GDT: 4/21/09 - DET (7-5) AT LAA (4-8) - 10:05 p.m. ET

It's safe to say Gerald Laird never had it so good.

The Tigers' regular catcher arrived from Texas via a trade during the Winter Meetings in exchange for a couple of promising pitchers. During Laird's tenure with the Rangers, the team's pitchers often struggled.

Then Laird comes to the Tigers, who seem to have an abundance of pitching talent.

"I'm just excited. Nothing against my old teammates, I love them to death, but just the opportunity here," Laird said. "It's a new staff to see what I can do. All these young guys I saw when I came to camp, I was like, 'Wow.'

"I wanted to do the best I can to get them going. The challenge was great.''

He's handled the challenge thus far. As the Tigers continue on their nine-game West Coast swing with three games against the Angels beginning Tuesday, they are among league leaders in most pitching categories.

"He's OK. He likes to play," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Laird. "I like him a lot, to be honest with you."

When the club decided it would not resign Ivan Rodriguez, they searched around the league for his replacement.

"The way they expressed it was that they were targeting me,'' Laird said. "That made me feel good. I just want to do the best I can. I looked at this team and thought, 'This team was in the World Series in '06 with a lot of the same faces here, a lot of the same pitchers.''

He believes Justin Verlander can rebound from his 17-loss season in 2008. He thinks young guys such as Rick Porcello, Armando Galarraga, Edwin Jackson and Zach Miner can step up. He likes the veterans, Fernando Rodney, Bobby Seay and rehabbing Jeremy Bonderman and Joel Zumaya.

"This team has some talent," Laird said. "I know a lot of people weren't picking us to do much, but if everything clicks like '06, with the hitters in our lineup and the way we've been pitching so far, we're going to win some games.''


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (2-0, 0.68 ERA)
Galarraga continued to dominate hitters in his second straight start to begin the 2009 season, firing 6 1/3 shutout innings against the White Sox on Wednesday at Comerica Park. Galarraga gave up four hits and struck out five batters while walking two. He threw 110 pitches, which wasn't quite as efficient as his first start on April 10 against Texas, when he threw 97 pitches in seven innings, struck out eight, walked one and gave up one run on five hits.

LAA: RHP Jered Weaver (1-1, 3.09 ERA)
Weaver began the season with 9 2/3 scoreless innings before the Mariners broke through with four runs to hang a loss on the slender right-hander on Wednesday night in Seattle. Weaver has been in top form, despite the loss, serving notice that he could be returning to his rookie form of 2006, when he looked like a dominant starter of the future. He is putting his fastball in good locations and keeping hitters off balance with quality breaking stuff. He has 10 strikeouts against four walks in 11 2/3 innings.

Tidbits

... Leyland has set the Tigers' rotation for the rest of the week. Jackson, who had an outstanding outing in Saturday's 2-0 victory over the Mariners, will start on Thursday against the Angels. Rick Porcello, who started Sunday, will return on Friday against the Royals. Zach Miner, who was skipped because of off-days and a rainout, will start Saturday.
... Leyland lauded Jackson again Sunday after he gutted out 7 2/3 innings despite being sick. "He's a warrior,'' the manager said. "He's something. He likes to be out there and he likes to compete. If I had his stuff, I would, too. He doesn't back off. I really like him -- his personality, makeup."
... Since the start of the 2007 season, the Tigers are hitting a league-high .283 with 141 doubles, 34 triples and 96 home runs in 79 games against American League West teams.
... Entering Sunday's game, the Detroit bullpen had a 2-0 record and had allowed just five runs in 25 2/3 innings (1.75 ERA) over the previous nine games.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Wednesday: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander, 0-2, 7.88 ERA) at Angels (LHP Joe Saunders, (2-1, 2.18) ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Tigers (RHP Edwin Jackson, 1-0, 2.14 ERA) at Angels (LHP Darren Oliver, 0-0, 2.35 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello, 1-1, 3.75 ERA) at Royals (RHP Zack Greinke, (3-0, 0.00 ERA), 8:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit
Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, M, 1B
Guillen, LF
Larish, DH
Laird, C
Inge, 3B
Santiago, SS

LA Angels
Figgins, 3B
Kendrick, 2B
Izturis, M, DH
Abreu, LF
Hunter, CF
Morales, 1B
Napoli, C
Matthews, RF
Aybar, E, SS

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson homers (3) on a fly ball to center field.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez strikes out on foul tip.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Gary MatthewsJr. in foul territory.

1-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Chone Figgins grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Howard Kendrick grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Maicer Izturis singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson, deflected by pitcher Armando Galarraga.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu singles on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Maicer Izturis to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Torii Hunter lines out sharply to third baseman Brandon Inge.

1-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to left fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
With Jeff Larish batting, Carlos Guillen steals (1) 2nd base.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jeff Larish swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Gary MatthewsJr.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to pitcher Jered Weaver. Carlos Guillen scores.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.

2-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Kendry Morales singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Mike Napoli walks. Kendry Morales to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gary MatthewsJr. flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Kendry Morales to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Erick Aybar singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Kendry Morales scores. Mike Napoli to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Chone Figgins singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Mike Napoli to 3rd. Erick Aybar to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Howard Kendrick grounds into a force
out, third baseman Brandon Inge to catcher Gerald Laird. Mike Napoli
out at home. Erick Aybar to 3rd. Chone Figgins to 2nd. Howard Kendrick
to 1st.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Maicer Izturis grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

2-1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson homers (4) on a fly ball to right center field.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco pops out to second baseman Howard Kendrick.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to left fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Gary MatthewsJr.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder Gary MatthewsJr. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Jeff Larish flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

3-1

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Bobby Abreu singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Torii Hunter pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Kendry Morales walks. Bobby Abreu to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Mike Napoli walks. Bobby Abreu to 3rd. Kendry Morales to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Gary MatthewsJr. flies into sacrifice
double play, right fielder Magglio Ordonez to shortstop Ramon Santiago
to third baseman Brandon Inge. Bobby Abreu scores. Kendry Morales out
at 3rd.

3-2 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to second baseman Howard Kendrick.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to third baseman Chone Figgins in foul territory.

3-2

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Erick Aybar lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Chone Figgins grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Howard Kendrick swinging.

3-2 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Maicer Izturis swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Torii Hunter homers (5) on a fly ball to left center field.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Kendry Morales swinging.

3-3 tie after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jeff Larish flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird pops out to second baseman Howard Kendrick.

tied 3-3

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Armando Galarraga.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Los Angeles Angels Manager Mike Scioscia ejected by HP umpire Tim Timmons.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Mike Napoli grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Gary MatthewsJr. swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Erick Aybar singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
With Chone Figgins batting, Erick Aybar caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

3-3 after 6 innings


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
With Chone Figgins batting, Erick Aybar caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.

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

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, first baseman Kendry Morales to pitcher Jered Weaver.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Zach Miner.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Chone Figgins grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Howard Kendrick flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Maicer Izturis singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Bobby Abreu grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

3-3 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Arredondo replaces Jered Weaver.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco reaches on fielding error by third baseman Chone Figgins.

B:2 S:1 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into double
play, second baseman Howard Kendrick to first baseman Kendry Morales.
Placido Polanco out at 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.

still 3-3

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Torii Hunter walks.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Kendry Morales flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Torii Hunter to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Napoli grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Gary MatthewsJr. doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Torii Hunter scores.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Erick Aybar grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Angels 4-3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Fuentes replaces Jose Arredondo.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Adam Everett replaces Jeff Larish.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Josh Anderson replaces Carlos Guillen.

B:0 S:2 O:1 - With Adam Everett batting, Josh Anderson
picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Brian Fuentes to first
baseman Kendry Morales to shortstop Erick Aybar.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Adam Everett swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird hit by pitch.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Injury Delay.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

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

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago called out on .

Tigers lose 3-4

April 21, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	8	0
LA Angels	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	X		4	10	1

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 2 2 2 0 1 0 .232 Polanco, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269 Ordonez, RF 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .292 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .451 Guillen, LF 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .234 --1-Anderson, J, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353 Larish, DH 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .154 --a-Everett, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .227 Laird, C 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 Inge, 3B 3 0 1 1 1 1 0 .289 Santiago, SS 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .276 Totals 34 3 8 3 1 8 11 a-Struck out for Larish in the 9th. 1-Ran for Guillen in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Guillen (3, Weaver). HR: Granderson 2 (4, 1st inning off Weaver, 0 on, 0 out; 3rd inning off Weaver, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Granderson 8; Polanco; Ordonez; Guillen 4; Inge. RBI: Granderson 2 (8), Inge (12). 2-out RBI: Inge. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Larish 2; Santiago. GIDP: Ordonez. Team RISP: 1-for-5. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Guillen (1, 2nd base off Weaver/Napoli). CS: Anderson, J (1, 2nd base by Fuentes/Napoli). PO: Anderson, J (1st base by Fuentes). FIELDING Outfield assists: Ordonez (Morales at 3rd base). DP: (Ordonez-Santiago-Inge).		LA Angels AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Figgins, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255 Kendrick, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .196 Izturis, M, DH 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .200 Abreu, LF 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .373 Hunter, CF 3 2 1 1 1 0 3 .310 Morales, 1B 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .234 Napoli, C 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 .214 Matthews, RF 3 0 1 2 0 1 2 .200 Aybar, E, SS 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .257 Totals 31 4 10 4 4 5 15 BATTING 2B: Matthews (1, Lyon). HR: Hunter (5, 5th inning off Galarraga, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Figgins; Izturis, M 2; Abreu 2; Hunter 4; Morales; Matthews 2; Aybar, E 2. RBI: Aybar, E (4), Matthews 2 (3), Hunter (9). 2-out RBI: Hunter; Matthews. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hunter; Izturis, M 2; Aybar, E. SF: Matthews. Team RISP: 3-for-9. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING CS: Aybar, E (1, 2nd base by Miner/Laird). FIELDING E: Figgins (2, fielding). DP: (Kendrick-Morales). Pickoffs: Fuentes (Anderson, J at 1st base).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga 5.0 7 3 3 3 4 1 1.96 Miner 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 8.10 Lyon (L, 1-2) 2.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 5.40		LA Angels IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Weaver 7.0 7 3 3 0 6 2 3.38 Arredondo (W, 1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.00 Fuentes (S, 3) 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 7.20
HBP: Laird (by Fuentes). Pitches-strikes: Galarraga 110-67, Miner 19-11, Lyon 29-21, Weaver 99-72, Arredondo 11-6, Fuentes 24-15. Groundouts-flyouts: Galarraga 5-5, Miner 1-0, Lyon 4-2, Weaver 2-13, Arredondo 3-0, Fuentes 0-0. Batters faced: Galarraga 24, Miner 3, Lyon 9, Weaver 28, Arredondo 3, Fuentes 5. EjectionsLos Angeles Angels Manager Mike Scioscia ejected by HP umpire Tim Timmons. (6th). Umpires: HP: Tim Timmons. 1B: Mark Wegner. 2B: Rob Drake. 3B: Jeff Kellogg. Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, Out to CF. T: 2:47. Att: 41,627. April 21, 2009