GDT: 4/26/09 - DET (9-8) AT KC (9-8) - 2:10 p.m. ET

KANSAS CITY -- From Jim Leyland's perspective, the bottom of the Tigers' batting order has the potential to be top-notch.

Detroit's manager felt good about the bottom of the order coming out of Spring Training, and the collective opening-month performance of the guys in the lower half of the lineup has justified that optimism.

"It's been nothing short of fantastic so far," Leyland said.

With guys like Gerald Laird, Brandon Inge, Josh Anderson, Ramon Santiago and Adam Everett anchoring the bottom of the order, opposing pitchers know they can't breathe a sigh of relief once they get past the heart of the lineup.
On Saturday, the Nos. 6-9 hitters combined for eight hits. Laird had three hits and a homer. Inge banged out two hits. Anderson offered a two-run triple and Everett had two hits. All four guys are at .300 or better. Inge has been on a homer/RBI binge through April, and Santiago had 11 runs batted in through the opening 15 games. Throw in the solid batting averages from those in the mix, and the Tigers can envision having a lineup from Nos. 1-9 that makes a pitcher constantly work under stress.

"The bottom of the order looks good," Anderson said. "We know who our big boppers are. If the other guys in the lower half of the lineup can support them by not making anything easy for the pitcher, it's going to be a good situation.

"Are we going to be hot all season at the bottom of the order? I don't know, but the fact is that we want to see pitches and not just give things away."

The bottom of the order will try to keep it going Sunday when the Tigers close out their road trip by taking on Kansas City's veteran right-hander Sidney Ponson.

"I feel our lineup top to bottom is as good as anybody's lineup," Anderson said. "You look at what a guy like Santiago has done. Phenomenal job. He has gotten big hits in big situations. Everybody down there has been chipping in."

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (2-0, 1.96 ERA)
After dominant outings in his first two starts, Galarraga finally had a struggle on his hands Tuesday, thanks to the Angels. A combination of well-placed singles and early walks pushed Galarraga's pitch total past 80 before he could get the second out of the third inning. He made it through five innings, but needed 110 pitches to do it. Fortunately for Galarraga, he has an excellent chance for a rebound at Kansas City, where his last outing, on July 23, saw him take a perfect game into the seventh inning before finally giving up a run on three hits.

KC: RHP Sidney Ponson (0-2, 7.04 ERA)
After making it through his first two starts with creditable six-inning outings, Ponson bogged down Tuesday night at Cleveland. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits and four walks. He also gave up his first homer of the year, Grady Sizemore's three-run shot. Ponson's command was off; he made 80 pitches and only 43 were strikes. So he'll have to upgrade his performance against the Tigers, against whom he's 4-4 with a 6.62 ERA in nine career games.

Tidbits

... Joel Zumaya made his Major League return by working the ninth inning on Saturday. Zumaya allowed two hits, but no runs. It was his first Major League appearance since Aug. 12, 2008.
... The Tigers will be monitoring left-hander Dontrelle Willis' rehab start Sunday for Double-A Erie. "I think the process is Lakeland, Erie and Toledo -- but I can't tell you when that would happen," Leyland said. "Some of that will depend on how he does [Sunday], and how he feels afterwards."
... Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, who guided the Spartans to the NCAA title game against North Carolina, will throw out the first pitch at Monday's Tigers-Yankees game in Comerica Park.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. Yankees (CC Sabathia, 1-1, 4.81 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 1-1, 2.77 ERA) vs. Yankees (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Yankees (Joba Chamberlain, 0-0, 3.94 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

Starting Lineups:

Detroit ________AVG
Granderson, CF__ .264
Polanco, 2B _____ .271
Ordonez, RF _____ .273
Cabrera, M, DH ___.385
Larish, 1B _______ .154
Inge, 3B _________ .322
Anderson, J, LF ___ .300
Everett, SS ______ .303
Sardinha, D, C ____ .000

Kansas City ______ AVG
Crisp, CF _________ .262
DeJesus, D, LF ____ .215
Teahen, 3B _______ .339
Guillen, DH ________ .143
Jacobs, 1B ________ .259
Callaspo, 2B _______ .380
Olivo, C ___________ .200
Maier, RF __________ .182
Aviles, M, SS _______ .169

Quote :

TREANOR PLACED ON DISABLED LIST, SARDINHA’S CONTRACT PURCHASED: The Tigers today announced that catcher Matt Treanor has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip strain. The Tigers today purchased the contract of catcher Dane Sardinha from Triple A Toledo. Sardinha batted .231 (3x13) in five games with Toledo.

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson strikes out on foul tip.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Placido Polanco strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Mike Jacobs.
Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Coco Crisp grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
David DeJesus grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Mark Teahen walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jose Guillen hit by pitch. Mark Teahen to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Mike Jacobs grounds out, first baseman Jeff Larish to pitcher Armando Galarraga.

0-0

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out softly, pitcher Sidney Ponson to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Jeff Larish singles on a ground ball to left fielder David DeJesus.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Jeff Larish scores.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Josh Anderson singles on a line drive to left fielder David DeJesus.

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

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Dane Sardinha grounds out, second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Alberto Callaspo grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Olivo swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Mitch Maier swinging.

2-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

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

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

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

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Mike Aviles flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Coco Crisp walks.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
David DeJesus called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Mark Teahen singles on a sharp ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett. Coco Crisp to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jose Guillen singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Coco Crisp scores. Mark Teahen to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Mike Jacobs batting, Mark Teahen steals (1) 3rd base.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Jacobs walks. Jose Guillen to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Alberto Callaspo grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Jeff Larish.

2-1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jeff Larish grounds out, second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

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

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Olivo swinging, catcher Dane Sardinha to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Mitch Maier grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Mike Aviles grounds out, pitcher Armando Galarraga to first baseman Jeff Larish.

2-1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Josh Anderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Mitch Maier.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
With Adam Everett batting, Josh Anderson steals (6) 2nd base.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Mike Jacobs. Josh Anderson to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Dane Sardinha out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Coco Crisp. Josh Anderson scores.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Mike Jacobs.
Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Coco Crisp walks.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
With David DeJesus batting, Coco Crisp caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Dane Sardinha to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
David DeJesus swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Mark Teahen hit by pitch.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jose Guillen called out on .

3-1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to left fielder David DeJesus.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder David DeJesus.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Jeff Larish grounds out softly, pitcher Sidney Ponson to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mike Jacobs grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Alberto Callaspo doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Olivo swinging, catcher Dane Sardinha to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Mitch Maier walks.

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

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Mike Aviles grounds out softly, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Jeff Larish.

3-1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Mike Aviles to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Josh Anderson singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Mike Aviles.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds into double play, shortstop Mike Aviles to first baseman Mike Jacobs. Josh Anderson out at 2nd.


Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Armando Galarraga.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Coco Crisp grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
David DeJesus grounds out softly, first baseman Jeff Larish to pitcher Bobby Seay.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Mark Teahen grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Jeff Larish.

3-1 after 7 innings

Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Dane Sardinha swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Mark Teahen to first baseman Mike Jacobs.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Bobby Seay.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Jose Guillen flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Mike Jacobs swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Alberto Callaspo walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter John Buck replaces Miguel Olivo.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With John Buck batting, passed ball by Dane Sardinha, Alberto Callaspo to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
John Buck swinging.

3-1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
John Buck remains in the game as the catcher.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Juan Cruz replaces Sidney Ponson.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out softly to right fielder Mitch Maier.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3 - Jeff Larish grounds into double play,
first baseman Mike Jacobs to shortstop Mike Aviles to pitcher Juan
Cruz. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

3-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Ryan Perry.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mitch Maier grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Mike Aviles homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Coco Crisp grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
David DeJesus lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

WIN 3-2

April 26, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		3	6	0
Kansas City	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1		2	4	0

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .250 Polanco, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257 Ordonez, RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257 Cabrera, M, DH 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .382 Larish, 1B 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .176 Inge, 3B 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 .323 Anderson, J, LF 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 .364 Everett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .278 Sardinha, D, C 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 .000 Totals 30 3 6 3 1 7 6 BATTING HR: Inge (7, 2nd inning off Ponson, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Cabrera, M; Larish; Inge 4; Anderson, J 3. RBI: Inge 2 (17), Sardinha, D (1). SF: Sardinha, D. GIDP: Everett; Larish. Team RISP: 0-for-1. Team LOB: 2. BASERUNNING SB: Anderson, J (6, 2nd base off Ponson/Olivo). FIELDING PB: Sardinha, D (1).		Kansas City AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Crisp, CF 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 .250 DeJesus, D, LF 5 0 0 0 0 2 1 .200 Teahen, 3B 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .344 Guillen, DH 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .176 Jacobs, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .246 Callaspo, 2B 3 0 1 0 1 0 3 .377 Olivo, C 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 .184 --a-Buck, PH-C 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .300 Maier, RF 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .143 Aviles, M, SS 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .175 Totals 30 2 4 2 6 9 11 a-Struck out for Olivo in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Callaspo (5, Galarraga). HR: Aviles, M (1, 9th inning off Rodney, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Teahen; Guillen; Callaspo 2; Aviles, M 4. RBI: Guillen (1), Aviles, M (5). 2-out RBI: Guillen. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jacobs; Callaspo 2; Aviles, M; Buck. Team RISP: 1-for-6. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING SB: Teahen (1, 3rd base off Galarraga/Sardinha, D). CS: Crisp (2, 2nd base by Galarraga/Sardinha, D). FIELDING DP: 2 (Aviles, M-Jacobs, Jacobs-Aviles, M-Cruz, J).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga (W, 3-0) 6.0 3 1 1 5 7 0 1.85 Seay (H, 6) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Perry (H, 3) 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1.42 Rodney (S, 4) 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.86		Kansas City IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Ponson (L, 0-3) 8.0 6 3 3 0 7 1 5.79 Cruz, J 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.08
HBP: Guillen (by Galarraga), Teahen (by Galarraga). Pitches-strikes: Galarraga 107-64, Seay 11-8, Perry 22-12, Rodney 17-11, Ponson 101-73, Cruz, J 15-9. Groundouts-flyouts: Galarraga 9-1, Seay 3-0, Perry 0-1, Rodney 2-1, Ponson 13-4, Cruz, J 2-1. Batters faced: Galarraga 27, Seay 3, Perry 4, Rodney 4, Ponson 29, Cruz, J 3. Umpires: HP: Doug Eddings. 1B: Hunter Wendelstedt. 2B: Dana DeMuth. 3B: Todd Tichenor. Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 20 mph, R to L. T: 2:31. Att: 13,521. April 26, 2009