GDT: 5/16/09 - DET (18-16) VS OAK (13-19) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- After all the scrutiny over Magglio Ordonez's start at the plate, his early struggles might be just about finished.

He's hitting well enough to be tantalizing his manager.

"I think he's really, really close," Jim Leyland said after Ordonez's three-hit game in Detroit's 14-1 win over the A's on Friday night. "I think he's really close."

Ordonez, rarely one to gush about his hitting, thinks he's just about there.

It wasn't simply the quantity of hits, but the variety and the at-bats -- a well-placed grounder that took a bad hop off shortstop Bobby Crosby in the first inning for an RBI, a soft line drive to center to get out of an 0-2 hole in the third, then a double down the left-field line in the fourth.

It marked just Ordonez's second three-hit game this season, and his first since April 23. He has a six-game hitting streak, during which he's batting 9-for-22 (.409), including his first three doubles of the year.

"It's a good sign," Ordonez said. "I'm going to start hitting."

When Ordonez makes strong statements about his hitting, he has a reason behind them. In this case, it's the work he has put in.

Ordonez came to Cleveland last week mired in a 6-for-49 (.122) slump. Though two of those hits were home runs, the usual extra-base punch, the slashing doubles into the gaps and down the lines, weren't there. And at age 35, his struggles brought up the question whether age had taken away that stroke that earned an American League batting title just two years ago.

Moreover, Ordonez was taking more strikes than usual. While his percentages of strikes fouled off and swinging were about the same as his past couple years, according to baseball-reference.com, Ordonez strikes taken jumped to 26 percent of his total strikes, compared with 20 percent last year and 22 percent in 2007.

Ordonez had been taking extra hitting with coach Lloyd McClendon early in the afternoons on the homestand leading into the trip, but not seeing the results. It took a little patience to see the reward.

"I've been working really hard the last couple weeks," Ordonez said. "It takes time to get your rhythm, sometimes just a little bit. Fortunately [on Friday], I felt good. I was seeing the ball really well. Hopefully I can continue to do that through the season."

It isn't the tracking of the pitches that has Leyland excited as much as the contact Ordonez's making.

"I just think he's getting the bat to the ball better," Leyland said.

Ordonez will have a chance to continue that trend Saturday against A's left-hander Dallas Braden. In 10 career plate appearances against Braden, Ordonez has two homers, a single and three walks.

As well as others in Detroit's lineup have hit around him, including Clete Thomas in the third spot, they all know what a hot-hitting Ordonez can mean.

"We really need him to start waking up the bat," Brandon Inge said. "I think he's obviously been swinigng OK. He's a great hitter. He's one of those guys that starts out a little slow, but he's gong to be there for us in the end. It's good to see his bat starting to wake up. It's going to be fun here once we start putting it all together."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (3-3, 4.28 ERA)
What looked like the struggles you'd expect from a 20-year-old rookie has turned into two pretty effective starts. After Porcello turned a solid sinker into seven scoreless innings against the Twins on May 5, he overcame control woes with the same pitch to get hitters out with his secondary stuff over five innings of one-run ball last Sunday against Cleveland. He didn't give up a home run in either of those outings.

OAK: LHP Dallas Braden (3-4, 2.79 ERA)
In his last start, Braden turned in another solid outing -- this time against the hot-hitting Blue Jays -- but he suffered another loss and was hit in his pitching hand by a first-inning line drive off the bat of Vernon Wells. Braden stayed in the game, allowing three runs and nine hits over six innings. X-rays of Braden's left hand were negative. He has a deep bone bruise but vowed to make his next start before manager Bob Geren pushed him back. The A's have been shut out in three of Braden's seven starts. He has received run support of one or no runs in five starts.

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Tidbits

... Jeremy Bonderman will make his first rehab start Saturday night for Class A West Michigan. Bonderman has been on the disabled list since the end of Spring Training with right shoulder soreness following surgery last summer to repair a circulatory ailment.
... Dane Sardinha remains day-to-day with a sprained right ring finger suffered on a pitch in the dirt Thursday at Minnesota.
... Carlos Guillen continues to rehab his right shoulder with a physical therapist in hopes of loosening it up and swinging a bat soon. He's eligible to come off the 15-day DL next Thursday, but it's uncertain whether he'll be ready by then.
... Placido Polanco is 5-for-11 (.455) lifetime off Braden.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-3, 4.61 ERA) vs. Athletics (Trevor Cahill, 2-2, 3.69 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Tigers (Dontrelle Willis, 0-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. Rangers (Brandon McCarthy, 3-1, 5.92 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Orlando Cabrera lines out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jack Cust swinging.

0-0

Bottom Half

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

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Clete Thomas swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera walks. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Bobby Crosby to first baseman Jason Giambi.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Matt Holliday grounds out softly, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Jason Giambi swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Adam Kennedy grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Rick Porcello.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Bobby Crosby to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird (3) on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Holliday. Ryan Raburn scores.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Bobby Crosby to first baseman Jason Giambi.

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

1-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Sweeney hits a ground-rule double (7) on a fly ball to center field.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Bobby Crosby swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Travis Buck singles on a ground ball to
right fielder Clete Thomas. Ryan Sweeney scores. Travis Buck to 2nd on
the throw.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Orlando Cabrera flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Kurt Suzuki walks.

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

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Jack Cust swinging.



tied 1-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Orlando Cabrera to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, second baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to catcher Kurt Suzuki in foul territory.

tied 1-1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Matt Holliday grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Jason Giambi walks.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney singles on a fly ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Jason Giambi to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Bobby Crosby swinging.

5 for

tied 1-1

Bottom Half

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

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Bobby Crosby to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird singles on a ground ball to shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds into a force out, shortstop Orlando Cabrera to second baseman Adam Kennedy. Gerald Laird out at 2nd.

tied 1-1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Travis Buck grounds out softly, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

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

tied 1-1

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to left fielder Matt Holliday. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Clete Thomas swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera grounds out to pitcher
Dallas Braden. Curtis Granderson scores. Placido Polanco advances to
3rd, on throwing error by pitcher Dallas Braden.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez hits a ground-rule double (4) on a fly ball to center field. Placido Polanco scores.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Magglio Ordonez scores. Brandon Inge scores.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird pops out to second baseman Adam Kennedy.

6-1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Jack Cust lines out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Matt Holliday hit by pitch.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Injury Delay.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jason Giambi pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

6-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Michael Wuertz replaces Dallas Braden.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to right fielder Travis Buck.

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

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
With Placido Polanco batting, wild pitch by Michael Wuertz, Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Jason Giambi. Adam Everett to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera hits a ground-rule double
(6) on a line drive to left-center field. Adam Everett scores. Clete
Thomas to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Travis Buck.

7-1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Rick Porcello.

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

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Bobby Crosby singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Aaron Cunningham replaces Travis Buck.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Bobby Seay.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Aaron Cunningham grounds into a force
out, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco.
Bobby Crosby out at 2nd. Aaron Cunningham to 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Orlando Cabrera flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

7-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Aaron Cunningham remains in the game as the right fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Russ Springer replaces Michael Wuertz.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

7-1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Kurt Suzuki flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Jack Cust flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Matt Holliday grounds out sharply, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

7-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Kevin Cameron replaces Russ Springer.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Clete Thomas walks. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (7) on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Sweeney. Placido Polanco scores. Clete Thomas scores.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Orlando Cabrera to first baseman Jason Giambi. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

9-1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces second baseman Placido Polanco, batting 2nd, playing second base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Jeff Larish replaces first baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 4th, playing first base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Joel Zumaya.


B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Jason Giambi strikes out on foul tip.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Kennedy grounds out, first baseman Jeff Larish to pitcher Fernando Rodney.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Sweeney pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

9-1

May 16, 2009

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

Oakland AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Cabrera, SS 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .223 Suzuki, C 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323 Cust, DH 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .271 Holliday, LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 Giambi, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .202 Kennedy, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 Sweeney, R, CF 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .248 Crosby, 3B 3 0 1 0 0 2 3 .250 Buck, RF 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .209 --a-Cunningham, PH-RF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Totals 31 1 4 1 2 6 11 a-Grounded into a forceout for Buck in the 7th. BATTING 2B: Sweeney, R (7, Porcello). TB: Sweeney, R 3; Crosby; Buck. RBI: Buck (6). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cust; Crosby. Team RISP: 1-for-5. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING E: Braden (1, throw).		Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 5 1 1 0 0 3 2 .255 Polanco, 2B 5 2 3 0 0 0 1 .264 --Santiago, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 Thomas, RF 3 1 0 0 2 2 3 .341 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 3 4 1 0 1 .389 --Larish, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 Ordonez, DH 5 1 1 1 0 0 6 .256 Inge, 3B 4 1 0 0 1 2 1 .281 Raburn, LF 4 2 2 3 0 1 0 .167 Laird, C 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 .220 Everett, SS 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .280 Totals 38 9 14 9 4 8 17 BATTING 2B: Raburn (1, Braden), Laird 2 (4, Braden, Springer), Granderson (4, Braden), Ordonez (4, Braden), Cabrera, M 2 (7, Wuertz, Cameron). HR: Raburn (2, 5th inning off Braden, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Granderson 2; Polanco 3; Cabrera, M 5; Ordonez 2; Raburn 6; Laird 5; Everett. RBI: Laird (8), Cabrera, M 4 (30), Ordonez (17), Raburn 3 (9). 2-out RBI: Ordonez; Raburn 3; Cabrera, M. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ordonez 3; Granderson; Everett; Inge. Team RISP: 6-for-16. Team LOB: 9.
Oakland IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Braden (L, 3-5) 5.0 9 6 6 2 5 1 3.64 Wuertz 1.0 2 1 1 1 1 0 1.83 Springer 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.25 Cameron 1.0 2 2 2 1 1 0 3.00		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello (W, 4-3) 6.0 3 1 1 2 5 0 3.86 Seay 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.40 Zumaya 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.74 Rodney 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.50
WP: Wuertz. HBP: Holliday (by Porcello). Pitches-strikes: Braden 107-63, Wuertz 23-13, Springer 13-9, Cameron 16-9, Porcello 86-51, Seay 8-5, Zumaya 23-17, Rodney 18-10. Groundouts-flyouts: Braden 8-2, Wuertz 1-1, Springer 0-2, Cameron 1-1, Porcello 7-6, Seay 1-0, Zumaya 2-3, Rodney 1-1. Batters faced: Braden 26, Wuertz 6, Springer 4, Cameron 6, Porcello 24, Seay 2, Zumaya 5, Rodney 3. Inherited runners-scored: Zumaya 1-0. Umpires: HP: Phil Cuzzi. 1B: Todd Tichenor. 2B: Tom Hallion. 3B: Jerry Crawford. Weather: 60 degrees, clear. Wind: 18 mph, Out to LF. T: 2:39. Att: 31,554. May 16, 2009