/25/09 - DET (40-31) vs CHC (34-34) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Those 90-degree temperatures that hit the Detroit area Wednesday are expected to cool down into the mid-80s for Thursday afternoon's series finale between the Tigers and Cubs. That does not necessarily cool off the heat for Tigers starter Armando Galarraga.

Though a rain delay technically halted Galarraga's start after four innings last Friday against the Brewers, there was no guarantee Galarraga was coming out for the fifth with or without the rain delay. Zach Miner was warming up in the top of the fourth, then resumed warming once the Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Once the rain delay began, Miner was coming in whenever the game resumed.

Now, Galarraga faces the unenviable task of holding down a Cubs offense that has had its chances to break out the last two nights but hasn't converted. Opponents, meanwhile, have batted .368 over Galarraga's last seven outings with a 1.079 OPS, including nine home runs over 32 2/3 innings in that span.

If Galarraga can reverse his trends and keep the Tigers in the game, they'll have a chance at their seventh straight win and a perfect Interleague homestand.

With every reliever but Freddy Dolsi having pitched Wednesday night to sew up Detroit's 5-3 win, and with three-game series at Houston and Oakland coming up before the Tigers' next off-day July 2 in Minnesota, the Tigers could sorely use a deep outing from Galarraga. Manager Jim Leyland shuffled his rotation so that he wouldn't have Galarraga and rookie Alfredo Figaro pitching back-to-back, but he has also said they could use an effective Galarraga to eat innings.

That now seems all the more important for Thursday.

"Hopefully they get out of town before they start hitting, because it's going to happen," Leyland said of the Cubs after they went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position Wednesday.

Maybe the Cubs get going against Galarraga. On the other hand, maybe they're the chance for Galarraga to gain a much-needed infusion of confidence. Leyland has made it clear that he wants to keep Miner in a relief role to use his gift of ground balls in later-inning situations, rather than shift him back into the rotation.

The Tigers offense, on the other hand, seems to be starting to roll, scoring five or more runs in four of five games this homestand, including five Wednesday despite stranding 11 runners on base. A Detroit lineup that was once starving for power now has hit at least two home runs in seven of its last eight games and collected 10 hits Wednesday.

They'll go up against Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly with a lineup that seems to be stronger offensively against southpaws than it was a few weeks ago, thanks to Marcus Thames' return, Miguel Cabrera's four home runs in his last eight games, and what seems like the building blocks of an offensive spurt from Magglio Ordonez, who had two hits Wednesday.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-7, 5.62 ERA)
Just because Galarraga took a no-decision in his last start Friday against the Brewers doesn't mean his struggles are over. Though Galarraga's outing was over following a two-hour rain delay in the fourth inning, he was probably going to exit even without the rain delay once Detroit took the lead. He gave up four runs, three earned, on eight hits over four innings, and escaped worse thanks to two double plays. He's winless in his last 10 starts since going 3-0 in April, and he has just three quality starts in that stretch.

CHC: LHP Ted Lilly (7-4, 3.04 ERA)
Lilly notched his team-leading 11th quality start in his last outing against the Indians. He did not get a decision as the game went extra innings, with the Cubs winning in 13. Lilly has thrown six innings or more in a career-high 10 straight games, dating to May 2. He is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA in seven home games. In his last 27 1/3 innings, he's walked three and struck out 23. He's 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in his career against the Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Ordonez is 6-for-23 with four RBIs lifetime against Lilly, but Brandon Inge is 1-for-9 with four strikeouts off him.
... Bobby Seay has pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings over his last 12 appearances.
... The Tigers are 22-2 when they reach double digits in hits for a game.
... Derrek Lee has a career-high 21-game hitting streak going, batting .373 over the stretch.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Friday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 8-3, 3.31 ERA) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, 6-6, 3.18 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Alfredo Figaro, 1-0, 3.60 ERA) at Astros (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 6-4, 2.40 ERA) at Astros (Russ Ortiz, 3-3, 3.47 ERA), 2:05 p.m. ET

STARTING lINEUPS:

CUBS

1. Alfonso Soriano, LF
   
2. Ryan Theriot, SS
   
3. Derrek Lee, 1B
   
4. Micah Hoffpauir, RF
   
5. Jake Fox, DH
   
6. Mike Fontenot, 3B
   
7. Kosuke Fukudome, CF
   
8. Koyie Hill, C
   
9. Andres Blanco, 2B
   

P: Ted Lilly

TIGERS

1. Granderson, CF
   
2. Santiago, 2B
   
3. Cabrera, 1B
   
4. Thames, DH
   
5. Raburn, LF
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Ordonez, RF
   
8. Ryan, C
   
9. Everett, SS
   

P: Armando Galarraga

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Alfonso Soriano hits a ground-rule double (15) on a ground ball down the left-field line.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Theriot walks.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Derrek Lee flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Micah Hoffpauir strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jake Fox homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Alfonso Soriano scores. Ryan Theriot scores.
CHC 3, DET 0



B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Mike Fontenot strikes out swinging, catcher Dusty Ryan to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, third baseman Mike Fontenot to first baseman Derrek Lee.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to shortstop Ryan Theriot in foul territory.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (14) on a fly ball to right fielder Micah Hoffpauir.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Marcus Thames pops out to shortstop Ryan Theriot.

CHC 3, DET 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Kosuke Fukudome grounds out, pitcher Armando Galarraga to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Koyie Hill on foul tip.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Andres Blanco grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Mike Fontenot to first baseman Derrek Lee.

CHC 3, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Alfonso Soriano singles on a pop up to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Ryan Theriot swinging.

Settle in, Gala!!!

B:3 S:2 O:3 - Derrek Lee lines into double play, left
fielder Ryan Raburn to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman
Miguel Cabrera. Alfonso Soriano doubled off 1st.

CHC 3, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Dusty Ryan on foul tip.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to third baseman Mike Fontenot.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Mike Fontenot to first baseman Derrek Lee. Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago homers (5) on a fly ball to left field. Adam Everett scores.
CHC 3, DET 2

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera called out on strikes.

CHC 3, DET 2 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Micah Hoffpauir grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jake Fox singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Mike Fontenot grounds into a force out,
second baseman Ramon Santiago to shortstop Adam Everett. Jake Fox out
at 2nd. Mike Fontenot to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Kosuke Fukudome triples (2) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Mike Fontenot scores.
CHC 4, DET 2

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Koyie Hill swinging.

CHC 4, DET 2 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Marcus Thames doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Marcus Thames scores.
CHC 4, DET 3

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Mike Fontenot to first baseman Derrek Lee. Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. Ryan Raburn scores.
DET 5, CHC 4



B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Dusty Ryan grounds out, third baseman Mike Fontenot to first baseman Derrek Lee.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.

DET 5, CHC 4 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Andres Blanco flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Alfonso Soriano flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Ryan Theriot flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Micah Hoffpauir.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Ted Lilly to first baseman Derrek Lee. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Marcus Thames swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to right fielder Micah Hoffpauir. Curtis Granderson scores. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.
DET 6, CHC 4


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Mike Fontenot to first baseman Derrek Lee.

DET 6, CHC 4 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Derrek Lee grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Micah Hoffpauir grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Armando Galarraga.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Jake Fox doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Mike Fontenot grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Dusty Ryan singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alfonso Soriano.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Adam Everett batting, Dusty Ryan caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Koyie Hill to second baseman Andres Blanco.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett walks.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Andres Blanco to first baseman Derrek Lee.

DET 6, CHC 4 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

replaces