2009 Spring Training Schedule

Thursday, April 2, 2009
Inge blasts fifth homer in Tigers' win
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

LAKELAND, Fla. -- In their 2009 farewell to Marchant Stadium, the Tigers went out winners Thursday, beating the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-5.

Brandon Inge hit his team-leading fifth home run of the spring, while Miguel Cabrera had three RBIs on a double and a single in raising the Tigers' preseason record to 14-16-1.

Carlos Guillen had a double and a single for the Tigers, who collected 10 hits against Blue Jays pitchers.

Eddie Bonine started for the Tigers and pitched two scoreless innings. Right-hand reliever Ryan Perry had a 1-2-3 third inning before manager Jim Leyland turned the game over to a battery of minor-league pitchers.

The Tigers departed after the game for Atlanta, where they will play the Braves in a two-game series Friday and Saturday at Turner Field.

The team will head to Toronto afterward for their regular-season opener Monday against the Blue Jays.

04/03/09 9:40 PM ET

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Bullpen strong in Tigers' loss
Four hurlers toss scoreless relief after Miner's 4 2/3 frames

By Jon Cooper / Special to MLB.com

BRAVES 3, TIGERS 1
at Turner Field
Friday, April 3

Tigers at the plate: The Tigers managed only five hits, and did not get their first hit until Curtis Granderson hit his team-leading fifth double of the spring with two out in the sixth.

Braves at the plate: The Braves managed only four hits, but grouped them all in a three-run fourth. Starting in place of Chipper Jones, Omar Infante blasted his second homer of the spring, a two-run shot to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead. A Garret Anderson single, Jeff Francoeur double and RBI groundout from Casey Kotchman scored the final run of the inning. Yunel Escobar left the game in the first inning with a bruised right bicep, suffered when he was hit by a pickoff throw by Detroit starter Zach Miner while diving back into first base.

Tigers on the mound: Miner made his longest start of the spring, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, including the two-run homer to Infante, his fourth homer allowed this spring. The bullpen did a superb job, as relievers Bobby Seay, Ryan Perry, Brandon Lyon and Juan Rincon retired all 10 batters they faced.

Braves on the mound: Javier Vazquez looked very sharp, throwing four perfect innings. Vazquez struck out four and threw 40 pitches, 30 for strikes. Closer Mike Gonzalez threw a scoreless inning, striking out one and walking one. Jeff Bennett added a scoreless frame, while Buddy Carlyle allowed one run on two hits in his inning of work.

Up next: The Tigers will throw the trio of Rick Porcello, Armando Galarraga and Nate Robertson, as the Tigers face the Braves in another exhibition on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. ET. In his last start, Porcello allowed only only one unearned run and two hits in a spring-high five innings against Washington. Galarraga has allowed only three earned runs in his past two starts, covering 9 1/3 innings, and in his last game, struck out nine Nationals, allowing only two runs and two hits. Robertson will finish up, looking to bounce back from his last two outings that have seen him deliver six runs (five earned) in only 3 2/3 innings.

Jon Cooper is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

04/04/09 4:09 PM ET

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Tigers back Porcello in big way
Guillen homers as part of 13-hit attack in win over Braves

By Guy Curtright / Special to MLB.com

TIGERS 8, BRAVES 4
at Turner Field
Saturday, April 4

Tigers at the plate: Carlos Guillen hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run smash in the sixth inning. Miguel Cabrera was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, raising his average to .400. Gerald Laird finished at .380 after going 2-for-3 with a walk. Brandon Inge had a two-run double and a single, while Josh Anderson had two hits and a walk.

Braves at the plate: Jeff Francoeur, trying for a bounce-back season, singled and homered, ending Spring Training with a .328 average. Matt Diaz doubled after Francoeur's home run in the fifth inning, stole third and came around to score on a throwing error.

Tigers on the mound: Rookie Rick Porcello, who will start Thursday in Toronto, tuned up with two scoreless innings. Porcello allowed just one hit, and 21 of his 26 pitches were strikes. Armando Galarraga, who will start the home opener on Friday against Texas, worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and one earned run. He struck out five and walked two.

Braves on the mound: Pitching for the first time in Atlanta, Kenshin Kawakami struggled mightily with his control. He walked seven and hit a batter in 2 2/3 innings, giving up four runs. Top prospect Tommy Hanson, who will start the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, allowed four runs on seven hits in three innings.

Up next: Detroit opens the season on Monday at 7:15 p.m. ET in Toronto, with Justin Verlander starting against the Blue Jays' Roy Halladay.

Guy Curtright is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

DETROIT 8, ATLANTA 4
Tigers win spring finale

FREE PRESS STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES • April 4, 2009

Carlos Guillen homered and he, Brandon Inge and Miguel Cabrera each had two RBIs as the Tigers beat the Braves, 8-4, in the spring training finale today in Atlanta.

Rick Porcello started the game and gave up only one hit in two innings while striking out two. Armando Galarraga gave up two runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings on four hits and struck out five. Nate Robertson pitched the final 1 1/3, giving up two earned runs on a walk and a hit.

Porcello, in the starting rotation for Jeremy Bonderman, isn’t assured of keeping his spot when Bonderman is cleared to pitch.

“I’ll have to take it one day at a time and see how it goes,” said Porcello, the Tigers’ 2007 first-round pick.

Porcello struck out one and threw 21 of his 26 pitches for strikes.

“He looked like he was right at home to me,” manager Jim Leyland said. “He handled himself quite well. It was good to get him out there.”

Porcello showed no sign of being awed by the start at Turner Field.

“I tried to tell myself before the game to just go out and do what I did in my last game,” he said. “I was able to lock in. I felt good today. It was good preparation for Thursday.”

Inge had two hits, including a double, and Cabrera, Gerald Laird and Josh Anderson also had two hits.

The Tigers begin the regular season Monday night in Toronto. Justin Verlander will pitch Opening Day.

Atlanta’s Kenshin Kawakami walked seven batters and gave up four runs in 2 2-3 innings. He issued bases-loaded walks in the second and third.

Atlanta’s Jeff Francoeur had two hits, including a homer.

Here we go!!!