2010 Grapefruit League TIGERS' Schedule

Verlander solid, but Tigers fall to Braves
Staff ace allows three runs; Inge, Cabrera lead offense

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

03/26/10 3:40 PM ET

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BRAVES 5, TIGERS 3
at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Friday, March 26

Tigers at the plate: Brandon Inge and Gerald Laird each went 2-for-3, while Ramon Santiago got the Tigers' only RBI of the game. Ryan Raburn went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and left four runners on base and is batting .410 this spring.

Braves at the plate: Brian McCann went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, and Nate McLouth went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Melky Cabrera, hitting in the leadoff spot since McLouth has had such a rough spring, went 0-for-4. The first three hitters in the order -- Cabrera, Martin Prado and Chipper Jones -- went a combined 0-for-10. But the Braves went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Tigers on the mound: Justin Verlander, who gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings in his last Grapefruit League against the Phillies on March 16, scattered three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking one to bring his spring ERA to 5.63. Fu-Te Ni followed him and was charged with two earned runs while recording only one out.

Braves on the mound: Derek Lowe had a much-needed solid start against a formidable Tigers lineup. The Braves' Opening Day starter went a spring-high six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out four and walking none. Lowe's ERA dropped from 5.25 to 4.00 in Grapefruit League play. Scott Proctor and Takashi Saito each hurled a scoreless frame.

Worth noting: Braves catcher David Ross tweaked his groin during Thursday's game against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. Ross, out of the lineup on Friday, could miss a couple of games as a precaution, but Braves manager Bobby Cox said he could play if he had to. ... The Tigers got a run in the second inning on an errant throw by Jones, who barehanded a slow roller and threw way over the head of first baseman Troy Glaus. ... Cabrera recorded an assist in the fourth, when he threw out Laird trying to score on a Santiago single to end the inning.

Grapefruit League records: Braves 13-8-1; Tigers 14-9-1

Up next: The Braves will stay home on Saturday, as they'll host the Nationals at 1:05 p.m. ET for the first of back-to-back games against Washington (they'll travel to Viera, Fla., to play the Nats on Sunday, as well). Getting the nod for Atlanta will be Jair Jurrjens. The 24-year-old right-hander, free of right shoulder discomfort that plagued him earlier in camp, pitched four innings in a Minor League game on Monday, because his Sunday start was rained out. Jurrjens has given up three runs in his three Grapefruit League innings, which equates a 9.00 ERA.

Nate Robertson will try to stake his claim to a spot in the Tigers' rotation Saturday, when the Tigers host the Yankees for a 1:05 p.m. ET at Joker Marchant Stadium. Robertson has allowed four runs on 10 hits with 12 strikeouts over 13 1/3 innings in his last four appearances, but this could be his final outing before team officials make their decisions on who fills out Detroit's last two rotation spots.

Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Tigers lose, but pitching makes statement
Robertson solid in rotation audition; Zumaya dominant

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/27/10 3:50 PM ET

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YANKEES 2, TIGERS 1
at Lakeland, Fla.
Saturday, March 27

Yankees at the plate: The bulk of the Bronx Bombers' offense came from former Tigers against their ex-teammate, Nate Robertson. Curtis Granderson showed what he can do against left-handed pitchers when he doubled down the right-field line, scoring Jorge Posada to cap a two-out rally. Marcus Thames pulled New York back ahead when he turned on a Robertson fastball for a solo homer in the fourth.

Tigers at the plate: Johnny Damon haunted his former club a bit when he doubled and scored in the third inning on Magglio Ordonez's two-out single.

Yankees on the mound: Starter A.J. Burnett recovered from Detroit's third-inning run to last 6 2/3 quality frames, scattering three hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Joba Chamberlain pitched the ninth inning.

Tigers on the mound: Robertson, making perhaps his final audition for a rotation spot before the Tigers make a decision, retired seven straight Yankees between Granderson's RBI double and Thames' home run. He allowed two runs on five hits over five innings with a walk and five strikeouts. Joel Zumaya struck out the side in order in the sixth, topping out at 101 mph.

Worth noting: Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge made what might've been his first acrobatic stop of the spring, hitting the ground to stop a Ramiro Pena ground ball leading off the second.

Grapefruit League records: Yankees 10-13, Tigers 14-10-1.

Up next: The Tigers and Yankees meet again Sunday, this time at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. for a 1:05 p.m. ET rematch. Max Scherzer, who has struck out nine batters over nine innings of one-run ball in his past two outings, will take the mound for Detroit opposite Andy Pettitte. Zumaya is slated to pitch in relief for the Tigers, giving him his final test of pitching back-to-back games. Mariano Rivera is expected to pitch for New York. MLB.TV will have the broadcast.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Rain halts Tigers game in fourth inning
Before heavy downpours, pitching struggles vs. Yankees

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/28/10 4:36 PM ET

TAMPA, Fla. -- What quickly became a long afternoon for Tigers pitching came to an abrupt end when heavy rains washed out Sunday's game against the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field in the fourth inning. It came none too soon for manager Jim Leyland, who was clearly getting nervous about a wet field.

New York held an 8-0 lead with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and a chance to add on when play halted under a heavy downpour. As the Tigers left the field, Leyland could be seen in the dugout having what looked like a heated discussion with home-plate umpire Andy Fletcher.

Leyland seemingly grew agitated about the game continuing as conditions worsened during the inning. At one point in the final at-bat, a Curtis Granderson sacrifice fly, Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer seemingly slipped on the mound while delivering a pitch.

"It looked to me like he slipped a little bit, and I just got real nervous," Leyland said. "I mean, we've got a lot at stake here, and so do the Yankees."

Scherzer said later he did not slip.

Weather played a major impact in the game from the start. With local radar showing thunderstorms on the way, the Yankees and Tigers both decided to scratch their scheduled starting pitchers in favor of non-roster relievers.

Thus, instead of Scherzer, Jon Kibler started for the Tigers in what was truly a no-win situation -- a short-notice assignment against a lineup of New York regulars -- and retired only one of the seven Yankees he faced. He gave up six runs on three hits and three walks as New York sent 12 batters to the plate in the opening inning.

"I felt sorry for the poor kid," Leyland said. "Sometimes it just isn't your day."

After relief prospect Robbie Weinhardt finished out the first inning and pitched a clean second, though, in came Scherzer for the third. Likewise, the Yankees brought in starter Andy Pettitte around the same time, hoping to get in some work against big league hitters before heavier rains came.

Scherzer pitched 1 2/3 innings before finishing out the rest of his pitches in the batting cages. His second and final inning took an odd turn even before play halted when pinch-runner Eduardo Nunez mysteriously retreated back to first base on Robinson Cano's single. Third-base umpire Marty Foster mistakenly called the ball a catch at first before realizing it had dropped.

Two batters and a Granderson sacrifice fly later, play stopped. The abrupt halt led to the question whether Leyland had called for his team to leave the field. Leyland said it was the umpiring crew's call.

"I didn't call anybody off. I can't do that," Leyland said. "I think [Fletcher] was just getting ready to [call for the tarp] at the same time I was yelling that we have to do something. There's no issue at all. The umpires did nothing wrong, and neither did I.

"I probably overreacted. If anybody overreacted, it was me. But I got nervous."

Up next: The Tigers' Spring Training road trip continues Monday with their seventh and final matchup against the Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m. ET at Dunedin Stadium. Rick Porcello will get the start, with Phil Coke and Joel Zumaya also expected to pitch. Miguel Cabrera, Brandon Inge and Scott Sizemore are among those scheduled to make the trip to face Jays starter Dana Eveland.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Porcello impressive in Tigers-Jays tie
Righty allows first hit in sixth; Avila, Cabrera notch RBIs

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com

03/29/10 3:25 PM ET

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BLUE JAYS 2, TIGERS 2 (9 innings)
at Dunedin, Fla.
Monday, March 29

Blue Jays at the plate: Toronto was held hitless until the sixth inning, when shortstop John McDonald, right fielder Jose Bautista and second baseman Aaron Hill each connected for consecutive one-out hits. McDonald singled, Bautista doubled and Hill drove in both runners with a two-run double to the left-center-field gap.

Tigers at the plate: Detroit's lineup was unable to break through until the seventh, when left fielder Jeff Larish reached on a fielder's choice and then scored on a single from designated hitter Alex Avila. Center fielder Don Kelly and Avila each contibuted two hits in the game, while third baseman Brandon Inge added a double. Miguel Cabrera doubled to the center-field wall to score Scott Sizemore and tie the game in the eighth.

Blue Jays on the mound: Left-hander Dana Eveland, who is trying to work his way into Toronto's rotation or bullpen, continued his strong spring showing. Eveland allowed no runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and one walk over six innings. Lefty Jesse Carlson allowed one unearned run in one inning in his first Grapefruit League appearance since March 5 due to a left-knee issue.

Tigers on the mound: Right-hander Rick Porcello -- Detroit's No. 2 starter -- carried a no-hitter into the sixth, retiring 16 of the first 17 hitters he faced. Porcello wound up allowing two runs on three hits, finishing with two strikeouts, no walks and 11 groundouts over his six innings. He threw 72 pitches. Joel Zumaya retired two batters in the seventh in the first of back-to-back outings for the reliever.

Worth noting: Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow worked through a 52-pitch simulated game at the club's Minor League complex Monday. Morrow faced 14 batters, retiring 12. He allowed one hit, issued one walk and struck out four. Morrow had missed his previous two starts due to a sore right shoulder, but he said he felt great and remains optimistic about his chances of being ready for Opening Day. ... Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay, who suffered a left knee contusion in a collision with Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford on Friday, was a late scratch. Overbay is still feeling sore after the incident.

Grapefruit League records: Blue Jays 10-11-1; Tigers 14-10-1.

Up next: On Tuesday, the Jays will square off against the Yankees at 7:05 p.m. ET on MLB.TV at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. Left-hander Marc Rzepczynski will start for Toronto, giving him a chance to make a late push for a spot in the rotation. Bullpen candidates Casey Janssen and Shawn Camp are also scheduled to pitch.

Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman will make their final starts Tuesday before the Tigers decide their 2010 rotation and whether those two are in it. Willis will travel with the rest of the team to Sarasota, Fla., for a 1:05 p.m. matchup against the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Meanwhile, Bonderman will pitch for Triple-A Toledo at 1 p.m. at Tigertown.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Cabrera helps out Willis in Tigers' win
Left-hander struggles, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

03/30/10 4:15 PM ET

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TIGERS 10, ORIOLES 9
at Sarasota, Fla.
Tuesday, March 30

Tigers at the plate: Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run double for the first runs of the game. Miguel Cabrera launched a 1-1 pitch over the left-field fence for a two-run homer and connected for a solo shot in the fifth. Scott Sizemore homered in the fourth. Don Kelly homered off Orioles closer Michael Gonzalez in the seventh.

Orioles at the plate: Miguel Tejada went 4-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs, while Felix Pie, expected to the team's Opening Day left fielder, went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Robert Andino launched a two-run homer over the center-field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Tigers on the mound: Dontrelle Willis turned in his weakest outing this spring, yielding five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. Willis entered Tuesday's start having allowed just two earned runs all spring. Joel Zumaya came on to record the final two outs of the fifth.

Orioles on the mound: Brad Bergesen was uncharacteristically wild, issuing three first-inning walks along with a double and a homer. He settled down to retire 10 of the next 11 batters he faced before Sizemore's homer. Bergesen allowed six earned runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. Cla Meredith tossed a scoreless sixth, while Gonzalez yielded two runs on a walk and a hit.

Worth noting: Willis was named part of Detroit's rotation on Tuesday, and is slated to start the series finale at Kansas City on April 8. ... The Orioles cut eight players from camp, including right-hander Chris Tillman, who lost the fifth starter spot to David Hernandez.

Grapefruit League records: Orioles 10-16; Tigers 15-10-1

Up next: Justin Verlander will make his final tuneup before his Opening Day assignment with a Wednesday afternoon start against the Pirates. Zach Duke is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh. Game time is 1:05 p.m. ET.

Jason Berken will make his second official spring start against Boston lefty Jon Lester. With Koji Uehara likely to start the season on the disabled list, Berken is a candidate to make the Orioles' Opening Day bullpen as a long reliever. The 1:05 p.m. game, which will be shown on MLB.TV, will be at Ed Smith Stadium.

Brittany Ghiroli is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Verlander's last spring outing is roughest
Damon, Sizemore, Santiago lead offense in Tigers' victory

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/31/10 3:56 PM ET

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TIGERS 8, PIRATES 5
at Lakeland, Fla.
Wednesday, March 31

Pirates at the plate: Andy LaRoche's two-run triple fueled a five-run third inning for what is expected to be Pittsburgh's Opening Day lineup, every member of which had at least one base hit. Starting pitcher Zach Duke added an RBI double from the eighth spot in the order, while Ryan Doumit and Andrew McCutchen singled in runs.

Tigers at the plate: Detroit's balanced attack included three hits and three RBIs from Johnny Damon, who had an RBI double as part of a five-run second inning. Scott Sizemore hit his third home run of the spring, a fourth-inning solo shot. Ramon Santiago doubled in a pair of runs as part of a two-hit afternoon.

Pirates on the mound: Duke's final tuneup before his Opening Day assignment was a rough one, yielding eight runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings. Brendan Donnelly and Jack Taschner pitched a scoreless inning apiece.

Tigers on the mound: Justin Verlander tried to overpower some Pirates hitters and paid for it with his roughest outing of the spring, allowing five runs, three earned, on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. Phil Coke performed admirably in long relief with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Worth noting: Tigers left fielder Carlos Guillen left the game after two innings with a left hamstring spasm. He's considered day-to-day.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 16-10-2, Pirates 7-18-1

Up next: Pittsburgh concludes its slate of Grapefruit League games with a 1:05 p.m. ET contest against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., on Thursday. It will be the first of three consecutive games between the two Pennsylvania clubs, as both clubs will depart Florida after Thursday's game to play two more in Philadelphia. Daniel McCutchen, the Pirates' fifth starter, will make his fourth appearance (second start) of the spring. He allowed two earned runs in his four-inning start against the Blue Jays on Saturday.

The Tigers have a split-squad day for their final day of Spring Training, but the Major League roster will be staying at Joker Marchant Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Braves. Long reliever Eddie Bonine will make the start opposite former Tiger Jair Jurrjens. Meanwhile, the Tigers will send a team of mostly Minor League players and prospects to Kissimmee, Fla., where they'll take on the Astros in a 1:05 p.m. start. Ryan Ketchner, slated to start for Triple-A Toledo, will oppose Casey Daigle.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Kelly homers in spring finale
Bonine strikes out three in four scoreless innings

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

04/01/10 3:40 PM ET

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TIGERS 4, BRAVES 1
at Lakeland, Fla.
Thursday, April 1

Braves at the plate: The Braves were scoreless until Cole Miles scored as a pinch-runner for Matt Diaz, who reached on an error in the eighth. Yunel Escobar, Brian McCann, Joe Thurston, Matt Young and Adam Milligan all singled.

Tigers at the plate: Though the Tigers had no shortage of hits, they were scoreless until Don Kelly powered them ahead with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Robinzon Diaz and Adam Everett both singled and scored to build a cushion in the seventh inning. Diaz and Johnny Damon had two hits apiece.

Braves on the mound: Former Tiger Jair Jurrjens shut down his old squad for five innings until Kelly took him deep in the sixth. Jurrjens scattered six hits over six innings with a walk and four strikeouts. Jo-Jo Reyes gave up two runs, one earned, in the seventh.

Tigers on the mound: Eddie Bonine prepared for his long relief role with a starting assignment Thursday, tossing four scoreless innings on two hits with three strikeouts while effectively mixing knuckleballs with fastballs. Fu-Te Ni, Joel Zumaya and Ryan Perry each pitched a scoreless inning, with Zumaya again hitting 101 mph on the Joker Marchant Stadium radar gun.

Worth noting: Everett had struggled this spring with a 3-for-43 performance at the plate before he singled and scored.

Grapefruit League records: Braves 17-10-1, Tigers 17-10-2

Up next: When the Braves begin a two-game exhibition series against the White Sox on Friday night live on MLB.TV at 7:05 p.m. ET at Turner Field, their fans will be able to watch Tommy Hanson throw four or five innings and see Jason Heyward introduce himself to outfield grass in Atlanta. After the starters get a couple of at-bats, Freddie Freeman and some other promising prospects are expected to play.

The Tigers head north, but not back to Detroit quite yet. They'll spend a couple days in Milwaukee for two exhibition games against the Brewers at Miller Park. Max Scherzer will make his final tuneup for the regular season when he starts Friday night's game opposite Doug Davis. Game time is 8:05 p.m.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Roof plates pair as Tigers top Astros
Perez perfect at plate with single, double, RBI, walk

By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

04/01/10 4:10 PM ET

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TIGERS (SS) 4, ASTROS 2
at Kissimmee, Fla.
Thursday, April 1

Astros at the plate: Chris Johnson's terrific spring continued. The rookie, who was told Wednesday he had made the Opening Day roster, blasted his seventh home run of the spring in the second inning -- a two-run shot -- to give him 19 RBIs. Michael Bourn and Carlos Lee made cameo appearances, and both were 0-for-2. Pedro Feliz singled in the second and scored on Johnson's homer.

Tigers at the plate: The Tigers, whose lineup consisted of Minor Leaguers, were held hitless until the sixth inning. Catcher Eric Roof had a two-run single to left field in the seventh, and Hernan Perez and Justin Henry also drove in runs. Devin Thomas drew two walks and scored a pair of runs.

Astros on the mound: Right-hander Casey Daigle, who will begin the season in the bullpen at Triple-A Round Rock, threw four hitless innings, striking out three batters, to lower his spring ERA to 0.57. The Astros carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Tim Byrdak allowed a double with no outs. Jeff Fulchino threw a scoreless inning, and Brandon Lyon gave up three runs and four hits in the seventh.

Tigers on the mound: Starting pitcher Ryan Ketchner allowed three hits, including a home run, two runs and struck out three batters in four innings. Luis Marte threw two scoreless innings and struck out a pair of batters, and Zach Simons gave up one hit in a scoreless seventh inning.

Worth noting: The Tigers, who brought a split-squad to Kissimmee, fielded a starting lineup of Minor Leaguers against the Astros. Brothers Eric Roof, a catcher, and Shawn Roof, an infielder, didn't start, but came into the game as substitutes. Their father, Gene Roof, served as the Tigers' first base coach. He's Detroit's Minor League outfield and base-running coordinator.

Grapefruit League records: Astros 13-14-1, Tigers 18-10-1

Up next: The Astros return to Minute Maid Park to play a pair of exhibition games against the Toronto Blue Jays, including Friday live on MLB.TV at 7:05 p.m. CT. Brett Myers, who hasn't pitched since slightly pulling his hamstring March 25, will start for the Astros.

The Tigers head north, but not back to Detroit quite yet. They'll spend a couple days in Milwaukee for two exhibition games against the Brewers at Miller Park. Max Scherzer will make his final tuneup for the regular season when he starts Friday night opposite Doug Davis. Game time is 8:05 p.m. ET.

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Jackson, Inge solo shots aren't enough
Detroit falls despite solid showing from righty Scherzer

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

04/02/10 11:05 PM ET

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BREWERS 3, TIGERS 2
at Miller Park
Friday, April 2

Tigers at the plate: Austin Jackson led off the first inning with a home run and Brandon Inge matched the feat in the second for a quick, 2-0 lead. The Tigers had some chances late in the game but stranded a runner at third base in the sixth inning and squandered a bases-loaded, one-out rally in the eighth. Jackson and Inge finished with two hits apiece but the Tigers lost for the first time in six days.

Brewers at the plate: The Brewers did their damage in the second inning, when five straight batters reached base against Tigers starter Max Scherzer. Slumping right fielder Corey Hart bounced an RBI single through the hole between shortstop and third base, and two batters later Jody Gerut delivered a go-ahead, two-run single. Hart, who entered the night in a 1-for-29 drought, also singled in the seventh. He was the only Milwaukee batter with multiple hits.

Tigers on the mound: Scherzer threw 91 pitches in six strong innings and allowed only two hits outside of the Brewers' four-hit barrage in the second. All six hits allowed by Scherzer were singles, and the righty struck out four versus two walks. Closer Jose Valverde surrendered only an infield single in a scoreless eighth inning.

Brewers on the mound: Doug Davis, on track to start the third game of the regular season for Milwaukee, allowed only one hit besides the solo home runs. In four innings, Davis walked two, struck out four and retired the last five hitters he faced. LaTroy Hawkins, Todd Coffey, Carlos Villanueva, David Johnson and Zach Braddock each worked a scoreless inning. Johnson, a Minor Leaguer bound for Triple-A Nashville, surrendered three consecutive one-out singles but pitched out of trouble.

Worth noting: The Brewers arrived home Friday to a brand new clubhouse. The service level at Miller Park suffered significant damage in flooding last season, and both clubhouses were remodeled as part of extensive renovations over the winter. On the home side, the Brewers have a fancy new entrance, plus new custom carpeting and furniture, including plush office chairs in front of each locker. "It's like we're in the White House," left fielder Ryan Braun said.

Spring Training records: Tigers 18-11-2; Brewers 15-14-2.

Up next: Detroit will utilize two starting pitchers for the price of one Saturday when Dontrelle Willis toes the Miller Park mound in relief of Rick Porcello, who is scheduled to start the game. The much-maligned Willis has gone 2-0 with a 3.26 ERA in seven spring appearances, earning a spot in the rotation after two injury-riddled seasons to start his time in Detroit. Willis made just seven starts in both 2008 and 2009, allowing 53 earned runs in just more than 57 innings.

The Brewers will send out No. 4 starter Dave Bush for his final Spring Training tune-up when the teams meet again Saturday afternoon. Manager Ken Macha would like to get outfielder Jim Edmonds into the game if Edmonds' balky hamstring cooperates. The veteran has not played since Monday, and he'll need some at-bats if he's going to be a candidate to unseat Hart as the Opening Day right fielder.

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MIL 13, DET 12
Tigers rally from sloppy fifth inning, but still fall to Bewers in spring training finale
By Steve Kornacki
April 03, 2010, 5:15PM

MILWAUKEE -- The first half of the game was a perfect example of how the Detroit Tigers hope to play in 2010.

Rick Porcello pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings before coming out, and Magglio Ordonez and Austin Jackson each hit two-run homers that traveled over 400 feet.

But that 5-0 lead Porcello left with was gone before the fifth inning concluded. And it ended up being the ugliest inning of the spring, with the Milwaukee Brewers scoring eight runs.

Detroit rallied back but lost a three-run lead and the game, 13-12, when Robbie Weinhardt allowed four two-out runs in the bottom of the ninth.

The tying run scored when Weinhardt dropped a throw at first and his throw to the plate was too late to cut down the winning run.

The sloppiness of the fifth inning made it a game in the first place.

Shortstop Ramon Santiago let a double play ball that would have ended a scoreless inning go right through his legs to score a pair.

Right fielder Jeff Larish, who would become a hero in the late innings, appeared to call off second baseman Scott Sizemore on a ball that should’ve been caught. It ended up being a two-run single for George Kottaras.

In between those gaffes, Joel Zumaya walked a pair on nine pitches and gave up two hits in what easily was his worst outing this spring. Phil Coke also struggled, giving up three runs and getting only one out.

But the Tigers came back with four in the seventh as Ryan Raburn and infielder Dan Worth, one of the minor leaguers brought here for the weekend, each hit two-run homers.

Larish redeemed himself with a go-ahead solo homer in the ninth and one of the better plays you will see. He caught a hooking ball Jim Edmonds hit down the line after it ricocheted off the wall. Edmonds rounded the bag a bit too much while contemplating going for second base, and Larish threw him out at first.

Larish stayed focused despite facing long odds in making the team and then getting sent to Toledo and staying on for several more exhibition games. He batted .340 and made quite an impression.

“He knows how close he is,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Porcello allowed two singles and hit a batter to finish the spring with a 1.21 ERA. His next start will be Friday in the home opener against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park.

Leyland has been able to watch Porcello, 21, mature since first getting acquainted with him at spring training in 2008. Porcello was Detroit’s first-round pick in 2007 and spent one year at Class A Lakeland before breaking into the majors.

He won 14 games and finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting last season. Porcello now is the No. 2 starter behind Justin Verlander.

“It’s been a fun thing,” Leyland said. “He was not your ordinary 20-year-old. He’s just different, and that’s why we drafted him where we did. ... But he couldn’t even get a beer the first year.”

Dontrelle Willis came in behind Porcello in order to line up with pitching on the fifth day. His first regular-season start is Thursday in Kansas City against the Royals.

Willis gave up one run on five hits in three innings and didn’t walk anybody. He had walked seven in his previous 8 1/3 innings.

Detroit ended the exhibition season at 18-12-2 and will work out Sunday in Kansas City before Monday’s season opener. Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke starts for the Royals against Verlander, who finished third in Cy Young voting.

“Now, the fastballs are going to be a little bit better and the curveballs will break a bit better,” Leyland said. “Players are still trying to tune up in exhibitions. There’s not the same intensity as regular season games.”

And the players can’t wait to kick it into high gear.

Santiago, who had a two-run double in the ninth, smiled and said, “It will be nice to go to Kansas City and play for the real thing.”

Odds and ends

• Leyland said he intended to rest third baseman Brandon Inge on Saturday, but changed his mind because Inge wanted to test his knees in a day game after a night game. He had offseason surgery to repair both tendinitis-plagued knees. Inge made two of his better plays of the spring, charging balls hit near the line to throw out speedy Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun.
  
• Designated hitter Carlos Guillen was back in the lineup after resting a tweaked left hamstring and went 1-for-4 with one walk.
  
• Ryan Perry has an acoustic guitar among his getaway day plane carry-on items. “Bruce Pickens (bullpen catcher) is helping me learn how to play this, but I’m pretty rough right now,” Perry said.
  

good job Kornacki, you have the Tigers losing to the Bewers, and not the Brewers.

Five homers not enough for Tigers
Brewers rally with four in ninth to win exhibition finale

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

04/03/10 6:00 PM ET

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BREWERS 13, TIGERS 12
at Miller Park
Saturday, April 3

Tigers at the plate: Jeff Larish snapped a 9-9 tie with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, one of five homers for the visiting Tigers in the game. Austin Jackson was hit by a pitch leading off the game and scored on Magglio Ordonez's two-run home run. Ramon Santiago was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning and scored on Jackson's shot to straightaway center field. Ryan Raburn and Danny Worth added two-run shots in the seventh to tie it, and Larish's homer in the ninth gave Detroit a split in the two-game exhibition series. Jackson, Detroit's rookie center fielder, had two hits in the game and finished the spring with three home runs and a .361 batting average.

Brewers at the plate: The Brewers took advantage of a Tigers error to score eight runs in the fifth inning and of another miscue in the ninth to win. Craig Counsell hit what should have been a game-ending grounder to first base, but Tigers pitcher Robbie Weinhardt fumbled an underhand toss and Corey Hart scampered home with the winning run. Shut out on two hits through the game's first four innings, the Brewers sent 12 men to the plate in the fifth and scored eight runs after Tigers shortstop Santiago muffed a potential double-play grounder that should have ended a scoreless inning. Casey McGehee, who led off the frame with a groundout back to the pitcher's mound, delivered a go-ahead two-run double his second time up. George Kottaras, who entered earlier in the inning as a pinch-runner, added insurance when he dropped a two-run single between the second baseman and right fielder. Catcher Gregg Zaun had two hits in the game and finished the spring with a .477 batting average.

Tigers on the mound: Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya endured an awful final spring outing, as all five batters he faced reached base and eventually scored amid the Brewers' big rally. Zumaya was charged with three earned runs on two hits and two walks. He should have been out of the inning without allowing a run, but a double-play grounder rolled through Santiago's legs at shortstop and allowed the first two runs to score. Left-hander Phil Coke followed Zumaya and didn't fare much better, allowing three earned runs in one-third of an inning. Milwaukee's scoring barrage came after Detroit starter Rick Porcello had departed a fine outing; he allowed only two singles and didn't walk a batter in 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

Brewers on the mound: Starter Dave Bush worked the first five innings and surrendered five runs on seven hits. He aided the Tigers' cause with a pair of hit batsmen, and both runners scored on home runs. Bush led the Majors last season by plunking 15 batters. He was followed by left-hander Chris Narveson, who remains a candidate to be the Brewers' fifth starter and capped a perfect spring with a scoreless inning of relief. Narveson didn't allow a run in five Cactus League outings spanning 13 innings. Zach Braddock notched his third spring win when the Brewers rallied in the bottom of the ninth.

Worth noting: By Saturday, the Brewers had repaired a block of lights in the center field matrix scoreboard after Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera launched a batting-practice baseball off the structure prior to Friday's game. It worked for the game's first seven innings but then went dark in the eighth. The Brewers are planning to replace their 10-year-old scoreboard next winter.

Spring Training records: Tigers 18-12-2; Brewers 16-14-2.

Up next: Justin Verlander, who finished third in the voting last year for the American League Cy Young, will toe the mound in opposition of the pitcher who won that award, Kansas City right-hander Zack Greinke, on Monday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Greinke posted ridiculous numbers in 2009, finishing with a 2.16 ERA and 242 strikeouts in 229 innings. He has seemed a bit more human in Spring Training, allowing 10 earned runs in 21 innings, but that's a circumstance shared by Verlander (13 earned runs, 21 innings).

Two of the top young right-handers in the National League will square off at Miller Park on Monday at 1:10 p.m. CT, with Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo and Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez both making their first Opening Day starts. Pitching in the second game of the season in 2009, both delivered inspired first outings. Jimenez allowed no runs on four hits in seven innings of a 3-0 shutout victory over the D-backs, and Gallardo picked up the win and belted a three-run homer off Randy Johnson in a 4-2 victory against the Giants.

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Quote :

gave Detroit a split in the two-game exhibition series.

I don't think losing both games is a split.

just read today that Tigers finished 3rd overall in Grapefriuit League AL...
NY Newsday chooses Sox to take AL Central, Tigers 3rd in Central....
go Tigers 2010 - - -forget these "experts!"