GDT: 7/6/09 - DET (44-37) vs KC (35-46) - 7:05 p.m. ET

MINNEAPOLIS -- The final week before the All-Star break is big for any team, but it could be huge for Magglio Ordonez.

His struggle to find the power in the bat has been one of the long-running topics around the Tigers since the season began, culminating in a much-publicized hiatus from the lineup last month and a more publicized reaction from agent Scott Boras. The All-Star break gives the Tigers four days to debate what to do with Ordonez, whether it involves playing status or more than that.

Ordonez's weekend in Minnesota, including a 414-foot homer and a sharply-lined double Saturday, gave arguably the best hope for a turnaround in several weeks. A solid week of hitting at home during the Tigers' upcoming six-game homestand, beginning with Monday's matchup against the Royals, could send him into the break poised for a second-half surge.

"One thing [is certain]: I won't give up," Ordonez said Sunday morning.

One of the big things Ordonez has gotten out of extra work with hitting coach Lloyd McClendon has been a better tendency to pull the ball. He showed that against the Twins, even in his ground-ball outs Sunday. That has been a major point for the Tigers, who have seen him go to the opposite field with pitches of various speeds, not just hard fastballs.

Ordonez calls it a matter of getting his timing back.

"Everything's about timing," he said. "My swing is like before, the same. But when you're late, your swing's going to be different."

His timing for opponents either couldn't be better or couldn't be much worse, depending on your short- or long-term view. While Ordonez is a .312 career hitter against the Royals with 26 home runs and 117 RBIs in 165 career games, he's batting just .154 (4-for-26) off Kansas City pitching this year with a homer and three RBIs. The good news for him is that three of those hits came during his last meeting with the Royals over Memorial Day week at Kauffman Stadium.

With both Gil Meche and Zack Greinke slated to pitch for the Royals on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, Ordonez won't face an easy slate, though he's a lifetime .310 (13-for-42) hitter with five doubles off Meche. But he'll get a left-hander in Tuesday's middle game in Bruce Chen, whom Ordonez has faced only once in his career and singled in a run.

The way Ordonez has been going for much of this year, he admits, he hasn't been able to think about the opposing pitcher as much as he'd like. He felt comfortable enough at the plate Saturday that he was ready for Francisco Liriano to go at him with a first-pitch fastball in his third plate appearance, just as he the lefty had in the previous two. Ordonez not only jumped it, he centered it.

"When you feel good, you can look for a pitch," Ordonez said.

Ordonez is feeling good. And at this point, maybe he's finally getting the results to go with it.

"He's been doing pretty good," manager Jim Leyland said. "Maybe this is something that'll get him going."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (5-7, 5.34 ERA)
Galarraga walked a season-high six hitters on Tuesday and lived to tell the tale, pitching his way out of danger to help the Tigers to a 5-3 win over the Oakland A's. "You can't walk that many. You can't," Leyland said. "That's just the way it is. It's not part of the Major League game." It was Tuesday. Galarraga limited Oakland to one run on two hits in 6 1/3 innings. He had five strikeouts. Galarraga had control problems when he faced the Royals on April 26, walking five. He got out of trouble then, too, allowing one run in six innings to get the win. He'll try for the same result -- maybe with fewer walks, though.

KC: RHP Gil Meche (4-8, 4.20 ERA)
Meche dispelled any doubts that he was fit for his previous start, pitching six innings and running up 121 pitches, his second-highest total this season. His velocity appeared strong throughout his stint and he gave up only three runs -- two earned -- but took the loss. If anything, his command was off and he gave up five walks, matching his high for the season. Meche has now lost three consecutive starts since shutting out Arizona in a complete-game effort. Against Detroit on May 25, he lasted just 2 1/3 innings and gave up four runs -- two earned. That was in Kansas City; in Detroit's Comerica Park, he's 5-1 in his career.

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Tidbits

... The Tigers will put forth a full-park press to get fans to cast online ballots for Brandon Inge in the All-Star Final Vote. Inge is one of five candidates for the final spot on the American League's All-Star roster, pitting him against Chone Figgins, Ian Kinsler, Carlos Pena and Adam Lind.
... Carlos Guillen will return to Comerica Park on Monday and start taking batting practice with the club. Guillen has been on the disabled list since the start of May with soreness in his right shoulder, but he has made notable progress in the past week or two.
... Inge is 10-for-31 vs. Meche in his career, with four doubles, a home run and six RBIs.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Tuesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 8-4, 3.54 ERA) vs. Royals (Bruce Chen, 0-2, 4.38 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Lucas French, 0-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 10-4, 2.00 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day

STARTING LINEUPS:

ROYALS

1. David DeJesus, LF
   
2. Willie Bloomquist, SS
   
3. Billy Butler, 1B
   
4. Mark Teahen, 3B
   
5. Jose Guillen, RF
   
6. Mike Jacobs, DH
   
7. Alberto Callaspo, 2B
   
8. Miguel Olivo, C
   
9. Mitch Maier, CF
   

P: Gil Meche

TIGERS

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

P: Armando Galarraga

Be gentle with me today, kids. Had to put down one of our cats today. Still kinda reeling from that.

laprimamirala wrote:

Be gentle with me today, kids. Had to put down one of our cats today. Still kinda reeling from that.

Sorry to hear about your loss, Lap. They are just like kids to us.

Inning 1
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
David DeJesus walks.

B:2 S:1 O:1 - With Willie Bloomquist batting, David
DeJesus caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to second
baseman Placido Polanco.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Willie Bloomquist swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Billy Butler swinging.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco walks.

B:2 S:1 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
second baseman Alberto Callaspo to shortstop Willie Bloomquist to first
baseman Billy Butler. Placido Polanco out at 2nd.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Mark Teahen called out on strikes.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Jose Guillen singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Mike Jacobs grounds into a force out,
first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Adam Everett. Jose Guillen
out at 2nd. Mike Jacobs to 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Alberto Callaspo grounds into a force
out, second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett. Mike
Jacobs out at 2nd.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Marcus Thames homers (7) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 1, KC 0



B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to right fielder Jose Guillen.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Gil Meche. Brandon Inge to 1st.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird walks. Brandon Inge to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Adam Everett grounds into double play,
shortstop Willie Bloomquist to second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first
baseman Billy Butler. Gerald Laird out at 2nd.

DET 1, KC 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Olivo called out on strikes, catcher Gerald Laird to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Mitch Maier flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
David DeJesus grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, KC 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Billy Butler.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jose Guillen. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Marcus Thames swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Gil Meche. Placido Polanco to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Billy Butler.

DET 1, KC 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Willie Bloomquist singles on a line
drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Willie Bloomquist out at 2nd, left
fielder Ryan Raburn to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Billy Butler flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Mark Teahen swinging.

5 for

DET 1, KC 0 after 3.5 innings