2010 Grapefruit League TIGERS' Schedule

ST RECORD (W-L-T): 18-12-2

March/April

Click on game score to see boxscore.

Mar 02 - FSC at DET (Lakeland) - Win 13-1 (WP - Coke) (B game)
Mar 03 - DET at TOR (Dunedin) - Win 7-6 (WP - Schlereth, S: Weinhardt)
Mar 04 - TOR at DET (Lakeland) - Lose 9-7 (LP: Miner)
Mar 05 - HOU at DET (Lakeland) - ASTROS 4, @TIGERS 1 (7 inn.) (B game)
Mar 05 - HOU at DET (Lakeland) - Win 17-7 (WP: Bonine)
Mar 06 - BAL at DET (Lakeland) - Win 9-5 (WP: Verlander)
Mar 07 - DET at TOR (Dunedin) - Lose 5-8 (LP: Bonderman)
Mar 08 - ATL at DET (Lakeland) - Lose 4-12 (LP: Scherzer)
Mar 09 - DET at WAS (Viera) - Win 9-4 (WP: Porcello)
Mar 10 - NYY at DET (Lakeland) - Lose 8-9 (LP: Dumatrait)
Mar 11 - DET at PHI (Clearwater) - Lose 0-4 (LP: Verlander)
Mar 12 - PHI at DET (Lakeland) - Canceled: Rain
Mar 13 - DET at NYM (Port St. Lucie) (SS) - Lose 1-9 (LP: Perry)
Mar 13 - NYY at DET (Lakeland) (SS) - Win 6-2 (WP: Willis)
*Mar 14 - TB at DET (Lakeland) - Win 9-6 (WP: Zumaya, S: Weinhardt)
Mar 15 - TOR at DET (Lakeland) - Win 10-7 (WP: Gonzalez, En, S: Rainwater)
Mar 16 - DET at PHI (Clearwater) - Lose 1-6 (LP: Verlander)
Mar 17 - DET at PIT (Bradenton) - Win 6-3 (WP: Robertson, S: Rainwater)
Mar 18 - HOU at DET (Lakeland) - Win 5-4 (WP: Sborz)
Mar 19 - DET at NYY (Tampa) (SS) - Lose 2-6 (LP: Porcello)
Mar 19 - DET at ATL (Disney World) (SS) - Tie 4-4 in 10 innings
Mar 20 - PHI at DET (Lakeland) - Win 3-0 (WP: Ni, S: Perry)
Mar 21 - DET at NYY (Tampa) - Canceled: Rain
Mar 22 - DET at TOR (Dunedin) - Win 8-2 (WP: Robertson, N)
Mar 23 - WAS at DET (Lakeland) - Win 6-2 (WP: Scherzer)
Mar 24 - Off Day
Mar 25 - TOR at DET (Lakeland) (SS) - Win 5-1 (WP: Willis)
Mar 25 - DET at WAS (Viera) (SS) - Win 8-2 (WP: Bonderman)
Mar 26 - DET at ATL (Disney World) - Lose 3-5 (LP: Verlander)
Mar 27 - NYY at DET (Lakeland) - Lose 1-2 (LP: Robertson, N)
Mar 28 - DET at NYY (Tampa) - Canceled: Rain
Mar 29 - DET at TOR (Dunedin) - Tie 2-2
Mar 30 - DET at BAL (Sarasota) - Win 10-9 (WP: Rainwater, S: Weinhardt)
Mar 31 - PIT at DET (Lakeland) - Win 8-5 (WP: Verlander, S: Valverde)
Apr 01 - DET at HOU (Kissimmee) (SS) - Win 4-2 (WP: Marte, S: Gayhart)
Apr 01 - ATL at DET (Lakeland) (SS) - Win 4-1 (WP: Zumaya, S: Weinhardt)
Apr 02 - DET at MIL* - (Miller Park) - 8:10 PM - Lose 2-3 (LP: Scherzer)
Apr 03 - DET at MIL* - (Miller Park) - 2:10 PM - Lose 12-13 (LP: Weinhardt)

All dates, times and teams are tentative and subject to change. All times ET.
"B GAMES" are exhibition games and do not count in the team W/L record.
* - Daylight Saving Time begins

Tigers National Broadcast Schedule



Date _______Time ET______Away__________ Home ________Station

Mon, Mar 15.....	1:05 pm.....	Toronto Blue Jays........	Detroit Tigers.............	MLBN
Tue, Mar 16	1:05 pm	Detroit Tigers	Philadelphia Phillies	MLBN (Tape delay)
Thu, Mar 18	1:05 pm	Houston Astros	Detroit Tigers	MLBN
Sat, Mar 20	1:05 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	Detroit Tigers	MLBN
Fri, Mar 26	1:05 pm	Detroit Tigers	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Mon, May 10	7:05 pm	New York Yankees	Detroit Tigers	ESPN
Sat, May 22	7:10 pm	Detroit Tigers	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 pm	Minnesota Twins	Detroit Tigers	FOX
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 pm	Detroit Tigers	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Wed, Aug 18	7:05 pm	Detroit Tigers	New York Yankees	ESPN
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 pm	Detroit Tigers	Chicago White Sox	FOX

Grapefruit League prep a walk in the park
Tigers show no mercy against Florida Southern College

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/02/10 3:55 PM EST

Box >

TIGERS 13, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 1
at Lakeland, Fla.
Tuesday, March 2

Tigers at the plate: Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen hit back-to-back doubles in their only at-bats as part of four straight hits in a two-run first inning. Ryan Strieby replaced Cabrera and padded the lead with a long home run into the wind in left field. Eric Roof doubled in two more runs in a three-run fourth.

Mocs at the plate: Colin Kaline, grandson of Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline, singled twice and walked against the team he grew up following as a kid. Wade Kirkland, who won Sunshine State Conference Hitter of the Week, hit a long double off the center-field fence.

Tigers on the mound: Starter Phil Coke allowed a hit and a walk but struck out three in his two innings of work. Eddie Bonine worked two quick scoreless innings, allowing a single and a strikeout.

Mocs on the mound: Sidearming starter Gus Schlosser gave up two runs in the opening frame, followed by Daniel Tillman holding the Tigers hitless in the second. Jake Guengerich tossed two innings before Brandon Weber pitched a scoreless fifth.

Worth noting: Tigers second baseman Scott Sizemore did not make the start at second base for Detroit as a precaution after an early-morning downpour dampened the field. Sizemore, who's recovering from offseason ankle surgery, is expected to start Wednesday against the Blue Jays. ... Tigers outfielder Brennan Boesch left the game after a wind-blown fly ball hit him in the face. He received stitches for a laceration above his eye.

Up next: The race for rotation spots on the Tigers' pitching staff begins with three potential starters going against the Blue Jays in Detroit's Grapefruit League opener on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET start in Dunedin, Fla. Jeremy Bonderman will make the start against Toronto, which will send lefty Ricky Romero to the mound. Fellow potential Tigers starters Nate Robertson and Armando Galarraga will pitch in relief, as will bullpen candidates Ryan Perry, Brad Thomas and Daniel Schlereth.

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

Bonderman sharp in Tigers' victory
Fellow rotation hopeful Robertson struggles in win vs. Jays

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com

03/03/10 4:20 PM EST

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TIGERS 7, BLUE JAYS 6
at Dunedin, Fla.
Wednesday, March 3

Tigers at the plate: In the second inning, Detroit third baseman Brent Dlugach took advantage of the windy conditions at Dunedin Stadium, sending a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right field for a solo home run. Dlugach added a run-scoring single in the fourth. Center fielder Austin Jackson -- acquired in the offseason trade that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees -- singled and drew a walk for the Tigers. Miguel Cabrera added a bases-loaded RBI single in the fifth.

Blue Jays at the plate: Toronto's first run of 2010 was scored by center fielder Vernon Wells, who crossed home plate in the fourth inning on a double off the bat of new catcher John Buck. Outfielder Chris Lubanski launched a three-run homer to put the Jays ahead, 6-5, in the eighth inning. Jeremy Reed and Raul Chavez also had an RBI each for the Jays.

Tigers on the mound: Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman, who is auditioning for a spot in the Tigers' rotation, turned in an uneventful performance in his Grapefruit League debut. Bonderman surrendered no runs on one hit and ended with three strikeouts. He threw 34 pitches, including 17 for strikes. Left-hander Nate Robertson gave up two runs on three hits and issued three walks in 1 1/3 innings for Detroit.

Blue Jays on the mound: Left-hander Ricky Romero, who is a candidate to start on Opening Day for the Blue Jays, logged two innings in his spring debut for Toronto. Romero finished with 29 pitches, including 17 for strikes, and allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout. Lefty Dana Eveland also yielded one unearned run in two innings for the Jays.

Worth noting: The Blue Jays want to implement more of a "small-ball" approach this season, and it showed in the first inning. After putting two runners on base to open the frame, Toronto successfully converted a double-steal, moving both runners into scoring position. ... In the fourth inning, the Tigers summoned right-hander Ryan Perry from the bullpen with one out and the bases loaded. Perry quickly escaped the jam, inducing a grounder to shortstop to create inning-ending double play.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 1-0; Blue Jays 0-1

Up next: Right-hander Rick Porcello, who won 14 games as a rookie in 2009 for the Tigers, is scheduled to start against the Blue Jays on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Detroit also plans on giving innings to Armando Galarraga, Max Scherzer, Dontrelle Willis and Jose Valverde, among others, against Toronto in the tilt at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek -- a major part of the December trade that sent ace Roy Halladay to the Phillies -- will make his Blue Jays debut against the Tigers on Thursday in Lakeland, Fla. Lefty Marc Rzepczynski, who is in the mix for a rotation job, will get the start for Toronto.

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

Youth rules for Tigers in loss to Jays
Porcello tosses scoreless start; Jackson an on-base machine

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/04/10 3:55 PM EST

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BLUE JAYS 9, TIGERS 7
at Lakeland, Fla.
Thursday, March 4

Blue Jays at the plate: Consecutive singles from Mike McCoy, Jeremy Reed, Brian Dopirak and Randy Ruiz keyed a three-run third-inning to account for Toronto's early scoring. Dopirak added another single in the fifth, while McCoy added a walk.

Tigers at the plate: Magglio Ordonez's RBI single capped a two-out rally in the third to open Detroit's scoring before Audy Ciriaco singled in two runs in the fourth. Adam Everett added an RBI single in the fifth. Leadoff man Austin Jackson walked twice and singled.

Blue Jays on the mound: Starter Marc Rzepczynski tossed a pair of scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout before the Tigers roughed up Ray Gonzalez for four runs on five hits in his two innings. Top prospect Kyle Drabek made his Jays debut with two runs on three hits over two innings with three strikeouts. Offseason trade acquisition Brett Wallace earned his first hit for the Jays with a seventh-inning single.

Tigers on the mound: Starter Rick Porcello retired all six batters he faced before the Jays welcomed Max Scherzer to the American League with their three-run third, part of six hits he allowed over two innings. Dontrelle Willis made a good first impression in his Spring Training debut with two scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts.

Worth noting: Drabek is the son of Doug Drabek, who pitched for Tigers manager Jim Leyland when he was in Pittsburgh from 1987-92. Leyland said he talked with the younger Drabek, who he remembers as a little kid.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 1-1, Blue Jays 1-1.

Up next: The Tigers and the Astros have a full day of baseball ahead of them Friday with games in the morning and afternoon. Jacob Turner, Detroit's first-round Draft pick, will make his first game appearance in a Detroit uniform when he starts the "B" game at 10 a.m. ET on Kaline Field in the Tigertown complex. Fellow highly touted Draft pick Andy Oliver will follow him for Detroit. Felipe Paulino will start for Houston.

Later, Eddie Bonine will start the regular game at 1 p.m. at Joker Marchant Stadium opposite Wandy Rodriguez.

Brandon Morrow will make his Jays debut and start his candidacy for a rotation spot Friday, when Toronto faces the Phillies on Friday at 1:05 p.m. in Dunedin, Fla. Cole Hamels is slated to start for Philadelphia. Brad Mills will pitch in a "B" game at 10 a.m. in Clearwater opposite Jamie Moyer.

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

Bonine gets Tigers off to good start in win
Club goes batty vs. Astros following righty's solid outing

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/05/10 4:31 PM EST

Box >

TIGERS 17, ASTROS 7
at Lakeland, Fla.
Friday, March 5

Astros at the plate: A doubles barrage powered Houston's attack. Back-to-back two-baggers from Geoff Blum and Lance Berkman opened the scoring in the first inning, then Jason Michaels doubled and scored in the fourth for his fifth hit of the spring. Chris Johnson had three doubles, including a two-run liner in the sixth, in his 3-for-4 performance.

Tigers at the plate: Gerald Laird's effort at a rebound at the plate took a positive step with a double and two runs scored, including some deft baserunning to stretch out extra bases. Carlos Guillen doubled twice, driving in Magglio Ordonez in the opening inning and scoring on Laird's double in the fifth. Don Kelly pushed Detroit into double digits with a mammoth drive off the batting cages in right field for his first home run of the year.

Astros on the mound: Starter Wandy Rodriguez battled his command a bit and saw both of his walks come around to score in a three-run, two-inning performance. Tim Byrdak went through the middle of the Tigers' order unblemished in the third before two errors saddled Gustavo Chacin with a four-run fifth. Former Tiger Shane Loux pitched a scoreless seventh before fellow ex-Tiger Yorman Bazardo gave up three in the eighth.

Tigers on the mound: Starter Eddie Bonine worked on his knuckleball and paid for some flat ones, giving up three doubles to the outfield fence over two innings, but he escaped with a lone run allowed to further his case for a rotation spot. Phil Coke retired his first four batters before Michaels doubled and scored on back-to-back singles in the fourth. Joel Zumaya had an easy fifth inning, but struggled in a three-run sixth set up by a leadoff hit-by-pitch and a walk.

Worth noting: The Astros apparently weren't paying attention in the second inning when Adam Everett hit into a double play. The Astros left the field, thinking it was the third out when it was just the second out. The Tigers appeared similarly confused. Home-plate umpire and Polk County resident Jerry Layne called them back onto the field after a moment to finish out the inning.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 2-1, Astros 1-1.

Up next: Justin Verlander will make his first game appearance since his 19-win season last year when he takes the mound Saturday for a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium. Given his performances so far in camp, he could be in midseason form already, especially with his velocity. Brad Thomas, Ryan Perry and Jay Sborz are scheduled to pitch in relief for Detroit. Kevin Millwood is scheduled to start for Baltimore. The game will be broadcast on WXYT in Detroit and on MLB.com's Gameday Audio.

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

Tigers break out in Verlander's spring debut
Six-run first gives Detroit ace plenty of support

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/06/10 3:56 PM EST

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TIGERS 9, ORIOLES 5
at Lakeland, Fla.
Saturday, March 6

Orioles at the plate: Ty Wigginton accounted for Baltimore's first run when he jumped on a Justin Verlander fastball for a solo homer leading off the second inning. Wigginton went 2-for-3 on the day. The Orioles plated four more runs in the ninth, but the rally fell short.

Tigers at the plate: Clete Thomas, batting leadoff and starting in center field in place of Austin Jackson, began a six-run Tigers first inning with a leadoff homer and capped it with an RBI single when the lineup came back around. Don Kelly continued his torrid week with a double and a single before Casper Wells added a two-run homer in the sixth.

Orioles on the mound: Kevin Millwood's first appearance in an Orioles uniform was a rocky one, as he retired just two of the 10 hitters he faced before hitting his pitch count with two outs in the first inning. Just two of the seven hits he allowed went for extra bases, but those were damaging ones with Thomas' homer and Kelly's double. Matt Albers made a sooner-than-expected relief appearance, holding down Detroit for 2 1/3 innings. Dennis Sarfate and Cla Meredith added a scoreless inning apiece before Brandon Erbe gave up a three-run sixth.

Tigers on the mound: Verlander was arguably in early-season form with his stuff, but Orioles hitters tried to jump his fastball whenever they had the chance. Wigginton's homer was all the damage Verlander surrendered in his three innings. Jose Valverde made his Tigers debut with a scoreless fifth, helped by an inning-ending double play. Ryan Perry and Cody Satterwhite each tossed a scoreless inning.

Worth noting: The Orioles-Tigers meeting was the first in Spring Training in years. The two clubs were more than three hours apart when the Orioles trained in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., but halved that distance once the O's moved their Spring Training headquarters to Sarasota, Fla., for this year.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 3-1, Orioles 1-3.

Up next: Three of the Tigers' back-end starting candidates are slated to take the mound for Round 2 of their Spring Training auditions when the Tigers visit the Blue Jays on Sunday for a 1:05 p.m. ET game in Dunedin, Fla. Jeremy Bonderman will make his second start at Dunedin Stadium in five days, followed again by Nate Robertson. This time, Armando Galarraga will follow them, as he tries to overcome his rough inning of relief on Thursday. Zach Miner and Robbie Weinhardt are also slated to pitch.

The Orioles will go home to Ed Smith Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as right-hander Jeremy Guthrie faces Boston's Clay Buchholz for his second start this spring. The game is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. ET start, a game that will be shown on MLB.TV. Guthrie will be followed by Mark Hendrickson, Kam Mickolio, David Hernandez and Will Ohman.

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

Tigers play long ball in loss to Blue Jays
Ordonez, Strieby and Laird all go deep against Toronto

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com

03/07/10 3:48 PM EST

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BLUE JAYS 8, TIGERS 5
at Dunedin, Fla.
Sunday, March 7

Blue Jays at the plate: Third baseman Jose Bautista continued on his early-spring tear, launching a leadoff home run for Toronto in the first inning. That ignited a six-run outburst, which was also highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of first baseman Randy Ruiz. Center fielder Vernon Wells launched a two-run homer for the Jays in the second inning.

Tigers at the plate: Right-fielder Magglio Ordonez and first baseman Ryan Striebly pushed Detroit to a quick 3-0 lead by belting back-to-back home runs in the first inning. Shortstop Adam Everett drew a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by left fielder Johnny Damon in the second. Catcher Gerald Laird added a solo homer in the fourth.

Blue Jays on the mound: Left-hander Brian Tallet, who is in the running for a spot in the Blue Jays' rotation, allowed four runs on four hits over two innings in his spring debut. Tallet surrendered two homers in the first inning and issued a pair of walks in the second. The lefty struck out two and finished with 45 pitches (29 strikes). Closer candidate Kevin Gregg allowed a solo homer in the fourth.

Tigers on the mound: Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman labored in his second start of Spring Training. He allowed six runs on six hits, including two home runs, and ended with one walk and one strikeout in just two-thirds of an inning. Bonderman threw 36 pitches (19 strikes). Lefty Nate Robertson logged three shutout innings for Detroit.

Worth noting: It took Bonderman 24 pitches to record the first out in the first inning for the Tigers. ... Carlos Guillen got the start in left field for Detroit, which plans on giving him some playing time in the outfield this season. ... Aaron Hill has now reached base 10 times in 11 plate appearances this spring for the Blue Jays. ... Bautista has two leadoff homers this spring. ... The Blue Jays have scored at least eight runs in four of their first five games of Spring Training.

Grapefruit League records: Blue Jays 4-1; Tigers 3-2

Up next: On Monday, the Blue Jays hit the road for a 1:05 p.m. ET tilt against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla. Left-hander Ricky Romero, who is competing for the top spot in Toronto's rotation, is scheduled to log three innings in his second start of the spring.

The Tigers will host the Braves at 1:05 p.m. on Monday at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer -- acquired over the offseason in a trade with the D-backs -- is scheduled to take the mound against Atlanta.

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

Willis shines but Scherzer struggles
D-Train puts together second straight scoreless outing

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/08/10 4:25 PM EST

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BRAVES 12, TIGERS 4
at Lakeland, Fla.
Monday, March 8

Braves at the plate: Atlanta pounced early and often for eight consecutive baserunners in a five-run first, punctuated by a massive two-run home run -- easily 420 feet -- from prospect Jason Heyward off the batting cages beyond right field. Brooks Conrad doubled in two more runs later in the inning, before David Ross' bases-clearing double plated three in the second. Eric Hinske had three hits, while Ross and Troy Glaus added two each. Mitch Jones added an eighth-inning solo homer.

Tigers at the plate: Jeff Larish tried to cut into the Braves' early lead with a first-inning RBI single, before three sixth-inning wild pitches plated one run and set up a Wilkin Ramirez sacrifice fly.

Braves on the mound: Tim Hudson paid for back-to-back hits with a run in his opening inning, before allowing a lone single over his next two. He struck out three batters over as many innings, including a swing and a miss from Miguel Cabrera to end the outing. Jo-Jo Reyes picked up three groundouts and three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.

Tigers on the mound: Max Scherzer struggled for a second straight spring outing Monday, this time retiring only one of the eight batters he faced. Heyward's loft made him the second of seven consecutive Braves to reach base safely against him, three of them via walk. Fu-Te Ni battled his command in the second inning, before Dontrelle Willis posted his second straight strong outing, tossing two hitless innings with a walk and two strikeouts.

Worth noting: The lone out Scherzer recorded came on an unusual play on the basepaths. Braves leadoff man Omar Infante reached base when third baseman Don Kelly's errant throw sent Miguel Cabrera leaping off the bag to catch it. However, Infante turned toward first base, perhaps thinking the ball had gotten away, and Cabrera tagged him for the putout.

Grapefruit League records: Braves 5-2, Tigers 3-3.

Up next: The Tigers have a meeting with the first overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft, Stephen Strasburg, on Tuesday, when they visit the Nationals in Viera, Fla. for a 1:05 p.m. ET game at Space Coast Stadium. Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Austin Jackson and Scott Sizemore will be among the projected Detroit regulars taking their hacks at Strasburg in his first Spring Training start. So will outfield prospect Casper Wells, who hit a grand slam off Strasburg in the Arizona Fall League last October.

The Braves will get their first look at Roy Halladay when they return to Disney on Tuesday night to host the Phillies at 7:05 p.m. Halladay's lone career start against Atlanta occurred last year when he was on the wrong end of a 1-0 pitcher's duel against Kenshin Kawakami, who will once again stand as his mound opposition in this Grapefruit League contest. Chipper Jones is lobbying to play, but manager Bobby Cox may opt to give him at least one more day to rest the bruised right thumb that has kept him sidelined since Friday.

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

Magglio's pop, Porcello's arm pace Tigers
Slugger hits three-run jack; righty hurls three shutout innings

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/09/10 4:08 PM EST

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TIGERS 9, NATIONALS 4
at Viera, Fla.
Tuesday, March 9

Tigers at the plate: Not only did Don Kelly pick up the first pro hit off Stephen Strasburg with his second-inning single, he put the Tigers on the scoreboard his next time up with his fourth-inning double to the fence in left-center field. Kelly slugged another double off the center-field fence in the fifth. Magglio Ordonez put Detroit in command with a three-run home run, his second homer of the spring, before Austin Jackson hit his first homer later.

Nationals at the plate: The Nationals broke up Detroit's shutout bid with a decent comeback attempt in the eighth, which started when Justin Maxwell scored on a passed ball and continued with Ian Desmond's two-run double. Chris Duncan then singled in another run. Nyjer Morgan had a bunt single as part of a two-hit day.

Tigers on the mound: While Strasburg got all the attention, Rick Porcello put his sinker to work for three scoreless innings that featured nine ground balls and only one ball in the air. He allowed just two singles, one of them Morgan's bunt, and struck out one. Ryan Perry continued his perfect spring with a two-strikeout fourth.

Nationals on the mound: Strasburg didn't disappoint in his first Spring Training start, allowing two singles over two scoreless innings while striking out two Tigers. Most of the damage came off reliever Tyler Walker, who gave up six runs on eight hits over 1 2/3 innings.

Worth noting: Nationals second baseman Adam Kennedy showed he still has range in his 34-year-old frame when he made a diving stop to his left and threw out Tigers hitter Alex Avila to stop the damage in the fifth inning.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 4-3, Nationals 0-7.

Up next: Garrett Mock will continue his case for a spot in Washington's rotation with his second start of the spring when the Nationals visit the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon for a 1:05 p.m. ET start at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Brad Penny is scheduled to start for St. Louis.

The Tigers welcome back former teammates Curtis Granderson and Marcus Thames for the first time this spring and welcome top Draft pick Jacob Turner to the big leagues when the Yankees come to visit Johnny Damon and his new club for a 1:05 p.m. game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Armando Galarraga is scheduled to make his first Spring Training start after mixed results in two relief appearances. Joba Chamberlain is slated to start for New York. Turner is expected to pitch in relief sometime during the middle innings.

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

Laird continues big spring with slam
Prospect Turner walks two over one inning in loss to Yanks

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/10/10 4:15 PM EST

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YANKEES 9, TIGERS 8
at Lakeland, Fla.
Wednesday, March 10

Yankees at the plate: Former Tigers All-Star Curtis Granderson returned to his old Spring Training home and had two singles and a walk. His RBI single in the second inning scored Jorge Vasquez, who doubled in Brett Gardner a couple of batters earlier. Mark Teixeira greeted ex-teammate Phil Coke with a home run to left, his first homer of the season, to lead off the third. He, too, finished with two hits and a walk. Greg Golson's two-run homer off Phil Dumatrait in the top of the ninth inning put the Yankees ahead to stay.

Tigers at the plate: Gerald Laird continued his spring resurgence toward respectability at the plate when he slugged a third-inning grand slam off Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain. Ryan Raburn added a solo homer off Phil Hughes as part of a two-hit day. Miguel Cabrera added an RBI single.

Yankees on the mound: Chamberlain cruised through two innings relatively unscathed until the Tigers roughed him up for six consecutive baserunners in a six-run third and knocked him out of the game. Hughes worked long relief and scattered one run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Tigers on the mound: Armando Galarraga's first start of the Grapefruit League season brought his first two-inning performance of the year and almost entirely fly balls compared to grounders. The right-hander gave up two runs on two hits and two walks. First-round Draft pick Jacob Turner made his first official spring outing and tossed a hitless fourth inning, loaded the bases with two walks and hit batter before striking out Teixeira to end the threat. Zach Miner gave up two runs in the fifth.

Worth noting: The announced crowd of 9,713 was the second-largest attendance in Joker Marchant Stadium history, just shy of the record of 9,781.

Grapefruit League records: Yankees 4-5, Tigers 4-4

Up next: A.J. Burnett will take the mound when the Yankees return to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday for a 7:05 p.m. ET game against the Braves to be shown on MLB.TV. Jair Jurrjens will start for Atlanta.

The Tigers will follow up their first reunion with Granderson by meeting Placido Polanco for the first time since he signed with the Phillies as a free agent over the offseason. Polanco's successor at second base in Detroit, Scott Sizemore, is scheduled to make the trip, as are fellow Tigers regulars Johnny Damon, Cabrera, Laird and Adam Everett. Justin Verlander will make his second start of the spring, taking on Joe Blanton in the 1:05 p.m. start at Bright House Networks Field.

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

Verlander solid in second spring start
Tigers ace allows two runs, whiffs two over four innings

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

03/11/10 3:07 PM EST

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PHILLIES 4, TIGERS 0
at Clearwater, Fla.
Thursday, March 11

Tigers at the plate: Austin Jackson, Jeff Larish and Scott Sizemore managed the only hits off right-hander Joe Blanton through the first four innings. Each were singles.

Phillies at the plate: Chase Utley and Freddy Galvis each singled home a run in the second to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead. Shane Victorino had a couple early hits. Ryan Howard singled to left field with two outs in the fifth to score Placido Polanco for a 3-0 lead. Raul Ibanez ripped a solo shot in the sixth.

Tigers on the mound: Ace Justin Verlander allowed six hits and two runs and struck out two in four innings in his second Grapefruit League start.

Phillies on the mound: Blanton allowed just three hits in four scoreless innings. Five potential starters in the Phils' rotation this season have fared well this spring. Roy Halladay (no runs in five innings), Cole Hamels (two runs in 5 2/3 innings), J.A. Happ (no runs in 2 1/3 innings), Kyle Kendrick (no runs in five innings) and Blanton have a combined 2.05 ERA. Left-hander Jamie Moyer also has thrown six scoreless innings in "B" games against the Blue Jays.

Worth noting: Polanco, who played with the Tigers from 2005-09, helped start two double plays in the first three innings against his former team. Polanco is playing third base for the first time since '05. He earned two Gold Gloves as a second baseman with Detroit.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 4-5; Phillies 4-3

Up next: The Tigers host the Phillies on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET in Lakeland, Fla. Jeremy Bonderman will try to rebound from his first-inning shellacking his last time out and regain momentum in his bid for a rotation spot. Fellow rotation candidate Nate Robertson is also slated to pitch, as are relievers Ryan Perry and Jose Valverde. Magglio Ordonez is expected to return to Detroit's lineup after missing the past two days with muscle soreness behind his left knee.

The Phils have a split squad Friday. They play the Tigers at 1:05 p.m. in Lakeland and the Rays at 1:05 p.m. in Port Charlotte, Fla. Drew Naylor, Phillippe Aumont, Jesus Sanchez and Sergio Escalona will take the hill in Lakeland. J.A. Happ, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson and Danys Baez will be pitching in Port Charlotte.

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

Friday's Tigers vs. Phils game rained out
Bonderman, Robertson to pitch in split-squad action Saturday

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/12/10 9:44 AM EST

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Heavy rains postponed Friday's scheduled Spring Training game between the Tigers and Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Friday's forecast called for rain throughout the day, totaling two inches or more. Large puddles were already forming in the outfield by the time the game was called Friday morning. The Tigers spent the morning working out indoors in the batting cages.

Jeremy Bonderman was scheduled to start for the Tigers, followed by Nate Robertson and Ryan Perry. Those pitchers will now most likely have to be folded into the pitching assignments for Saturday's split-squad games. The Tigers host the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. ET and have a game at the Mets at the same time in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

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

Damon shows Yanks what they're missing
As DH, veteran goes 2-for-4, including solo shot in fifth

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/13/10 3:41 PM EST

Box >

TIGERS (ss) 6, YANKEES (ss) 2
at Lakeland, Fla.
Saturday, March 13

Yankees at the plate: The Bronx Bombers had their fair share of hits but not enough runs to show for them. Back-to-back singles from Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira brought around Derek Jeter for a run in the third before Alex Rodriguez doubled in Teixeira in the fifth. Jeter, Rodriguez and Francisco Cervelli had two hits each.

Tigers at the plate: Johnny Damon had an impact in his first game against his old team with an RBI single as part of a three-run second inning and a solo homer to lead off a three-run fifth. Ryan Raburn doubled in a run with a solid line drive to center in the third before he scored as part of a 4-for-4 performance. Gerald Laird added a two-run single in the fifth.

Yankees on the mound: Rotation candidates Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre each gave up three runs -- Gaudin over three innings, Mitre over four. Mitre settled down for a solid seventh inning.

Tigers on the mound: Dontrelle Willis said he felt "terrible" physically, but he still kept a dangerous Yankees split-squad lineup relatively quiet. New York's third-inning run was the first allowed by Willis in seven frames this spring, but he escaped damage with an inning-ending double play to finish with one run on four hits. Fellow rotation candidate Jeremy Bonderman had almost the exact same pitching line, but he added two strikeouts of Marcus Thames and retired his final four batters.

Worth noting: Tigers rookie center fielder and former Yankees prospect Austin Jackson helped out Willis tremendously by running down wind-blown drives for two highlight catches in the second inning. His twisting catch against the fence in straightaway center robbed Thames of an extra-base hit, before his leaping catch against the right-field fence retired David Winfree to end the inning with a runner stranded.

Grapefruit League records: Yankees 5-6, Tigers 5-6.

Up next: Rick Porcello gets a full Tigers squad and a trio of lefty relievers behind him and a Gameday Audio listening on Sunday, when the Tigers host the Rays for a 1:05 p.m. ET matchup at Joker Marchant Stadium. Daniel Schlereth, Fu-Te Ni and Phil Coke will follow, as will fastballer Joel Zumaya as he continues his effort to mix his pitches. Jeff Niemann is slated to start for Tampa Bay, followed by Alex Torres and Jeremy Hellickson.

The Yankees are on the road on Sunday, traveling to Bradenton, Fla., to meet the Pirates in a 1:05 p.m. ET start on MLB.TV. Probable Opening Day starter CC Sabathia will be on the hill for New York, opposed by right-hander Charlie Morton. The Yankees' travel roster will include Robinson Cano, Jeter, Nick Johnson, Teixeira, Brett Gardner and Swisher.

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

Scherzer rebounds, dominates Mets
Right-hander fans five over four scoreless innings

By Marty Noble / MLB.com

03/13/10 3:45 PM EST

Box >

METS 9, TIGERS 1
Port St. Lucie Fla.
Saturday, March 13

Tigers at the plate: Not until Magglio Ordonez singled sharply to left against Hisonari Takahashi to lead off the seventh did the Tigers have a hit. Carlos Guillen had a potential three-run home run to left knocked down by a stiff wind in the second. Audy Ciriaco drove in the Tigers' lone run with a single in the eighth.

Mets at the plate: Four home runs, including the first by Jason Bay, fueled a nine-run seventh inning. David Wright hit his third home run of the spring -- and his second to right field, both have been wind-aided -- against right-handed Ryan Perry. After Perry hit Bay, Daniel Murphy hit his first home run, also to right, his first extra-base hit of the spring. Gary Matthews Jr. crushed a two-run homer, also off Ryan, to center field. Bay hit a three-run homer off Zach Miner. Luis Castillo and Rod Barajas had the Mets' lone hits, both singles, before the seventh.

Tigers on the mound: Detroit starter Matt Scherzer struck out five and allowed Castillo's hit in four innings. Left-handed Andy Oliver allowed a single and struck out one in his two innings.

Mets on the mound: Oliver Perez, making his second spring start. Made a positive impression, not only because he pitched four scoreless innings but because he also retained his focus after walking two successive batters in the third. Takahashi extended his scoreless spring streak to six, walking none and striking out three, two after he allowed a leadoff hit in the seventh. Takahashi has allowed two hits and no walks in six innings over all.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 5-6, Mets 7-5.

Worth Noting: Last in home runs in the big leagues with 95 last season, the Mets had the most home runs in Spring Training, 16, before they hit four in the seventh. ... Alex Cora started at shortstop. Ruben Tejada entered the game in the eighth as the second baseman.

Up next: Johan Santana (starting) and John Maine (relieving) are to pitch for the Mets on Sunday when hey play the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla. Kiko Calero is to make his Mets debut, and Ryota Igarashi is to throw again. The 1:05 p.m. ET game is to be carried by on Gameday Audio and WFAN. But it is not televised. Slimmed down Anibal Sanchez is the Marlins' starter.

The Tigers Sunday game is against the Rays in Lakeland, Fla., beginning at 1:05 p.m., also on Gameday Audio. Rick Porcello starts for the Tigers.

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

Last Updated: March 13. 2010 6:47PM
Possible Tigers starters look good vs. Yankees
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. -- Making too much of a good performance, getting too sour after a bad one, that's not the way Jim Leyland appraises his pitchers during spring training.

It is why he was so restrained following the Tigers' 6-2 whipping of the New York Yankees Saturday at Marchant Stadium, a victory that featured three solid pitching efforts from three significant pitchers: Dontrelle Willis, Jeremy Bonderman, and Nate Robertson.

"I saw progress in all of 'em," Leyland said, nodding as he picked at a plate of beef in the manager's office.

"That's a good thing. I'd say all of 'em made progress today."

It's also a good thing for Leyland's starting rotation, given he still isn't sure who will win his No. 4 and No. 5 spots.

The pitching was a huge storyline after Leyland spent much of the week fretting about his back-end starters and about too many Tigers pitchers who tend to throw too few quality strikes.

The reports were also good, with respect to Saturday's starter, from the Tigers' split-squad game against the New York Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., which the Mets won, 9-1. Max Scherzer, who had been bashed in his last start, pitched four innings, allowing one hit, while striking out five and walking none.

At Lakeland, the Tigers offense joined Leyland's pitchers in an effort he described as "a pretty good day, all in all."

Ryan Raburn was 4-for-4, slamming two doubles and a pair of singles. Johnny Damon ripped a home run over the right-field fence, and Gerald Laird, whose offense has been markedly better in the early days of Grapefruit League play, lined a two-run single to center.

But no matter how he was obliged to soft-pedal Saturday's outings, three pitchers who are competing for two open rotation slots needed to show Leyland -- and themselves -- they could handle a tough Yankees lineup.

Willis, the 28-year-old left-hander who has had such trouble since joining the Tigers in 2008, started and worked three innings. He allowed one run, four hits (one an infield short-hop that got past third baseman Brandon Inge), one walk and no strikeouts.

He had a low-90-mph, four-seam fastball, a two-seamer that got him a pair of double plays and a force-out, as well as a breaking ball that stayed in the strike zone.

"When I had to make quality pitches and get guys to hit ground balls, I was able to," said Willis, who won't be satisfied until he can steadily get ahead of hitters.

"I want to command early. I've just got to do a better job of getting those counts 1-1 instead of 2-0."

Bonderman's triumph was in showing off his old power-pitching repertoire. He had a fastball that cruised as high as 94 mph, and a rock-solid slider. He even threw a split-finger fastball that burned Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira.

He allowed four hits in three innings, one an infield single, and one a broken-bat blooper. He struck out two batters and walked none.

"I kind of went back to basics," said Bonderman, who because of arterial surgery has not pitched regularly in three seasons. "I reared back and tried to throw as hard as I could, and have fun. I didn't think about mechanics.

"It felt good to get back out and pitch."

Robertson's fastball never cracked 90 mph during his two-inning stint, but it didn't need to. He had his biting slider going for him, which was good for three strikeouts, no hits, and no walks.

"It was sharp," he said of his slider. "It's been sharp. And I threw four or five changeups today, too."

Robertson added, "I don't know right now that I can get back to 93-94" in throwing his fastball. But the 32-year-old left-hander also believes pitching to both sides of the plate, and mixing in his slider -- it has always been his out-pitch -- could be the best recipe for a man who, like Bonderman and Willis, is looking to reclaim some old luster.

Jose Valverde, the Tigers' new closer, finished off the Yankees in the ninth, striking out the side during a dicey inning in which he also allowed a pair of singles and a walk.

Raburn's rips

Four trips to the plate, four hits. It was the kind of day that reinforced two thoughts about Raburn, who started in left field: He is on his way to becoming one of the team's better hitters. And yet he has no regular place to play.

"He'll fit, trust me," Leyland said, forcefully. "There's always room for guys who get four hits."

Raburn, who next month turns 29, is batting .500 in Grapefruit League games. He played left field when Damon was slotted as designated hitter.

"I don't know if it's more confidence, but I feel like I'm gonna get a hit every time," said Raburn, who is 8-for-16 with a home run and two doubles.

Raburn had a lousy 2009 spring and concedes he felt the pressure of making Leyland's 25-man roster. Now, with his super-sub role all but guaranteed, the question remains: Apart from an injury, how will a man who last season hit .291 with 16 home runs in 261 at-bats get sufficient work in 2010?

"It's not up to me, it's up to Skip (Leyland)," Raburn said. "I'm confident he'll get me in there. He found a way to do it last year.

"I'll just prepare myself and be ready to go."

Inge is back

Inge made his first start of the Grapefruit League season. He played three innings and flied out to left in his only at-bat.

Inge passed the physical test following four months of convalescence following surgery on both knees. Leyland said Inge's only problem was a bit of stiffness between innings, a temporary problem the manager believes will clear up by Opening Day.

"He'll be fine by then," Leyland said.

Feting fielders

Willis said part of the reason he should be able to throw strikes more regularly is because he has so much help behind him.

"I'm really impressed with our defense," said Willis, complimenting newcomer Scott Sizemore's play at second base, as well as the left-side alliance of shortstop Adam Everett and Inge at third.

"And Austin Jackson (center field), he's jumping on that ball. And I appreciate that."

Back at you

Three Tigers pitchers spent almost as much time patting each other on the back as they enjoyed talking about their performances.

Robertson came on in the seventh inning, immediately after Bonderman had worked three strong innings, jamming his share of hitters with fastballs and sliders.

"I told Bondo, by the time I got in there, guys didn't want to swing because their hands hurt," Robertson said. "It looked like he was running it in there pretty good."

Mets mauling

As far as the Tigers were concerned, the whole story from the split-squad loss to the Mets was Scherzer's showing.

They also got two innings of one-hit, one-strikeout work from left-hander Andy Oliver.

It was 0-0 in the seventh when things exploded. Ryan Perry, who had been untouchable during his first Grapefruit League appearances, had a nightmare of a seventh inning, allowing five runs on five hits, three of which were home runs.

Zach Miner allowed two runs on two hits, including a home run, in 1 1/3 innings.

The Tigers had four hits: a double by Casper Wells , and singles from Brennan Boesch, Magglio Ordonez and Audy Ciriaco.

lynn.henning@detnews.com.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100313/SPORTS0104/3130375/Possible-Tigers-starters-look-good-vs.-Yankees#ixzz0i780R8hY

Jackson hits two triples in Tigers' win
Porcello runs spring scoreless innings streak to nine

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/14/10 4:12 PM EST

Box >

TIGERS 9, RAYS 6
at Lakeland, Fla.
Sunday, March 14

Rays at the plate: John Jaso put Tampa Bay on the scoreboard in the fifth with a solo homer before the Rays broke open their offense in the seventh. Pat Burrell's RBI double and Justin Ruggiano's two-run homer tied the game ahead of Sean Rodriguez's go-ahead two-run shot, his fourth home run of the spring.

Tigers at the plate: Austin Jackson flashed his potential in the leadoff spot with three big runs. His infield single leading off the first inning set up Magglio Ordonez to open the scoring when he blistered a line-drive double to the fence in left-center field. Jackson legged out a two-out triple in the fifth and scored on Johnny Damon's line-drive single to center, then tripled and scored again leading off the seventh. Jeff Larish added a two-run single.

Rays on the mound: Starter Jeff Niemann recovered from that first-inning run to retire nine consecutive batters, striking out the side in order in the second. Six of his 11 outs came by strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of three-hit, no-walk ball. Mike Ekstrom ended a fourth-inning scoring threat but gave up three runs over the next couple innings.

Tigers on the mound: Rick Porcello fell behind some hitters and worked into some slight trouble, but he still pitched four innings unblemished to stretch his Spring Training stinginess to nine scoreless innings. Phil Coke gave up Jaso's homer in the fifth before Eddie Bonine struck out two in a perfect sixth. Daniel Schlereth gave up four runs in the seventh, including Ruggiano's homer, before Rodriguez jumped on Joel Zumaya's fastball.

Worth noting: The one time the Rays retired Jackson required a deft defensive play from Evan Longoria, who made a backhanded stab down the third-base line and quick off-balance throw across the infield to rob Jackson of an infield single in the third inning.

Grapefruit League standings: Rays 9-3, Tigers 6-6

Up next: The Rays have their only off-day of the Grapefruit League schedule Monday, then host the Red Sox's split-squad crew at Charlotte Sports Park on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Catcher Dioner Navarro, out since Thursday with a left thumb contusion, is expected to make his return that night. Starting that game will be Wade Davis, and backing him up will be Andy Sonnanstine. The two of them are in competition with one another for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, and Sonnanstine (two earned runs in five innings) seemingly has the early edge over the younger Davis (six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings).

The Tigers are on local television in Detroit for the first time this Spring Training against an already-familiar foe this year, hosting the Blue Jays in a 1:05 p.m. ET start also on MLB.TV. Armando Galarraga gets his chance to answer Saturday's strong performances from Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman in the rotation race when he starts Monday opposite Toronto left-hander Marc Rzepzcynski. Brad Thomas, Ryan Perry and Jose Valverde are slated to pitch in relief for the Tigers.

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

Tigers show pop in win over Jays
Sizemore, Cabrera, Boesch homer; Galarraga struggles

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

03/15/10 4:05 PM EST

Box >

TIGERS 10, BLUE JAYS 7
at Lakeland, Fla.
Monday, March 15

Blue Jays at the plate: The Jays put up much of their offense in bunches, starting with a three-run third inning set up when Tyler Pastornicky, Jarrett Hoffpauir and Brad Emaus racked up consecutive singles. Brian Dopirak briefly slugged Toronto into the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth before Jeremy Reed singled and scored to put them back in front in the seventh.

Tigers at the plate: Scott Sizemore broke out of his early spring slump when he pulled a hanging fastball deep to left on a line for a leadoff homer. Three batters later, Miguel Cabrera sent an opposite-field drive just over the bullpen fence in right-center field for a two-run homer. Brennan Boesch hit a solo homer in the seventh. Casper Wells had two hits and a sacrifice fly. Brent Dlugach added three late RBIs.

Blue Jays on the mound: Starter Marc Rzepczynski gave up three runs on the two first-inning homers, but retired nine of Detroit's next 11 batters from there en route to four innings on six hits with three strikeouts. Casey Janssen recovered from a leadoff walk for a scoreless fifth.

Tigers on the mound: Armando Galarraga, trying to keep pace in the battle for the two open rotation spots, tossed two scoreless innings before giving up three straight hits in his first few pitches of the three-run third. The last of those runs came around on a balk and a wild pitch. First-round Draft pick Jacob Turner retired the first four batters he faced en route to two hitless innings, improving his Spring Training totals to five scoreless innings on one hit. Brad Thomas gave up a double, home run and triple to three of his first four hitters in the sixth.

Worth noting: Jays pitcher Brett Cecil had been limited to throwing fastballs and changeups so far this spring thanks to a finger cut on his throwing hand that he suffered while cutting up chicken to eat at home. However, Cecil successfully mixed up his pitches Monday despite a two-run, three-hit sixth inning. He finished by allowed four runs -- three earned -- in 2 1/3 innings.

Grapefruit League records: Blue Jays 5-5; Tigers 7-5.

Up next: Justin Verlander will face the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., for the second time in six days, this time a 1:05 p.m. ET matchup Tuesday at Bright House Networks Field. Verlander gave up two runs on six hits over four innings in their previous matchup last Thursday. Tigers regulars scheduled to make the trip include Johnny Damon, Magglio Ordonez, Austin Jackson, Brandon Inge, Gerald Laird and Adam Everett. Cole Hamels is scheduled to start for Philadelphia.

The Blue Jays have their second of three scheduled off-days Tuesday before starting a home-and-home set with their AL East rival Orioles on Wednesday with a 1:05 p.m. matchup at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. Brian Tallet is scheduled to make the start. In the meantime, Shaun Marcum will pitch in a Jays Minor League game Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Mattick Complex.

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

Last Updated: March 15. 2010 5:22PM
Tigers get 14 hits in 10-7 win over Blue Jays
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. --Rarely are Grapefruit League games pretty, given the mish-mash of weather and skill levels that can be experienced during nine innings.

So, about the best a team can do is win one for the home crowd, which the Tigers did Monday in beating the Toronto Blue Jays, 10-7, in front of 7,934 at Marchant Stadium and the first FSN Detroit television audience of 2010.

The Tigers scored four times in the eighth to win it, three of the runs scoring on infielder Brent Dlugach's bases-loaded double. It was Dlugach's two-run error in the seventh that had helped the Blue Jays take a 7-5 lead.

The Tigers got home runs from Scott Sizemore, Miguel Cabrera and Brennan Boesch on a day they racked up 14 hits.

Armando Galarraga started for the Tigers and allowed three runs on five hits, all the runs coming in the third inning.

Jacob Turner, an 18-year-old hotshot right-hander, pitched two scoreless innings for the Tigers. Left-handed reliever Brad Thomas was socked for two runs in the sixth, and another two unearned runs in the seventh.

Enrique Gonzalez and Josh Rainwater finished up, with Rainwater pitching a 1-2-3 ninth.

lynn.henning@detnews.com

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100315/SPORTS0104/3150413/1129/sports0104/Tigers-get-14-hits-in-10-7-win-over-Blue-Jays#ixzz0iITqX4nd

Verlander hurt by homers in defeat
Tigers ace allows pair of dingers, while bats stay quiet

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

03/16/10 3:46 PM ET

Box >

PHILLIES 6, TIGERS 1
at Clearwater, Fla.
Tuesday, March 16

Tigers on the mound: Justin Verlander might have had Domonic Brown struck out looking on a 2-2 fastball in the second inning, but it was called a ball, which set up Brown's long solo homer to right field to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Verlander (6.10 ERA this spring) allowed three hits, four runs, one walk and two home runs in 3 1/3 innings. He also struck out five. Phil Coke took Verlander's place in the fourth and gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Daniel Schlereth, Jose Valverde and Robbie Weinhardt each pitched a scoreless frame.

Phillies on the mound: Left-hander Cole Hamels allowed just one unearned run in five innings as he continued to incorporate his cutter and curveball. He gave up just two hits and struck out four. Hamels, who retired the last seven batters he faced, has a 1.69 ERA in three Grapefruit League starts. Danys Baez, B.J. Rosenberg, Antonio Bastardo and Ryan Madson each tossed a scoreless inning.

Tigers at the plate: Austin Jackson and Jeff Larish managed the only hits for Detroit in the first five innings.

Phillies at the plate: Brown might be headed to Minor League camp in the near future, but he made Tuesday count. He crushed a solo home run to right field off Verlander in the second. Brown worked a nine-pitch at-bat to stay alive. Brown also hit a two-run homer to right-center in the fourth off Coke, although a fan clearly reached over the wall to catch it. Brown added an RBI single in the sixth. Ryan Howard ripped a two-run shot in the fourth, his first of the spring.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 7-6; Phillies 7-4-1.

Worth noting: Phils third baseman Placido Polanco, who played with the Tigers from 2005-09, was not in the lineup after he sprained his right knee Monday in Bradenton, Fla. Polanco said he is day-to-day and hopes to return to action as early as Friday.

Up next: The battle for the back half of the Tigers' rotation picks up again Wednesday, when Nate Robertson makes his first start of the spring against the Pirates in a 1:05 p.m. ET game at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla. Robertson has tossed five innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts in his past two outings, both relief appearances, since his spring opener to move toward the forefront of the five-man scrum battling for two open starting spots. Joel Zumaya is also slated to pitch.

Regulars on the trip include Miguel Cabrera, Johnny Damon, Carlos Guillen, Brandon Inge and Scott Sizemore. Kevin Hart is slated to start for Pittsburgh.

The Phils host the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday at Bright House Field in a game that will be shown on MLB.TV. Joe Blanton, Jose Contreras, Sergio Escalona, Chad Durbin and David Herndon are scheduled to pitch. It's an important appearance for Escalona, who has struggled this spring. With J.C. Romero expected to open the season on the disabled list, a strong finish to the spring could land Escalona on the Opening Day roster. Herndon is a Rule 5 Draft pick who also is fighting for a spot in the bullpen. He has pitched well, throwing five scoreless innings.

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

Guillen reaches in every at-bat in victory
Robertson goes four innings, allowing two runs on four hits

By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com

03/17/10 4:33 PM ET

Box >

TIGERS 6, PIRATES 3
at Bradenton, Fla.
Wednesday, March 17

Tigers at the plate: Carlos Guillen reached base in all four of his plate appearances. He also drove in two, one on a fourth-inning single and the other via a bases-loaded walk. Outfielder Clete Thomas finished 2-for-4 with an RBI single and run scored. Scott Sizemore and Miguel Cabrera each had RBI singles.

Pirates at the plate: Andrew McCutchen finished 2-for-3 and stole his third base of the spring. Outfielder Ryan Church doubled home Bobby Crosby for the Pirates' first of two second-inning runs. Church later came around to score on a balk. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez doubled and scored in the seventh. He has hit safely in six of his last seven games.

Tigers on the mound: Nate Robertson, who continues to compete for one of Detroit's open rotation spots, allowed two runs in four innings in his fourth appearance (first start) of the spring. Robertson allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three. Eddie Bonine and Fu-Te Ni each pitched one scoreless inning.

Pirates on the mound: Kevin Hart's attempt to win the fifth spot in the rotation took another hit on Wednesday. Hart had to be removed just 1 2/3 innings into his start. He walked six of the 12 batters he faced and hit another. Hart was charged with just one run. Jeff Karstens pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. D.J. Carrasco and Brendan Donnelly each allowed their first runs this spring.

Worth noting: Players on both clubs wore green hats on Wednesday in honor of St. Patrick's Day. The teams also played with green bases on the field. ... Pirates outfielder Brandon Moss remains hitless this spring after going 0-for-2 on Wednesday. He is now 0-for-19. ... Detroit drew 12 walks off Pittsburgh pitchers.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 8-7; Pirates 4-9-1

Up next for the Tigers: Dontrelle Willis will try to continue his strong spring comeback and further his case to win a rotation spot Thursday when the Tigers host the Astros at 1:05 p.m. ET at Joker Marchant Stadium. Willis, who has given up one run over seven innings in three games this spring, is expected to stretch out further to four innings or 55 to 60 pitches. Brad Thomas, Ryan Perry and Robbie Weinhardt are slated to pitch in relief. Felipe Paulino is scheduled to start for Houston, with former Tigers pitcher Brandon Lyon potentially appearing in relief. Before the game, Max Scherzer is slated to pitch in a simulated game at 11:30 a.m. in the Tigertown complex.

Up next for the Pirates: The Pirates will travel south to Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday for a 1:05 p.m. contest against the Twins. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno is expected to return to the lineup after missing the club's last two games because of a laceration on his right hand. Cedeno took swings in the batting cage Wednesday and reported no issues with his hand. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf will make the start for Pittsburgh against Minnesota's Carl Pavano. Relievers Chris Jakubauskas and Javier Lopez are also slated to make an appearance.

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

Rainwater also picked up his 2nd save in pitching a hit-less, scoreless inning to keep a 0.00 ERA!

Back spasms don't deter D-Train's outing
Tigers grind out game-winner in ninth inning with two outs

By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

03/18/10 4:10 PM ET

Box >

TIGERS 5, ASTROS 4
at Lakeland, Fla.
Thursday, March 18

Astros at the plate: Tommy Manzella broke through for the Astros in the fifth, homering off hard-throwing reliever Ryan Perry. But the Astros could not convert a bases-loaded rally later in the inning. Instead, Hunter Pence struck out to end the threat.

Tigers at the plate: Jeff Larish drove in the Tigers' first run with a sacrifice fly off Felipe Paulino in the third, before Carlos Guillen doubled him home. The Tigers had previously loaded the bases on three walks in the second inning, but Adam Everett flew out to stunt the rally. In the ninth, Brennen Boesch broke a 4-4 tie by driving in Don Kelly for the game-winning run.

Astros on the mound: Paulino, competing for the fifth-starter's job, allowed two runs on three hits in three innings, walking three. Closer candidate Brandon Lyon, pitching for the first time this spring, put two runners on in the fifth, but induced a double play to limit the damage to one run.

Tigers on the mound: Though Dontrelle Willis was sharp early, retiring the first seven hitters he faced, he suffered mild back spasms after reaching for a grounder in the first. Willis did remain in the game to pitch three scoreless innings, though he began to labor in the third, walking one batter and hitting another. Perry made quick work of Houston's 3-4-5 hitters in the fourth inning, striking out Carlos Lee and Geoff Blum. But he also served up Manzella's home run in the fifth.

Worth noting: The Tigers optioned right-hander Armando Galarraga to Triple-A Toledo and Jacob Turner to Class A West Michigan on Thursday. ... Max Scherzer allowed one run over four innings in a simulated game Thursday, walking three and striking out three. Joel Zumaya also pitched in the game, striking out four batters and allowing two hits over 1 1/3 innings.

Grapefruit League standings: Astros, 7-7; Tigers, 9-7

Up next: Looking to shake off some early Spring Training struggles and win a spot in the Tigers' rotation, Jeremy Bonderman will start the nightcap of Friday's day-night, two-city split-squad doubleheader for the Tigers. Rick Porcello, Phil Coke and Jose Valverde will face the Yankees in a 1:05 p.m. ET game in Tampa, before Bonderman pitches against the Braves in a 6:05 p.m. game at Disney World.

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

Tigers strike first, but falter against Yanks
Porcello allows first spring run in split-squad day contest

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

03/19/10 4:00 PM ET

Box >

YANKEES (ss) 6, TIGERS (ss) 2
at Tampa, Fla.
Friday, March 19

Tigers at the plate: Brandon Inge put the Tigers on the board early with a run-scoring single to right field in the first inning, plating Clete Thomas after his double to left. Carlos Guillen drove in Detroit's second run with a sixth-inning double into the left-field corner.

Yankees at the plate: Derek Jeter followed a run-scoring error in the second inning with a two-run single to right field, scoring Jamie Hoffmann and Francisco Cervelli; the captain's fourth RBIs in the last two games. Alex Rodriguez belted his first home run of the spring in the third inning, clearing the scoreboard in left field.

Tigers on the mound: Making his fourth start of the spring, Rick Porcello allowed four runs -- one earned -- on four hits, including A-Rod's long homer. The right-hander walked one and struck out three as he was scored upon for the first time in the Grapefruit League, tossing 60 pitches (36 strikes). Andrew Owens left the bases loaded in a scoreless fifth inning and former Yankee Phil Coke hurled a perfect sixth, striking out Rodriguez.

Yankees on the mound: Completing his fourth start of the spring, ace CC Sabathia worked 5 1/3 innings, exiting with one run charged to him on four hits before Jonathan Albaladejo allowed one of his two inherited runners to score. Sabathia walked two and struck out eight in the effort, tossing 77 pitches (47 strikes). Mariano Rivera made his second spring appearance in the sixth, using just 10 pitches to breeze through the seventh inning with no hits and a strikeout.

Worth noting: Porcello's spring ERA rose from 0.00 to 0.75. ... Robinson Cano has hit safely in seven of the 10 spring games he's played. ... This was the third of six spring games between the two clubs.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers, 9-8; Yankees, 8-8

Up next: Eddie Bonine, who could break camp with the Tigers as a starter or reliever, will start Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium against the Phillies at 1:05 p.m. ET, live on MLB.TV. Consider it an unfavorable assignment -- he'll face Roy Halladay. Brad Thomas, Enrique Gonzalez and Fu-Te Ni are also scheduled to pitch for the Tigers.

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

Damon, Larish power split-squad Tigers
Outfielder launches second Grapefruit League homer in tie

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

03/19/10 9:36 PM ET

Box >

TIGERS 4, BRAVES 4
at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Friday, March 19

Tigers at the plate: Jeff Larish got his team's offense rolling with a fourth-inning homer and Johnny Damon added to Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami's woes with a fifth-inning solo shot. Casper Wells delivered a go-ahead RBI single that accounted for the third consecutive hit surrendered by Braves closer Billy Wagner in the seventh inning.

Braves at the plate: Chipper Jones and Brian McCann accounted for the game's first two runs with consecutive doubles in the first. Yunel Escobar added a fourth-inning double and Troy Glaus delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 3 in the fifth. McCann and Freddie Freeman sparked a ninth-inning rally with consecutive one-out singles and Gregor Blanco furthered Robbie Weinhardt's troubles with a game-tying single.

Tigers on the mound: Starter Jeremy Bonderman struggled with his control during a two-run first, and then held the Braves scoreless during his final two innings. Daniel Schlereth provided one of his strongest outings while allowing one hit and pitching around one walk in a scoreless sixth.

Braves on the mound: While struggling to consistently locate his two-seam fastball during his season-long five-inning appearance, Kawakami surrendered six hits, including a pair of homers, and three runs -- two earned. Scott Proctor, who is attempting to return from Tommy John surgery, made a successful season debut while working a perfect sixth that began with Alex Avila looking at a called third strike, and included multiple fastballs clocked at 93 mph.

Worth noting: Damon's towering fifth-inning homer over the right-field foul pole accounted for his second homer of the spring. The veteran outfielder, who had expressed a desire to sign with the Braves this offeason, hit his first blast earlier this month against the Yankees, his former employer who opted not to meet his salary demands this winter.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 9-8-1; Braves 11-5-1

Up next: Atlanta's Derek Lowe was nearly perfect while throwing five scoreless innings against the Nationals on Monday night. The veteran right-hander will have another chance to test his refined delivery when he takes the mound for Saturday afternoon's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., at 1:05 p.m. ET. Jason Heyward and the rest of the Braves' projected starting outfielders are scheduled to make the trip.

Eddie Bonine, who could break camp with the Tigers as a starter or reliever, will start Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium against the Phillies at 1:05 p.m. ET, live on MLB.TV. Consider it an unfavorable assignment -- he'll face Roy Halladay. Brad Thomas, Enrique Gonzalez and Fu-Te Ni are also scheduled to pitch for the Tigers.

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