GDT: 4/25/10 - DET (10-8) at TEX (7-10) - 3:05 p.m. ET

Lewis, Porcello headed in different directions

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com

Rangers starter Colby Lewis had to relocate his residence in order to find his location on the mound.

Now, things all seem to be moving his way.

Entering his fourth start of the season, Lewis will take on Rick Porcello and the Tigers riding a hot streak. The right-hander has two victories in his first three starts and opponents are hitting .206 against him. Additionally, batters are 1-for-15 against him with runners in scoring position. Lewis, once the crown jewel of the Rangers' organization, pitched in Japan last season.

"I just wanted to pick up where I left off last year in Japan," Lewis said. "Just have quality starts and keeping my team in the ballgame. This is exactly what I wanted to do coming back."

Lewis allowed three runs in five innings in his last start against the Red Sox and left with a 6-2 lead. The Red Sox rallied for a 7-6 victory. In all, Lewis walked two, struck out five and threw 105 pitches in the outing. He has now walked 10 in 17 1/3 innings after walking 19 in 176 1/3 innings in Japan last year.

"I'm just commanding all my pitches," Lewis said. "Back when I was pitching here, I was a one-pitch guy and even then, I couldn't locate my fastball all the time. I've developed more pitches and can throw them for strikes."

Lewis is 5-0 with a 3.75 ERA in his last seven starts and two relief appearances at the Ballpark in Arlington. He has only one career appearance against Detroit, tossing one inning of scoreless relief on Sept. 2, 2007, but made 24 starts for the Tigers' Triple-A club in 2006.

"I feel like I've been throwing the ball well," he said. "I've been able to command my pitches and find the strike zone."

As for Porcello, he is still learning the game at the big league level. His sinker, the pitch that earned him plenty of groundouts and efficient innings last year, has been less consistent so far this year, and it has cost him. He's allowed 18 hits and nine earned runs over 10 1/3 innings during his last two starts.

He does have history, albeit brief, on his side. Porcello had a 6.23 ERA in four April starts last season, but finished the year with a mark of 3.96. He's never faced the Rangers.

"Again, I don't know why it's not there, but it's not sinking quite as much as it was at the end of last year," he said. "I'll figure it out, though."

Rangers: Smoak makes unique debut
Elvis Andrus and Michael Young are the only Rangers to have started every game this year.

... Rookie first baseman Justin Smoak drew two walks in his Major League debut Friday. Only one other Rangers player did that, Rob Maurer on Sept. 8, 1991. Maurer played 21 games in his career. Smoak went and 0-for-3 with a walk on Saturday.

Tigers: Bullpen heating up
Joel Zumaya matched a career high with five strikeouts on Saturday. He first accomplished the feat on June 14, 2006. The Tigers' bullpen tossed six scoreless innings on Saturday and has now posted a 0.39 ERA over the last seven games.

... Eddie Bonine improved to 2-0 after throwing three scoreless innings of relief Saturday. He has now held opponents scoreless in seven of his eight appearances this season.

... Adam Everett left the game after the third inning with a mild right hamstring strain. He is day-to-day.

Worth Noting
Vladimir Guerrero loves hitting in Texas. The slugger has hit safely in 51 of 58 career games at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. He went 3-for-4 with three RBIs on Saturday.



Pitching matchup
DET: RHP Rick Porcello (1-1, 6.46 ERA)
Three starts into Porcello's second Major League season, success has been anything but easy, reminding many that even with a big league campaign under his belt, he's still a 21-year-old right-hander learning the game at this level. His sinker, the pitch that earned him a plethora of groundouts and efficient innings last year, has been less consistent so far this year, and it has cost him in the hit column, including 18 hits and nine earned runs over 10 1/3 innings in his last two starts. However, it's easy to forget that he owned a 6.23 ERA in four April starts last year. Porcello has never faced the Rangers.


RHP Colby Lewis (2-0, 3.12 ERA)
Lewis allowed three runs in five innings in his last start against the Red Sox on Tuesday. He left with a 6-2 lead, but the Red Sox rallied for a 7-6 victory. Lewis walked two, struck out five and threw 105 pitches. He has now walked 10 in 17 1/3 innings. He walked 19 in 176 1/3 innings in Japan last year. Opponents are hitting .206 off Lewis, including .222 by left-handed hitters and .185 by right-handed hitters. They are 1-for-15 against him with runners in scoring position. Lewis was with the Tigers organization in 2006, making 24 starts at Triple-A Toledo and two relief appearances for the Tigers at the Major League level. Lewis is 5-0 with a 3.75 ERA in his last seven starts and two relief appearances at the Ballpark in Arlington.



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday, April 26:
Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 7.20 ERA)) at Rangers (LHP Matt Harrison (0-1, 4.24 ERA)), 8:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Tuesday, April 27:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (1-1, 6.95 ERA)) vs Twins (LHP Francisco Liriano (2-0, 1.29 ERA)), 7:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Wednesday, April 28:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 2.63 ERA)) vs Twins (RHP Scott Baker (2-2, 4.81 ERA)), 7:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit
Jackson, A, CF
Santiago, SS
Damon, DH
Cabrera, M, 1B
Boesch, RF
Inge, 3B
Kelly, LF
Avila, C
Sizemore, 2B

Texas
Andrus, El, SS
Young, M, 3B
Murphy, Dv, LF
Guerrero, DH
Cruz, N, RF
Smoak, 1B
Treanor, C
Blanco, A, 2B
Borbon, CF

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Austin Jackson homers (1) on a fly ball to center field.

DET 1, TEX 0


B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to left fielder David Murphy.

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Johnny Damon doubles (7) on a line drive to center fielder Julio Borbon. Ramon Santiago scores.

DET 2, TEX 0


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge lines out to left fielder David Murphy.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Don Kelly singles on a line drive to right fielder Nelson Cruz. Johnny Damon scores. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

DET 3, TEX 0


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Avila grounds into a force out, shortstop Elvis Andrus to second baseman Andres Blanco. Don Kelly out at 2nd.

DET 3, TEX 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Elvis Andrus grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Michael Young singles on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
David Murphy homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Michael Young scores.

DET 3, TEX 2



B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Vladimir Guerrero singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
With Nelson Cruz batting, Vladimir Guerrero caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alex Avila to second baseman Scott Sizemore.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Nelson Cruz singles on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Justin Smoak flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET 3, TEX 2 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Scott Sizemore singles on a line drive to center fielder Julio Borbon.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Austin Jackson doubles (5) on a line drive to right fielder Nelson Cruz. Scott Sizemore to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder David Murphy. Scott Sizemore scores. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

DET 4, TEX 2



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

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Johnny Damon called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
shortstop Elvis Andrus to second baseman Andres Blanco to first baseman
Justin Smoak. Ramon Santiago out at 2nd.

DET 4, TEX 2 after 1.5 innings

go Tigers!!

come on Porcello, you are better than this

Porcello gonna be pulled soon!

snatching defeat from the jaws of victory again, are we???? Come on guys!!

they'd better, i think...

i thought porcello was a better pitcher than he's been doing - what's wrong?

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Matt Treanor singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Andres Blanco singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly. Matt Treanor to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Julio Borbon singles on a line drive to left fielder Don Kelly. Matt Treanor to 3rd. Andres Blanco to 2nd.

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

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Elvis Andrus walks. Matt Treanor scores. Andres Blanco to 3rd. Julio Borbon to 2nd.

DET 4, TEX 3



B:1 S:1 O:0 - Michael Young doubles (2) on a fly ball
to center fielder Austin Jackson. Andres Blanco scores. Julio Borbon
scores. Elvis Andrus scores.

TEX 6, DET 4

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
David Murphy on foul tip.

msgol wrote:

i thought porcello was a better pitcher than he's been doing - what's wrong?

no movement on his slider... and that was his out pitch...

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Vladimir Guerrero grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

or is he settling down now?

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Nelson Cruz batting, wild pitch by Rick Porcello, Michael Young to 3rd.

spoke too soon

now to stop the bleeding....

msgol wrote:

or is he settling down now?

It looks like it. They have Dontrell ready if needed.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Nelson Cruz swinging.

TEX 6, DET 4 after 2 innings

i have my rally song on...

Tigs have 4 rookies playing today.

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch called out on .

so now

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

oh well - - too late...but still early in the game

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Don Kelly flies out to center fielder Julio Borbon.

TEX 6, DET 4 after 2.5 innings

msgol wrote:

oh well - - too late...but still early in the game

very true, they get most of their runs in the later innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Justin Smoak grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.