GDT: 6/5/09 - DET (28-24) VS LAA (27-25) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- If there was ever a time for the front end of the Tigers rotation to come up in a series, this is it.

The last time the Tigers were swept in a series, they responded with seven straight wins, giving up three runs or fewer in six of them and sweeping the A's by a 34-9 margin over three games. Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello responded with five of those seven consecutive victories, pushing Detroit back into first place in the American League Central and building its lead.

Now, just as the Tigers come out of a three-game sweep to the Red Sox with a reeling offense and a hobbled Miguel Cabrera, they get the three starters who have anchored their pitching staff so far this season. But they also get the Angels, who pushed them for three games in a closely-fought set in California in April.

This series should be a good sign of whether the Tigers' hot start has the power to carry into June. There seems to be little question of staying power for Verlander and Jackson.

Verlander, Jackson and Porcello combined for a 14-2 record in May, the best combined performance from a Tigers trio since Bill Gullickson, Tom Bolton and Mike Moore won 14 games in August 1993. Verlander and Porcello each went 5-0 with earned run averages on or around 1.50, earning them the American League Pitcher and Rookie of the Month Awards, respectively. They're also the first Tigers tandem to win five games in the same month since Brian Moehler and Steve Sparks in 2000.

The Tigers were 3-8 in May without Jackson, Verlander or Porcello on the mound, and they lost the last two games of their just-finished June series against Boston without them. While Armando Galarraga has thrown quality starts in defeat in his past two outings, it's clear that the momentum of this team goes with Verlander and Jackson and continues with Porcello.

As the offense struggles to put up big run totals against opposing starters, and as an 11-game, 11-day road trip awaits starting next week, that momentum becomes all the more important. If the Tigers can pick up wins against the Angels, it makes Jeremy Bonderman's expected transition back into the rotation a little easier and much less pressure-packed.

The Angels, however, don't make it easy. They were the team that battled Verlander to his last non-quality start April 22, scoring seven runs over five innings against him, before he settled into his current dominance. Kendry Morales drove in five of those runs, including a three-run homer in the first inning.

Verlander gets his chance for revenge in the opener. Maybe just as important, the Tigers have a chance to get some offensive momentum against struggling starter Ervin Santana, roughed up in each of his past two outings since coming back from the disabled list a few weeks ago.

"We're not swinging the bats good," manager Jim Leyland said.

The return of outfielder Marcus Thames could help. He has been on the disabled list since the Tigers' visit to the Angels in April, but he's just about ready for a return after nearly two weeks of a rehab stint with Triple-A Toledo. He's expected to be activated no later than Sunday, adding a power bat to a Detroit lineup that could use one against left-handed starters.

Meanwhile, the Tigers await word on how long they'll be without Cabrera, if at all. He's likely day-to-day after pulling his left hamstring while running the bases Thursday against Boston.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (6-2, 3.63 ERA)
Verlander got a little roughed up in his last start, giving up nine hits in six innings -- including his first home run in more than a month -- and allowed three runs in the outing, as many as in his previous four combined. Yet he still earned the win, giving him a team-high six on the year, all of which have been in his past seven starts, and he continues to anchor the front of the Tigers rotation.

LAA: RHP Ervin Santana (0-2, 9.50 ERA)
Santana did not fare well in his last start, surrendering eight runs on 10 hits over just 5 1/3 innings against Seattle. He walked three, struck out two and watched his ERA soar to 9.50 following the start. Santana earned a no-decision in the outing though, as the Angels defeated the Mariners, 9-8.

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Tidbits

... Curtis Granderson has an eight-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .433 (13-for-30).
... Brandon Inge is 8-for-18 over his past five games, raising his batting average back up to .280 after it briefly dipped to a low of .262, a level not seen since Opening Day.
... Magglio Ordonez and Placido Polanco are both 6-for-17 lifetime for their careers against Santana, including four RBIs from Ordonez. Inge is 3-for-19 off Santana with eight strikeouts.
... Torii Hunter is 7-for-23 in his career off Verlander with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. Vladimir Guerrero is 5-for-9 lifetime off Verlander.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 5-3, 2.30 ERA) vs. Angels (Kelvim Escobar, 2009 debut), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 6-4, 3.70 ERA) vs. Angels (Joe Saunders, 6-4, 3.77 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-6, 5.31 ERA) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 6-2, 2.91 ERA), 2:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

LA Angels AVG
Figgins, 3B .307
Abreu, RF .297
Guerrero, DH .271
Hunter, CF .312
Morales, 1B .278
Rivera, LF .301
Aybar, E, SS .275
Mathis, C .227
Kendrick, 2B .229

Detroit AVG
Anderson, J, LF .260
Polanco, 2B .250
Thomas, RF .247
Ordonez, DH .275
Granderson, CF .271
Inge, 3B .280
Larish, 1B .224
Laird, C .224
Everett, SS .267

73 degrees at Game Time

Partly Cloudy

Winds light and variable


Low near 60 degrees later tonight

GO TIGERS GO

SWEEP THE ANGELS!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Chone Figgins flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Bobby Abreu walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Vladimir Guerrero pops out to first baseman Jeff Larish in foul territory.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Torii Hunter swinging.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Josh Anderson flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales.

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

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Kendry Morales called out on .

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Juan Rivera grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Erick Aybar singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Jeff Mathis flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas in foul territory.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter.


B:0 S:0 O:3 - Brandon Inge grounds into double play,
third baseman Chone Figgins to second baseman Howard Kendrick to first
baseman Kendry Morales. Curtis Granderson out at 2nd.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Howard Kendrick lines out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Chone Figgins walks.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
With Bobby Abreu batting, Chone Figgins steals (21) 2nd base.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Vladimir Guerrero flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Jeff Larish called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.

0-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Torii Hunter pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Kendry Morales swinging, catcher Gerald Laird to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Juan Rivera swinging.

5 for

0-0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Anderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Josh Anderson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Jeff Mathis to shortstop Erick Aybar.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas swinging, catcher Jeff Mathis to first baseman Kendry Morales.

0-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Erick Aybar flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jeff Mathis hit by pitch.

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

B:0 S:2 O:2 - Howard Kendrick grounds into a force
out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Jeff
Mathis out at 2nd. Howard Kendrick to 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
With Chone Figgins batting, Howard Kendrick caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Adam Everett.

0-0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (8) on a fly ball to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu in foul territory. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.

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

B:3 S:1 O:3 - Jeff Larish grounds into double play,
second baseman Howard Kendrick to shortstop Erick Aybar to first
baseman Kendry Morales. Brandon Inge out at 2nd.



0-0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

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

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Bobby Abreu walks.

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Vladimir Guerrero singles on a soft ground ball to pitcher Justin Verlander. Bobby Abreu to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Torii Hunter batting, Justin Verlander picks off Bobby Abreu at 2nd on throw to Placido Polanco.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Vladimir Guerrero to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Kendry Morales swinging.

0-0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Gerald Laird doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Juan Rivera.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Chone Figgins to second baseman Howard Kendrick. Gerald Laird to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Josh Anderson reaches on a fielder's
choice out, first baseman Kendry Morales to third baseman Chone
Figgins. Gerald Laird out at home. Josh Anderson to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Kendry Morales.

0-0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Juan Rivera grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Erick Aybar grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Jeff Larish.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jeff Mathis swinging.

7 for

0-0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas lines out to left fielder Juan Rivera.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to third baseman Chone Figgins.


0-0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 - Howard Kendrick singles on a ground ball
to third baseman Brandon Inge. Howard Kendrick advances to 2nd, on
throwing error by third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Chone Figgins out on a sacrifice bunt to first baseman Jeff Larish. Howard Kendrick to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Justin Verlander intentionally walks Bobby Abreu.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Vladimir Guerrero grounds into double
play, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to
first baseman Jeff Larish. Bobby Abreu out at 2nd.

0-0 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Jeff Larish grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird pops out to second baseman Howard Kendrick.

0-0 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Justin Verlander.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Kendry Morales singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Torii Hunter to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Juan Rivera singles on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas. Torii Hunter scores. Kendry Morales to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Erick Aybar out on a sacrifice bunt,
pitcher Fernando Rodney to first baseman Jeff Larish. Kendry Morales to
3rd. Juan Rivera to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Maicer Izturis replaces Jeff Mathis.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Fernando Rodney intentionally walks Maicer Izturis.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Howard Kendrick grounds out, shortstop
Adam Everett to first baseman Jeff Larish. Kendry Morales scores. Juan
Rivera to 3rd. Maicer Izturis to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Chone Figgins called out on strikes.

A's 2-0 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Mike Napoli replaces Maicer Izturis, batting 8th, playing catcher.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Josh Anderson triples (3) on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Miguel Cabrera replaces Clete Thomas.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ryan Raburn replaces Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Josh Anderson scores. Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Fuentes replaces Ervin Santana.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to third baseman Chone Figgins in foul territory.

Tigers lose 1-2

June 5, 2009

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

LA Angels AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Figgins, 3B 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .302 Abreu, RF 1 0 0 0 3 1 1 .295 Guerrero, DH 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 .270 Hunter, CF 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .316 Morales, 1B 4 1 1 0 0 3 2 .277 Rivera, LF 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .299 Aybar, E, SS 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277 Mathis, C 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .221 --a-Izturis, M, PH 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 --Napoli, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 Kendrick, 2B 4 0 1 1 0 0 3 .229 Totals 29 2 7 2 5 8 14 a-Intentionally walked for Mathis in the 9th. BATTING TB: Guerrero; Hunter 2; Morales; Rivera; Aybar, E; Kendrick. RBI: Rivera (22), Kendrick (21). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Guerrero; Morales; Figgins 2. S: Figgins; Aybar, E. GIDP: Guerrero. Team RISP: 1-for-7. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Figgins (21, 2nd base off Verlander/Laird). CS: Kendrick (2, 2nd base by Verlander/Laird). PO: Abreu (2nd base by Verlander). FIELDING DP: 2 (Figgins-Kendrick-Morales, Kendrick-Aybar, E-Morales).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Anderson, J, LF 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .269 Polanco, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .245 Thomas, RF 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .240 --a-Cabrera, M, PH 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .354 --1-Raburn, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 Ordonez, DH 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .280 Granderson, CF 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .271 Inge, 3B 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .277 Larish, 1B 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .214 Laird, C 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .226 Everett, SS 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263 Totals 29 1 6 1 2 7 9 a-Walked for Thomas in the 9th. 1-Ran for Cabrera, M in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Ordonez (8, Santana), Laird (6, Santana). 3B: Anderson, J (3, Santana). TB: Anderson, J 4; Ordonez 3; Granderson; Laird 2. RBI: Ordonez (20). 2-out RBI: Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Polanco; Granderson. S: Everett. GIDP: Inge; Larish. Team RISP: 1-for-7. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING CS: Anderson, J (2, 2nd base by Santana/Mathis). FIELDING E: Inge (5, throw). DP: (Inge-Polanco-Larish). Pickoffs: Verlander (Abreu at 2nd base).
LA Angels IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Santana (W, 1-2) 8.2 6 1 1 2 7 0 6.75 Fuentes (S, 15) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.95		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Verlander 8.0 4 0 0 4 7 0 3.26 Rodney (L, 0-1) 1.0 3 2 2 1 1 0 3.52
IBB: Abreu (by Verlander), Izturis, M (by Rodney). HBP: Mathis (by Verlander). Pitches-strikes: Santana 109-66, Fuentes 3-1, Verlander 119-80, Rodney 32-19. Groundouts-flyouts: Santana 10-8, Fuentes 0-1, Verlander 7-8, Rodney 2-0. Batters faced: Santana 31, Fuentes 1, Verlander 30, Rodney 7. Inherited runners-scored: Fuentes 2-0. Umpires: HP: Phil Cuzzi. 1B: Tom Hallion. 2B: Jerry Crawford. 3B: Dan Bellino. Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 5 mph, Out to LF. T: 2:35. Att: 31,187. June 5, 2009

Verlander fantastic!

Rodney sucks!