GDT: 4/23/09 - DET (8-6) AT LAA (5-9) - 10:05 p.m. ET

ANAHEIM -- Ryan Raburn went to Triple-A Toledo three weeks ago with Tigers manager Jim Leyland saying he probably deserved to make the team. Despite a season debut he might like to forget, the Tigers nonetheless need him as a potentially big part on this club.

With Marcus Thames out for likely at least a month with a severe rib cage strain, the Tigers are without a right-handed power bat off their bench. That won't matter on many days, when Detroit can balance out its lineup with left-handed bats against right-handed starters, including Angels rookie starter Matt Palmer in Thursday's series finale. But lefty starters and relievers are another story.

Raburn, whose five home runs for the Mud Hens lead the International League, was their answer. With Thames' timetable for anything but a quick return, Raburn might need to fill that role for a while.

As such, he'll fit into the mix-and-match puzzle that has become the Tigers' DH spot.

"He's going to get a chance to play some," Leyland said.

Much like Leyland had done for much of the season's first couple weeks, he's expected to shuffle guys in and out of DH to give his regulars an occasional day out of the field without taking them out of the lineup. Carlos Guillen was able to keep hitting that way while his right Achilles tendon bothered him earlier this month, and he could still end up doing so if it worsens again. Magglio Ordonez was the Tigers' DH Tuesday while Raburn struggled in right field.

It was in right that Raburn struggled with two drives Wednesday. Maicer Izturis' deep liner fooled him before glancing off his glove for what was ruled a first-inning double. Another Izturis liner stayed up enough for Raburn to apparently lose it in the lights.

With infielder/outfielder Raburn, outfielder Josh Anderson, corner infielder/outfield Jeff Larish and utility infielder Ramon Santiago available, the Tigers have versatility galore to make those moves. But Raburn is the only power bat from the right side available for them in that situation.

"I'm back here now," Raburn said before Wednesday's game. "For how long, I don't know, but I'm going to try to make the most of it."

Eight of Raburn's 12 hits at Toledo were for extra bases, including three doubles, giving him a .995 OPS. Four of his homers had come over his last eight games before the callup. His 13 strikeouts in 47 at-bats brought back memories of his high strikeout totals from past years with the Mud Hens, but his contact had been consistently solid.

While Raburn and Larish bring a potential power boost to the lineup when they're in, Anderson has shown the potential for inning-changing speed. His two-out steal of second base in a mid-game appearance Wednesday allowed the Tigers to take a run on Adam Everett's ensuing single, bringing them within a run with the type of offense they struggled to manufacture over the past couple years.

All of those options are now in play with Thames out.

"I can go a lot of different ways with it," Leyland said.

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (1-0, 2.14 ERA)
Jackson is coming off an outstanding outing on Saturday against the Mariners in Seattle in which he went 7 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and five hits. Jackson kept the Mariners off-balance with offspeed pitches behind his mid-90s fastball and stuck out six. He is becoming the pitcher the Tigers hoped he would be when they traded for him during the offseason. Jackson allowed four runs over seven innings and took the win in his only start against the Angels last season.

LAA: RHP Matt Palmer (0-0, -.-- ERA)
Palmer will be recalled Thursday from Triple-A to face the Tigers in his fourth-career Major League start. Palmer went 0-2 with an 8.33 ERA for the Giants last season and was 1-1 with a 11.74 ERA in two Minor League starts this season. Even though he's struggled at the Major League level, Angels manager Mike Scioscia liked what he saw from Palmer in Spring Training and called him the club's "best short-term option" with Darren Oliver moving back to the bullpen.


Tidbits

... The Tigers have a decision to make on reliever Joel Zumaya on Thursday once they're assured his shoulder feels fine after back-to-back outings the last two nights. The Tigers could decide to activate Zumaya in the coming days or have him pitch on more time with the Mud Hens this weekend while the Tigers are on the road.
... Curtis Granderson's home run Wednesday moved him into a tie for the team lead with five along with Brandon Inge, who also homered in the ninth inning.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• 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
• Saturday: Tigers (RHP Zach Miner, 1-1, 8.10 ERA) at Royals (RHP Kyle Davies, 1-0, 2.89 ERA), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga, (2-0, 1.96 ERA) at Royals (RHP Sidney Ponson, 0-2, 7.04 ERA), 2:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .267
Polanco, 2B .276
Ordonez, RF .321
Cabrera, M, 1B .444
Guillen, DH .250
Inge, 3B .320
Anderson, J, LF .368
Treanor, C .000
Everett, SS .308

LA Angels AVG
Figgins, 3B .250
Izturis, M, SS .267
Abreu, RF .370
Hunter, DH .348
Morales, 1B .250
Rivera, LF .302
Matthews, CF .240
Kendrick, 2B .196
Mathis, C .235

Current Conditions

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Partly Cloudy 64 F

Humidity: 67 %

Wind: from the SW at 9 mph

Barometer: 29.93 in

last updated: 4/23/09 5:45 PM PDT

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gary MatthewsJr.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Curtis Granderson steals (2) 2nd base.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco walks.

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop
Maicer Izturis to first baseman Kendry Morales. Curtis Granderson to
3rd. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball
to third baseman Chone Figgins. Curtis Granderson scores. Placido
Polanco to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Carlos Guillen grounds into double play,
shortstop Maicer Izturis to second baseman Howard Kendrick to first
baseman Kendry Morales. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

1-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Chone Figgins flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Maicer Izturis grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
With Torii Hunter batting, Bobby Abreu steals (8) 2nd base.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Torii Hunter swinging.

1-0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Brandon Inge homers (6) on a fly ball to left field.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Anderson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Maicer Izturis.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
With Matt Treanor batting, Josh Anderson steals (4) 2nd base.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Matt Treanor flies out to center fielder Gary MatthewsJr. Josh Anderson to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Adam Everett reaches on a fielder's
choice out, third baseman Chone Figgins to catcher Jeff Mathis. Josh
Anderson out at home.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

2-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Kendry Morales singles on a ground ball to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Juan Rivera pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Gary MatthewsJr. flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Howard Kendrick flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

2-0

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on strikes.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Maicer Izturis to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Juan Rivera.


Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jeff Mathis strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Chone Figgins grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Maicer Izturis singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Bobby Abreu batting, Maicer Izturis steals (2) 2nd base.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Bobby Abreu grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Edwin Jackson.

2-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

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

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Josh Anderson flies out to left fielder Juan Rivera.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Matt Treanor pops out to first baseman Kendry Morales in foul territory.

2-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Torii Hunter singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Kendry Morales singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Torii Hunter to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Juan Rivera singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge. Torii Hunter to 3rd. Kendry Morales to 2nd.

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

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Gary MatthewsJr. walks. Torii Hunter scores. Kendry Morales to 3rd. Juan Rivera to 2nd.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Howard Kendrick called out on strikes.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Jeff Mathis walks. Kendry Morales scores. Juan Rivera to 3rd. Gary MatthewsJr. to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Chone Figgins flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

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

tied 2-2 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to catcher Jeff Mathis in foul territory.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Howard Kendrick to first baseman Kendry Morales.

2-2

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Bobby Abreu strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Torii Hunter homers (6) on a fly ball to center field.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Kendry Morales grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Juan Rivera flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

LAA 3-2 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Maicer Izturis to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gary MatthewsJr.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Gary MatthewsJr.

LAA 3-2

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Gary MatthewsJr. singles on a ground ball to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Howard Kendrick reaches on fielding error by shortstop Adam Everett. Gary MatthewsJr. to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
With Jeff Mathis batting, wild pitch by Edwin Jackson, Gary MatthewsJr. to 3rd. Howard Kendrick to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:0 - Jeff Mathis singles on a ground ball to
third baseman Brandon Inge. Gary MatthewsJr. scores. Howard Kendrick
scores. Jeff Mathis to 2nd. Throwing error by third baseman Brandon
Inge.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Eddie Bonine replaces Edwin Jackson.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Chone Figgins flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Maicer Izturis grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Eddie Bonine. Jeff Mathis to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu singles on a ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett. Jeff Mathis scores.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Torii Hunter grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Bobby
Abreu out at 2nd.

LAA 6-2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Josh Anderson reaches on throwing error by third baseman Chone Figgins. Josh Anderson to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jeff Larish replaces Matt Treanor.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Jeff Larish walks.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Adam Everett walks. Josh Anderson to 3rd. Jeff Larish to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Daniel Davidson replaces Matt Palmer.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks. Josh Anderson scores. Jeff Larish to 3rd. Adam Everett to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jason Bulger replaces Daniel Davidson.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball
to left fielder Juan Rivera. Jeff Larish scores. Adam Everett scores.
Curtis Granderson to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to first baseman Kendry Morales in foul territory.

B:1 S:0 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales. Curtis
Granderson out at 3rd.

LAA 6-5

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Gerald Laird replaces Jeff Larish, batting 8th, playing catcher.

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

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

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

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Howard Kendrick doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Gary MatthewsJr. to 3rd.

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

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Jeff Mathis walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Chone Figgins singles on a bunt ground
ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Gary MatthewsJr. scores. Howard
Kendrick scores. Jeff Mathis to 3rd. Throwing error by first baseman
Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Maicer Izturis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jeff Mathis scores. Chone Figgins to 3rd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Eddie Bonine.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Chone Figgins scores. Maicer Izturis to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Torii Hunter grounds into a force out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Bobby Abreu out at 2nd.

LAA 10-5 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen strikes out on foul tip.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge called out on strikes.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Josh Anderson grounds out to first baseman Kendry Morales.


Bottom Half

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


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Juan Rivera grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


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

LAA 10-5 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Justin Speier replaces Jason Bulger.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales.


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

LAA wins 10-5

April 23, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	0		5	7	4
LA Angels	0	0	0	2	1	3	4	0	X		10	14	1

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 1 2 1 1 0 0 .281 Polanco, 2B 3 0 1 2 1 0 2 .279 Ordonez, RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .298 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 .431 Guillen, DH 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .250 Inge, 3B 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .315 Anderson, J, LF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .348 Treanor, C 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 --a-Larish, PH 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .154 --Laird, C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 Everett, SS 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .276 Totals 33 5 7 5 4 3 13 a-Walked for Treanor in the 7th. BATTING HR: Inge (6, 2nd inning off Palmer, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Granderson 2; Polanco; Cabrera, M; Guillen; Inge 4; Anderson, J. RBI: Cabrera, M (13), Inge (15), Granderson (10), Polanco 2 (10). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Polanco. GIDP: Guillen; Cabrera, M. Team RISP: 2-for-9. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING SB: Granderson (2, 2nd base off Palmer/Mathis), Anderson, J (4, 2nd base off Palmer/Mathis). FIELDING E: Inge 2 (5, fielding, throw), Everett (3, fielding), Cabrera, M (1, throw).		LA Angels AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Figgins, 3B 5 1 1 1 0 0 4 .246 Izturis, M, SS 5 0 2 1 0 0 4 .286 Abreu, RF 5 0 2 2 0 1 1 .373 Hunter, DH 5 2 2 1 0 1 4 .353 Morales, 1B 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .263 Rivera, LF 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 .292 Matthews, CF 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 .276 Kendrick, 2B 4 2 1 0 0 1 4 .200 Mathis, C 2 2 1 1 2 1 0 .263 Totals 40 10 14 7 3 5 19 BATTING 2B: Kendrick (1, Bonine). HR: Hunter (6, 5th inning off Jackson, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Figgins; Izturis, M 2; Abreu 2; Hunter 5; Morales 2; Rivera; Matthews 2; Kendrick 2; Mathis. RBI: Matthews (4), Mathis (3), Hunter (11), Abreu 2 (8), Figgins (2), Izturis, M (4). 2-out RBI: Abreu 2; Figgins; Izturis, M. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hunter 2; Abreu; Izturis, M 2. Team RISP: 6-for-14. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING SB: Abreu (8, 2nd base off Jackson/Treanor), Izturis, M (2, 2nd base off Jackson/Treanor). FIELDING E: Figgins (3, throw). DP: 2 (Izturis, M-Kendrick-Morales, Figgins-Morales).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Jackson (L, 1-1) 5.0 8 6 3 2 4 1 2.77 Bonine 1.2 5 4 4 1 0 0 9.00 Lyon 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.50		LA Angels IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Palmer (W, 1-0) 6.0 6 5 4 3 1 1 6.00 Davidson 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Bulger (H, 1) 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 9.00 Speier 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.18
Jackson pitched to 3 batters in the 6th. Palmer pitched to 3 batters in the 7th. Davidson pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. WP: Jackson. Pitches-strikes: Jackson 104-63, Bonine 31-20, Lyon 18-13, Palmer 100-55, Davidson 5-1, Bulger 17-11, Speier 8-6. Groundouts-flyouts: Jackson 5-6, Bonine 4-1, Lyon 3-0, Palmer 9-8, Davidson 0-0, Bulger 3-1, Speier 1-2. Batters faced: Jackson 27, Bonine 11, Lyon 5, Palmer 27, Davidson 1, Bulger 6, Speier 3. Inherited runners-scored: Bonine 1-1, Lyon 2-1, Davidson 3-1, Bulger 3-2. Umpires: HP: Rob Drake. 1B: Jeff Kellogg. 2B: Tim Timmons. 3B: Mark Wegner. Weather: 64 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, Varies. T: 3:00. Att: 38,543. April 23, 2009