GDT: 5/28/09 - DET (26-19) AT BAL (21-26) - 7:05 p.m. ET

KANSAS CITY -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday that it's tougher for a pitcher to get over a bad outing than it is for a hitter to get past a hitless game. Armando Galarraga wouldn't argue that.

Once again, Galarraga faced extra work between starts to try to identify and fix what ails his game. This time, the focus was on his arm slot and getting it to a consistent angle. The inconsistency stemmed from Galarraga's delivery, in which his body was opening up to throw before his arm was ready. Galarraga's foot placement, meanwhile, was sending him towards the first-base side of the mound. Those items were all part of his work leading into his last start.

Galarraga's been doing a lot of work to get his game in shape, and he has gone into his start each time trying to focus on the hitters rather than himself. So far, it hasn't turned him around, though he said he felt like he was better in his last start Saturday against the Rockies.

"I feel a lot better," Galarraga said. "There's still a lot of work to do. I need to work on my sinker and my slider. I think getting my command better is my key, and staying in the game longer -- seven innings, eight innings."

Galarraga's aggressiveness in his last start was certainly better, which was a start for him. But after racking up 16 swings and misses in his season-opening start April 10 against the Rangers and 13 on April 26 at Kansas City, Galarraga has managed just six over his last two starts combined.

"He was pretty aggressive [Saturday]," Leyland said. "It's just when you don't have the same release point, the ball goes in different places."

The problem doesn't seem to be related to fatigue. Though Galarraga pitched for his native Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, it wasn't a heavy workload. If anything, the worry when he returned to the Tigers for the final couple weeks of Spring Training was that he hadn't pitched enough.

Besides, he was Detroit's Pitcher of the Month in April, going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He's still looking for his first win of May, and this is his last start to try to get it.

It most likely won't be his final attempt to get his game in shape. With Jeremy Bonderman still working off some lingering rust at Triple-A Toledo in his rehab start, it appears he'll have at least one more outing with the Mud Hens, if not more. Plus, Leyland said Wednesday that he plans on keeping his rotation in order after Monday's off-day, so nobody's going to be skipped.

"I'm just trying to get my rhythm back, get my sinker back, get my slider back," Galarraga said. "I believe I'm going to get it. It's still a long season, four more months. I believe I'm going to get it, one [game] at a time. "


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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-4, 5.74 ERA)
The Tigers and Galarraga continue to work on the issues that turned the team's Pitcher of the Month for April into a pitching mess for May. After going 3-0 in the opening month, he's 0-4 with a 9.92 ERA in his past five starts, having allowed 25 runs on 30 hits over 22 2/3 innings. Galarraga was somewhat better in his last outing on Saturday, allowing four Rockies runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings, but his crushing blow was a Todd Helton solo homer he allowed immediately after the Tigers tied the game.

BAL: RHP David Hernandez (Major League debut)
Hernandez will be the second Orioles pitcher in less than a week to make his big league debut when he replaces the injured Koji Uehara. Hernandez struck out 14 batters in his last outing at Triple-A Norfolk and has posted a 3-1 record and a 2.91 ERA through eight starts. Hernandez led the Eastern League in strikeouts last year and currently ranks second in the International League in that category.

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Tidbits

... Thursday might be the only game of the series before the Tigers see baseball's top-rated catching prospect, Matt Wieters. The Orioles are expected to call him up from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.
... Magglio Ordonez has a 13-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .340 (17-for-50).
... Miguel Cabrera is 8-for-20 over his last five games, including two doubles and two homers.
... The Tigers will be without radio play-by-play Dan Dickerson for the series. He returned to Detroit on Wednesday to undergo surgery for a ruptured left quad tendon, which he suffered while jogging in Kansas City on Tuesday morning.

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On the Internet
MLB.TV
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• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FS-D

On radio
• WXYT 1270 AM / 97.1 FM

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Friday: Tigers (Dontrelle Willis, 1-1, 3.57 ERA) at Orioles (Brad Bergesen, 1-2, 5.49 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 5-2, 3.55 ERA) at Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 4-4, 4.90 ERA), 7:05 p.m.
• Sunday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 4-3, 2.58 ERA) at Orioles (Jason Berken, 1-0, 3.60 ERA), 1:35 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Thomas, LF .257
Polanco, 2B .269
Ordonez, RF .263
Cabrera, M, 1B .374
Granderson, CF .247
Inge, 3B .274
Larish, DH .222
Laird, C .242
Santiago, SS .348


Baltimore AVG
Roberts, 2B .302
Jones, CF .359
Markakis, RF .303
Huff, 1B .269
Mora, 3B .268
Scott, DH .311
Reimold, N, LF .265
Zaun, C .214
Izturis, C, SS .246

Inning 1
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Clete Thomas walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Adam Jones.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Nick Markakis. Clete Thomas to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Brandon Inge lines out to left fielder Nolan Reimold.

0-0

Bottom Half

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Adam Jones grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Brian Roberts out at 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Nick Markakis called out on strikes.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

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

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Melvin Mora to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Aubrey Huff walks.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Melvin Mora grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Aubrey Huff out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Luke Scott homers (7) on a fly ball to center field.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Nolan Reimold strikes out swinging.

birds 1 -0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Clete Thomas pops out to second baseman Brian Roberts.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Nick Markakis.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Adam Jones.

birds 1 -0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Gregg Zaun swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Cesar Izturis singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brian Roberts flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

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

4 for


birds 1 -0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Cesar Izturis to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Nolan Reimold.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Brandon Inge grounds into double play,
third baseman Melvin Mora to second baseman Brian Roberts to first
baseman Aubrey Huff. Curtis Granderson out at 2nd.

birds 1 -0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Nick Markakis grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff hit by pitch.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
With Melvin Mora batting, Aubrey Huff caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to second baseman Placido Polanco.

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

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

birds 1 -0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Jeff Larish doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Markakis.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Gerald Laird walks.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Ramon Santiago grounds into a force out,
pitcher David Hernandez to third baseman Melvin Mora. Jeff Larish out
at 3rd. Gerald Laird to 2nd. Ramon Santiago to 1st.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Adam Jones. Gerald Laird scores. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco pops out to third baseman Melvin Mora in foul territory.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to center fielder Adam Jones.

Tied 1-1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Nolan Reimold homers (5) on a fly ball to left field.

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

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Cesar Izturis singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brian Roberts singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Cesar Izturis to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Jones flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Nick Markakis flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

Birds 2 -1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

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


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Nick Markakis.


B:3 S:2 O:1 - With Brandon Inge batting, Curtis
Granderson steals (8) 2nd base, . Curtis Granderson advances to 3rd, on
throwing error by catcher Gregg Zaun.


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


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Jeff Larish pops out to third baseman Melvin Mora in foul territory.


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Albers replaces David Hernandez.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Injury Delay.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago called out on .

Birds 2 -1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Aubrey Huff doubles (14) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Melvin Mora singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Aubrey Huff to 3rd.

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

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Luke Scott flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Nolan Reimold grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Melvin Mora out at 2nd.

Birds 2 -1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Clete Thomas walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Aubrey Huff to second baseman Brian Roberts. Clete Thomas to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out to first baseman Aubrey Huff. Clete Thomas to 3rd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Jim Johnson replaces Matt Albers.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Brian Roberts.

Birds 2 -1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Cesar Izturis flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.
Birds 2 -1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

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

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge reaches on throwing error by third baseman Melvin Mora.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Jeff Larish walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Josh Anderson replaces Jeff Larish.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Gerald Laird grounds into double play,
third baseman Melvin Mora to second baseman Brian Roberts to first
baseman Aubrey Huff. Josh Anderson out at 2nd.



Birds 2 -1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Anderson remains in the game as the designated hitter.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Adam Jones singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

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

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Nick Markakis flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas. Adam Jones to 2nd.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff walks.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Bobby Seay.

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

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Melvin Mora called out on .

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Luke Scott homers (8) on a fly ball to center field. Adam Jones scores. Aubrey Huff scores.

Birds 5 -1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: George Sherrill replaces Jim Johnson.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to first baseman Aubrey Huff in foul territory.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Adam Jones.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, pitcher George Sherrill to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

Tigers lose 1-5

May 28, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		1	5	0
Baltimore	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	X		5	11	2

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Thomas, LF 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 .264 --a-Raburn, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 Polanco, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .263 Ordonez, RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .263 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .366 Granderson, CF 3 0 2 0 1 1 0 .254 Inge, 3B 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 .269 Larish, DH 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 .228 --1-Anderson, J, PR-DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302 Laird, C 2 1 0 0 2 0 2 .238 Santiago, SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .329 Totals 30 1 5 1 7 5 22 a-Flied out for Thomas in the 9th. 1-Ran for Larish in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Larish (1, Hernandez, D). TB: Thomas; Ordonez; Granderson 2; Larish 2. RBI: Thomas (9). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Inge 2; Ordonez; Santiago 2; Cabrera, M. S: Polanco. GIDP: Inge; Laird. Team RISP: 1-for-11. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Granderson (8, 2nd base off Hernandez, D/Zaun). FIELDING DP: 3 (Inge-Polanco-Cabrera, M 3).		Baltimore AB- R-- H-- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Roberts, 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .306 Jones, CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 .357 Markakis, RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .297 Huff, 1B 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 .273 Mora, 3B 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .276 Scott, DH 4 2 2 4 0 0 3 .318 Reimold, N, LF 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .264 Zaun, C 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .209 Izturis, C, SS 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .256 Totals 31 5 11 5 2 5 16 BATTING 2B: Huff (14, Galarraga). HR: Scott 2 (8, 2nd inning off Galarraga, 0 on, 2 out; 8th inning off Perry, 2 on, 2 out), Reimold, N (5, 5th inning off Galarraga, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Roberts 2; Jones; Huff 2; Mora 2; Scott 8; Reimold, N 4; Izturis, C 2. RBI: Scott 4 (22), Reimold, N (10). 2-out RBI: Scott 4. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Markakis. GIDP: Jones; Mora; Reimold, N. Team RISP: 2-for-7. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Huff (4, 2nd base by Galarraga/Laird). FIELDING E: Zaun (4, throw), Mora (3, throw). DP: 2 (Mora-Roberts-Huff 2).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga (L, 3-5) 7.0 10 3 3 1 4 2 5.50 Seay 0.1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5.65 Perry 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 1 2.70		Baltimore IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Hernandez, D (W, 1-0) 5.2 5 1 1 4 3 0 1.59 Albers (H, 3) 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4.91 Johnson (H, 8) 1.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.28 Sherrill 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.61
Galarraga pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. HBP: Huff (by Galarraga). Pitches-strikes: Galarraga 100-63, Seay 8-3, Perry 11-6, Hernandez, D 108-63, Albers 17-7, Johnson 14-8, Sherrill 14-11. Groundouts-flyouts: Galarraga 8-8, Seay 0-1, Perry 0-1, Hernandez, D 6-8, Albers 2-0, Johnson 2-1, Sherrill 1-2. Batters faced: Galarraga 29, Seay 2, Perry 3, Hernandez, D 25, Albers 5, Johnson 5, Sherrill 3. Inherited runners-scored: Seay 1-0, Perry 2-2, Albers 2-0, Johnson 1-0. Umpires: HP: Adrian Johnson. 1B: Larry Vanover. 2B: Dan Iassogna. 3B: Sam Holbrook. Weather: 73 degrees, drizzle. Wind: 6 mph, L to R. T: 2:46. Att: 11,937. May 28, 2009