GDT: 6/3/09 - DET (28-22) VS BOS (30-22) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- What his teammates were able to accomplish throughout the month of May, Armando Galarraga hopes will be his fate in June.

Starters Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello became the first Tigers duo each to win five games in a month in nearly nine years -- since Brian Moehler and Steve Sparks accomplished the feat in August 2000 -- as the front end of Detroit's rotation was as good as any in baseball.

Galarraga, though, suffered an inverse fate as the No. 4 starter. He entered May with a 3-0 record and a 1.85 ERA. He's entering Wednesday's game, his first start in June, with a 3-5 record and a 5.50 ERA, and has taken the loss in five of his past six starts.

Yet Galarraga's struggles were often masked by his team's successes. The Tigers went 17-11 in May, and now own the best team ERA in the American League, at 3.90. Hoping his stretch of bad outings is behind him, Galarraga is ready to join the rest of the rotation in pitching lights-out ball.

"Your team is doing well, you want to join, you want to do the same," Galarraga said.

The Tigers' success might be trickling down to Galarraga, who was Detroit's rookie of the year in 2008, as the month ended with a bit of hope for the 27-year-old righty. In his last outing on Thursday in Baltimore, Galarraga gave up three runs and struck out four over seven innings of work -- his longest outing since his first start of the year on April 10.

Galarraga will face off against Josh Becket, who has faced the Tigers only twice in his four-year career with the Red Sox, giving up six runs in 13 innings of work.

Each pitcher on the young staff -- the average age is 25 -- seems to want to outdo his predecessor, most recently when Verlander and Edwin Jackson gave up a combined three earned runs in 14 innings of work over the weekend in Baltimore. Manager Jim Leyland said if there is competition between his starters, that's fine with him.

"As long as it's healthy, I think that's great," Leyland said.

For Galarraga, the strong pitching performances around him have served as an encouragement. As he looks to emerge from a month's worth of struggles with a strong outing Wednesday, he said he has stayed patient throughout the process. After all, it's only June.

"I don't believe in the pressure," Galarraga said. "You can't be pressured when you're in first place with four months to play."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-5, 5.50 ERA)
Has Galarraga turned a corner? The Tigers certainly hope so, and although the right-hander has dropped five straight decisions, he finally put together a better effort in a 5-1 loss at Baltimore on Thursday. Galarraga surrendered 10 hits, but kept the Tigers in the game. Where he was battered in previous outings this season, Galarraga surrendered only two runs, on solo homers to Luke Scott and Nolan Reimold. The homers, however, continue to be a problem for Galarraga, who has allowed 11 this season after serving up 28 long balls last year.

BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (5-2, 4.60 ERA)
Beckett had another strong outing, this time against the Twins at the Metrodome on Thursday afternoon. The ace righty received the win by allowing only one earned run on three hits and four walks in seven innings while whiffing eight. The only run came on a Joe Crede solo homer. Beckett has only allowed three earned runs over his past three starts, covering 22 innings. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two career starts against the Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis has two home runs in three at-bats against Galarraga.
... After Wednesday's start, Galarraga will start the front end of a doubleheader Monday against the White Sox, Leyland said. Who will start the second game has yet to be determined.
... Magglio Ordonez's .345 average against the Red Sox is the third highest against any opposing team, minimum 50 plate appearances.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Tigers (Dontrelle Willis, 1-2, 5.56 ERA) vs. Red Sox (Tim Wakefield, 6-3, 4.55 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (TBD) vs. Angels (Matt Palmer, 5-0, 4.06 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (TBD) vs. Angels (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Boston AVG
Pedroia, 2B .328
Drew, RF .258
Youkilis, 1B .356
Bay, LF .284
Lowell, 3B .299
Ortiz, DH .186
Varitek, C .248
Ellsbury, CF .304
Green, N, SS .290

Detroit AVG
Thomas, LF .270
Polanco, 2B .255
Ordonez, RF .279
Cabrera, M, 1B .358
Granderson, CF .267
Larish, DH .246
Inge, 3B .269
Laird, C .229
Everett, SS .284

66 degrees at Game Time

Mostly Cloudy

Northeast Winds 5-10mph

Inning 1
Top Half

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

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
J. D. Drew homers (8) on a line drive to right field. Dustin Pedroia scores.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Kevin Youkilis flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jason Bay pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Mike Lowell pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

BOS 2-0

Bottom Half

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

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, catcher Jason Varitek to first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

BOS 2-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
David Ortiz grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Jason Varitek swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Jacoby Ellsbury grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

BOS 2-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Jeff Larish called out on strikes.

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

BOS 2-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Nick Green strikes out swinging.

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

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
J. D. Drew grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

BOS 2-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, second baseman Dustin Pedroia to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

BOS 2-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Kevin Youkilis singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jason Bay walks. Kevin Youkilis to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Mike Lowell grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Kevin
Youkilis out at 3rd. Jason Bay to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
David Ortiz flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

BOS 2-0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, second baseman Dustin Pedroia to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

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

BOS 2-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jason Varitek flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury singles on a line drive to pitcher Armando Galarraga. ball hit Gala's shoulder.


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

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Nick Green doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jacoby Ellsbury scores.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Dustin Pedroia grounds out ,third
baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera . Nick Green
scores. Interference error by pitcher Armando Galarraga.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
J. D. Drew flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

BOS 4-0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson called out on strikes.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Jeff Larish flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.


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


BOS 4-0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Kevin Youkilis walks.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
With Jason Bay batting, Kevin Youkilis steals (2) 2nd base.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bay lines into unassisted double play, second baseman Placido Polanco. Kevin Youkilis doubled off 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Mike Lowell singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas.

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

BOS 4-0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Gerald Laird called out on strikes.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett pops out to shortstop Nick Green.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, first baseman Kevin Youkilis to pitcher Josh Beckett.

BOS 4-0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

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

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

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Nick Green grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

BOS 4-0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to right fielder J. D. Drew. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

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

BOS 4-0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

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

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Dustin Pedroia singles on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
With J. D. Drew batting, Dustin Pedroia steals (9) 2nd base.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
J. D. Drew walks.

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

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Kevin Youkilis doubles (14) on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Dustin Pedroia scores. J. Drew to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Jason Bay singles on a line drive to pitcher Zach Miner.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Mike Lowell swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Nate Robertson replaces Zach Miner.

B:1 S:0 O:1 - David Ortiz doubles (14) on a line drive
to center fielder Curtis Granderson. J. Drew scores. Kevin Youkilis
scores. Jason Bay to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Varitek doubles (11) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jason Bay scores. David Ortiz scores.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas. Jason Varitek to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:2 - Nick Green grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Jason
Varitek scores. Jacoby Ellsbury out at 2nd. Nick Green to 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Dustin Pedroia grounds into a force out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Nick Green out at 2nd.

BOS 10-0 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Mark Kotsay replaces right fielder J. Drew, batting 2nd, playing right field.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Brandon Inge doubles (7) on a ground ball to left fielder Jason Bay.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ramon Santiago replaces Brandon Inge.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Gerald Laird hit by pitch.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett pops out to catcher Jason Varitek in foul territory.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Clete Thomas reaches on force attempt,
throwing error by second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Ramon Santiago scores.
Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Daniel Bard replaces Josh Beckett.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Josh Anderson replaces Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Josh Anderson reaches on fielding error by shortstop Nick Green. Gerald Laird to 3rd. Clete Thomas to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Defensive switch from right field to first base for Mark Kotsay.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Defensive Substitution: Rocco Baldelli replaces first baseman Kevin Youkilis, batting 3rd, playing right field.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera reaches on fielding error
by third baseman Mike Lowell. Gerald Laird scores. Clete Thomas to 3rd.
Josh Anderson to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:2 - Curtis Granderson triples (2) on a line
drive to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Clete Thomas scores. Josh
Anderson scores. Miguel Cabrera scores.

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

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Jeff Larish grounds out, second baseman Dustin Pedroia to first baseman Mark Kotsay.

BOS 10-5 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Anderson remains in the game as the right fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago remains in the game as the third baseman.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Nate Robertson.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Kotsay grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Rocco Baldelli singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Anderson.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bay flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Mike Lowell flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

BOS 10-5 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Julio Lugo replaces third baseman Mike Lowell, batting 5th, playing shortstop.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from shortstop to third base for Nick Green.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Takashi Saito replaces Daniel Bard.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis left the game due to an injured foot/ankle.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell ejected by HP umpire Bob Davidson.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago walks.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Gerald Laird walks. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Clete Thomas called out on strikes.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco hit by pitch. Ramon Santiago to 3rd. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Josh Anderson flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

Tigers lose 5-10

June 3, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	6	0		10	13	3
Detroit	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0		5	3	1

Boston AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Pedroia, 2B 5 2 2 0 0 0 1 .327 Drew, RF 3 2 1 2 1 0 0 .255 --Kotsay, RF-1B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Youkilis, 1B 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .365 --Baldelli, RF 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261 Bay, LF 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 .285 Lowell, 3B 5 0 1 0 0 1 6 .298 --Lugo, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 Ortiz, DH 4 1 1 2 0 0 2 .187 Varitek, C 4 1 1 2 0 1 0 .248 Ellsbury, CF 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .308 Green, N, SS-3B 4 1 1 2 0 1 1 .288 Totals 38 10 13 9 3 3 12 BATTING 2B: Green, N (11, Galarraga), Youkilis (14, Miner), Ortiz (14, Robertson), Varitek (11, Robertson). HR: Drew (8, 1st inning off Galarraga, 1 on, 0 out). TB: Pedroia 2; Drew 4; Youkilis 3; Baldelli; Bay; Lowell; Ortiz 2; Varitek 2; Ellsbury 2; Green, N 2. RBI: Drew 2 (26), Green, N 2 (17), Youkilis (33), Ortiz 2 (20), Varitek 2 (24). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ortiz. GIDP: Lowell. Team RISP: 5-for-11. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Pedroia (9, 2nd base off Miner/Laird), Youkilis (2, 2nd base off Galarraga/Laird). FIELDING E: Pedroia (4, throw), Green, N (9, fielding), Lowell (6, fielding).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Thomas, LF 5 1 0 0 0 2 2 .258 Polanco, 2B 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .251 Ordonez, RF 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .276 --a-Anderson, J, PH-RF 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 .260 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .351 Granderson, CF 4 0 2 3 0 1 0 .272 Larish, DH 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .231 Inge, 3B 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .270 --1-Santiago, PR-3B 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .296 Laird, C 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 .226 Everett, SS 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .274 Totals 33 5 3 3 4 10 17 a-Reached on error for Ordonez in the 8th. 1-Ran for Inge in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Inge (7, Beckett). 3B: Granderson (2, Bard, D). TB: Granderson 4; Inge 2. RBI: Granderson 3 (33). 2-out RBI: Granderson 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M; Larish 2; Anderson, J 2. Team RISP: 1-for-12. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING E: Galarraga (1, interference). DP: 2 (Inge-Cabrera, M, Polanco).
Boston IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Beckett (W, 6-2) 7.2 2 3 0 2 9 0 4.09 Bard, D 0.1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1.04 Saito 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2.84		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga (L, 3-6) 7.0 6 4 3 2 2 1 5.31 Miner 0.1 3 4 4 1 1 0 5.70 Robertson 0.2 3 2 2 0 0 0 5.17 Seay 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.17
HBP: Laird (by Beckett), Polanco (by Saito). Pitches-strikes: Beckett 119-80, Bard, D 16-10, Saito 32-18, Galarraga 98-64, Miner 24-14, Robertson 22-13, Seay 16-11. Groundouts-flyouts: Beckett 6-8, Bard, D 1-0, Saito 0-2, Galarraga 11-7, Miner 0-0, Robertson 2-0, Seay 1-2. Batters faced: Beckett 29, Bard, D 4, Saito 6, Galarraga 27, Miner 5, Robertson 5, Seay 4. Inherited runners-scored: Bard, D 2-2, Robertson 3-3. EjectionsBoston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell ejected by HP umpire Bob Davidson. (9th). Umpires: HP: Bob Davidson. 1B: Jeff Nelson. 2B: Mark Carlson. 3B: Tim Tschida. Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, In from LF. T: 3:09. Att: 29,240. June 3, 2009