GDT: 6/13/08 - DET (29-37) VS LAD (31-34) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Armando Galarraga has fingered a prominent reason for his sudden success this season.

"I have twice the break on my pitches from last year," Galarraga said.

Last year in the Texas system, Galarraga went a combined 11-8 at Double-A Frisco, Triple-A Oklahoma and the Rangers, with an ERA over 5.00.

This season, his 5-2 record and 3.70 ERA lead the rotation. Before coming up to the Tigers in April as an injury replacement for Dontrelle Willis, Galarraga won both his starts at Triple-A Toledo, giving up three earned runs in 12 innings.

"This year, I am prepared to pitch [in the Majors]," Galarraga said. "I needed to work hard and concentrate more, and I did."

Throwing his slider for a strike has helped. In his 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball in his last start against the Indians, he threw 17 of his 22 sliders for strikes. But in his two-run sixth inning, he threw just four of eight sliders over the plate.

"When he finishes his slider, he's got a good one," manager Jim Leyland said. "That's key for him."

Galarraga takes the hill as the Tigers start Round 2 of Interleague Play. He earned the win in his Interleague debut in mid-May against the Diamondbacks, which stands as Detroit's only Interleague win this season.

He'll face Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe, who grew up in nearby Dearborn, Mich., and graduated from Edsel Ford High School.

The Tigers face the Dodgers for the first time since 2005.

The two teams have played twice in recent Interleague Play. The Dodgers swept a three-game series at Comerica Park in 2003 and won two out of three in Los Angeles two years later.

Joe Torre's Dodgers have a sub-.500 record and have gone 4-6 in their past 10 games, heading into Thursday. After a three-game set with the Dodgers, the Tigers travel to San Francisco and San Diego, teams with some of the worst records in baseball.

The sweep of the White Sox provided a good start. Now, the Tigers have a realistic chance during Interleague Play to climb toward a .500 record.


Interleague record: 101-95 overall, 1-2 in 2008

2008 Interleague schedule
• May 16 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-3
• May 17 at Diamondbacks: Won, 3-2
• May 18 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-0
• June 13-15 vs. Dodgers
• June 16-18 at Giants
• June 20-22 at Padres
• June 24-26 vs. Cardinals
• June 27-29 vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (5-2, 3.70 ERA)
Galarraga just missed his second straight quality start against the Indians. He gave up two earned runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn his first career win at Comerica Park. He had his slider working, and when he does, he can be quite impressive. The Tigers, meanwhile, improved to 7-2 when he starts. Galarraga has never faced the Dodgers, but he did perform well in his only Interleague start. He held the Diamondbacks to two runs over six innings.

LAD: RHP Derek Lowe (4-5, 4.15 ERA)
It's a homecoming for Michigan native Derek Lowe, who also is coming off a wild win over the Cubs. The Dodgers were losing when Lowe left the game, even though he had taken a no-hitter into the fifth inning. But a rare five-run rally against Carlos Zambrano gave Lowe a second consecutive win and fourth consecutive quality start. Lowe is 7-1 with a 1.82 ERA lifetime against the Tigers.


Tidbits

Injured outfielder Clete Thomas will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo on Friday. ... The Tigers have outrighted the contract of reliver Francisco Cruceta to Toledo. ... Injured reliever Joel Zumaya visted Comerica Park. He will make his next rehab appearance at Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. ... Alex Avlia, the Tigers' fifth-round pick in this year's First-Year Player Draft, worked out and took batting practice on the field at Comerica Park.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next
• Sat., June 14: Tigers (RHP Eddie Bonine, Major League debut, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers (RHP Brad Penny, 5-8, 5.38 ERA), 3:55 p.m. ET

• Sun., June 15: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (4-6, 5.88 ERA)) vs. Dodgers ( LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 4.50 ERA)), 1:05 PM ET

• Mon., June 16: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (3-9, 4.65 ERA)) at Giants (RHP Tim Lincecum (8-1, 1.99 ERA)), 10:15 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS

LA Dodgers AVG
Pierre, CF .282
Young, LF .288
Ethier, RF .288
Kent, 2B .245
Martin, C .314
Loney, 1B .289
LaRoche, 3B .333
Sweeney, DH .125
Berroa, SS .167


Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .240
:hollimon: Hollimon, M, SS .000
Guillen, 3B .304
Ordonez, RF .308
Cabrera, 1B .278
Larish, DH .138
:thames: Thames, LF .238
Inge, C .226
:ryan: Raburn, 2B .190

I hate to say what tomorrow is gang (date-wise) so won't even say it.

Well it has to be good luck for somebody tomorrow!

I guess that's a good way of looking at it!

Ugh. Interleague again...

This should make some of you have a problem as to who to cheer for... cat...

• Mon., June 16: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (3-9, 4.65 ERA)) at Giants (RHP Tim Lincecum (8-1, 1.99 ERA)), 10:15 p.m. ET

laprimamirala wrote:

I guess that's a good way of looking at it!

Fri 13th has always been a good day, or just another day for me! Go team - beat them Dodgers!

87 degrees for a high; Heat Advisory in Effect.


Chance of rain and T storms; but it looks like the bulk of it and the best chance of severe weather arrives around 10 pm Friday Night!


Let's hope for a fast game;

Tigers sweeping the Dodgers!


OOOOOO YEAH!

Stat of the day: Number of regular season wins the Tigers have against the Dodgers all time...1.

I'd be very surprised if the game isn't rained out.

bobrob2004 wrote:

I'd be very surprised if the game isn't rained out.

Same.

That Lowe kid, hes pretty good against the Tigers... and we arent the greatest against lefties, so we may be looking at trouble.

But Go Tigers all the while!!

unbelievable! no rain here!

Delayed Start: Rain

As to the wierd lineup, on motownsports, a person said:

Quote :

Leyland just said on the radio that Renteria was a surprise scratch
with a sore peck, and that for Polanco, this was a scheduled off day to
try and keep him fresh and hot. Leyland said that this isn't the lineup
he really would have liked to run out there today, but situations like
health and the day game tomorrow forced his hand a bit.

I think they're ready to go! one hour delay

Tigers Weekly had a cute spot about the players and their sons. Got to see Magglito! but he isn't so little anymore! a teenager now!

Game on!

Pierre - grounds out

Young - great tumbling catch by Thames for out 2

1 - 2 - 3 for Galla.

Ethier - grounds out
1-2-3 for Gala!

Hollimon batting 2nd? hmm, thats interesting.

:curtis: grounds out

TigersGirl wrote:

Hollimon batting 2nd? hmm, thats interesting.

Yea, wierd lineup tonight

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

TigersGirl wrote:

Hollimon batting 2nd? hmm, thats interesting.

Yea, wierd lineup tonight

it was strange yesterday too.

:hollimon: pops out

Maggs!! at bat

single

Guillen steals