GDT: 6/13/09 - DET (34-27) AT PIT (28-33) - 7:05 p.m. ET

PITTSBURGH -- Armando Galarraga has three straight quality starts, but he's still winless since April. And he isn't getting any consolation from his recent run.

"People will say I have a good game, but I don't feel like I had a good game," Galarraga said earlier this week. "I don't feel like I had a good game vs. Boston. I don't feel like I had a good game in Baltimore."

It isn't that Galarraga hasn't liked the way he's pitched at all over the last few weeks. It's that he hasn't liked the way he has started his games.

His no-decision Monday against the White Sox featured a first-inning run, but given his two walks, it could've been much worse. And at 33 pitches, it potentially cost him another inning later. He gave up two runs in the opening inning against the Red Sox on June 3 at Comerica Park. He allowed a run in each of his first three innings when the Rockies came to Detroit on May 23.

The ultimate early damage, of course, was the five-run onslaught the A's put on Galarraga before he was pulled with two outs in the opening inning.

So pardon Galarraga if he's a little more focused on thriving early before he worries about pitching deep into games.

"I need to look for a way to get my first couple innings good so I know I'm going to have a good game. Last year, first couple innings -- boom, boom, boom. This year, first inning, two runs, and then I start getting better and better and better."

The overall stats bear it out. He's giving up a .340 batting average and 1.093 OPS in the opening, then .333 and .978 in the second, before he gets better into the middle innings. Or to put it in a better context, opponents hit .331 with a .973 OPS against Galarraga in the first three innings, then .241 and .766 in the next three.

The struggles come down to his pitches. He had trouble locating his sinker early on at Chicago, and he has thrown some flat sliders in that same span. If he can't work that mix, opponents can sit on his fastball.

"All the times, first innings, runs, a lot of pitches," he said. "Sinkers are bad. Sliders are bad. Changeup, no control."

Galarraga said he has tried just about everything to get off to a better start, from running before games to changing his pregame warmup pitches. The longer he has struggled, the more changes he has tried.

"I've even tried drinking Red Bulls to get ready for the first couple innings," Galarraga said.

Other than an energy rush, that didn't seem to do much for him, either.

Whatever works, the Tigers are interested in seeing him get the results. While Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson continue to rack up innings, manager Jim Leyland would like to see another of his starters begin to go deep into games and allow him to use his bullpen for short stints instead of filling innings.

"If they can continue that," Leyland said of Verlander and Jackson, "and Galarraga can give you some innings, that would be huge for us."

If he can do it Saturday, it would help the Tigers improve on their 44-14 record in Interleague Play since the start of the 2006 season.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-6, 5.19 ERA)
Galarraga might be more frustrated with his game right now than at any other point in this sophomore slump of his. He's seemingly turning a corner, as his three straight quality starts suggest, but his early-inning struggles and hit totals are baffling him -- including a bases-loaded escape with a run allowed in a 33-pitch opening inning Monday afternoon against the White Sox. If he can get command back on his sinker and avoid the untimely sliders that spin a lot and stay flat, it should make a difference in his mix of pitches.

PIT: LHP Zach Duke (6-4, 3.07 ERA)
After finishing at least seven innings in five consecutive starts, Duke lasted only six in his most recent outing. The six runs allowed matched a season high for the lefty, and his 11 hits allowed was just one shy of the most he's allowed this year. Duke also served up three homers in his last start after only giving up four in his previous 11 outings this year. Until Monday's outing, Duke had not given up multiple home runs in any game this season. This will mark Duke's first career appearance against the Tigers.

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Tidbits

...Jeremy Bonderman is expected to rejoin the club Saturday in Pittsburgh after spending Friday with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. Bonderman is shut down from pitching and back on the 15-day disabled list after experiencing soreness in his weak right shoulder. ... Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-9 lifetime off Duke with four doubles and three RBIs.
... Galarraga is 0-for-2 as a hitter for his career, but has drawn three walks, setting up two runs.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday: Tigers (Dontrelle Willis, 1-3, 6.60 ERA) at Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf, 5-5, 4.82 ERA), 1:35 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 7-2, 3.02) at Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, 6-4, 3.49), 8:15 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Raburn, CF .225
Polanco, 2B .262
Thames, LF .289
Cabrera, M, 1B .327
Ordonez, RF .277
Inge, 3B .273
Laird, C .222
Everett, SS .272
Galarraga, P .000

Pittsburgh AVG
McCutchen, A, CF .310
Morgan, LF .265
Sanchez, F, 2B .308
LaRoche, Ad, 1B .246
Young, RF .329
LaRoche, An, 3B .292
Jaramillo, J, C .280
Wilson, Ja, SS .255
Duke, P .217

Current Conditions

PNC Park

Partly Cloudy 75 F

Humidity: 46 %

Wind: from the NW at 7 mph

Barometer: 29.96 in

last updated: 6/13/09 6:05 PM EDT

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds into double play, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Adam LaRoche. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames homers (2) on a fly ball to center field.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Delwyn Young.

1-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Andrew McCutchen pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Nyjer Morgan walks.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Freddy Sanchez grounds into double play,
pitcher Armando Galarraga to shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman
Miguel Cabrera. Nyjer Morgan out at 2nd.

1-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, second baseman Freddy Sanchez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, second baseman Freddy Sanchez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

1-0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Adam LaRoche homers (8) on a fly ball to right field.

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Delwyn Young singles on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Andy LaRoche singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Delwyn Young to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Jason Jaramillo singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Delwyn Young to 3rd. Andy LaRoche to 2nd.

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


B:0 S:2 O:0 - Jack Wilson singles on a line drive to
left fielder Marcus Thames. Delwyn Young scores. Andy LaRoche to 3rd.
Jason Jaramillo to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Zach Duke flies out to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Andrew McCutchen grounds into a force
out, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco. Andy
LaRoche scores. Jason Jaramillo to 3rd. Jack Wilson out at 2nd. Andrew
McCutchen to 1st.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Nyjer Morgan doubles (6) on a fly ball
to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jason Jaramillo scores. Andrew
McCutchen out at home on the throw, right fielder Magglio Ordonez to
second baseman Placido Polanco to catcher Gerald Laird.

Pit 4-1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to shortstop Jack Wilson, deflected by third baseman Andy LaRoche.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Armando Galarraga swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn walks. Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to first baseman Adam LaRoche. Adam Everett to 3rd. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Marcus Thames out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Andrew McCutchen. Adam Everett scores. Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

Pit 4-2 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Freddy Sanchez singles on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Thames.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Adam LaRoche singles on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Raburn. Freddy Sanchez to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Nate Robertson replaces Armando Galarraga, batting 9th.


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

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Delwyn Young swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 - Andy LaRoche grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Adam
LaRoche out at 2nd.


Pit 4-2 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Nyjer Morgan.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Andy LaRoche to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Adam Everett pops out to catcher Jason Jaramillo.

Pit 4-2 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Jason Jaramillo doubles (11) on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Jack Wilson singles on a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jason Jaramillo to 3rd.

Miggy, that was a play FOR the 2nd baseman, NOT YOU, YOU DUMMY!!!


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Zach Duke on missed bunt.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
With Andrew McCutchen batting, wild pitch by Nate Robertson, Jack Wilson to 2nd.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Nate Robertson intentionally walks Andrew McCutchen.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Nyjer Morgan grounds into a force out, shortstop Adam Everett to catcher Gerald Laird. Jason Jaramillo out at home. Jack Wilson to 3rd. Andrew McCutchen to 2nd. Nyjer Morgan to 1st.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Freddy Sanchez hits a grand slam (5) to left field. Jack Wilson scores. Andrew McCutchen scores. Nyjer Morgan scores.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Adam LaRoche strikes out swinging


Pit 8-2 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Josh Anderson replaces Nate Robertson.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Josh Anderson grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn homers (4) on a fly ball to left field.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman Andy LaRoche to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Nate Robertson, batting 3rd, replacing left fielder Marcus Thames.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Delwyn Young grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Jason Jaramillo grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Pit 8-3 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Andy LaRoche to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Andy LaRoche to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Pit 8-3 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Jack Wilson doubles (13) on a line drive to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Zach Duke singles on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Raburn. Jack Wilson to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
With Andrew McCutchen batting, wild pitch by Ryan Perry, Zach Duke to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Andrew McCutchen singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jack Wilson scores. Zach Duke to 3rd.

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Nyjer Morgan grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera to
shortstop Adam Everett. Andrew McCutchen out at 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 - Freddy Sanchez swinging.

Pit 9-3 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Josh Anderson grounds out to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Pit 9-3 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Ryan Perry, batting 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Adam LaRoche singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Josh Anderson.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Delwyn Young singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Adam LaRoche to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Andy LaRoche swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jason Jaramillo swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Jack Wilson flies out to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

Pit 9-3 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to catcher Jason Jaramillo in foul territory.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Don Kelly replaces Bobby Seay.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Nyjer Morgan.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay, batting 3rd, replacing Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Vazquez replaces Zach Duke.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Vazquez grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Andrew McCutchen flies out to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Nyjer Morgan grounds out, pitcher Brandon Lyon to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Pit 9-3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jesse Chavez replaces Zach Duke, batting 9th.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a fly ball to right fielder Delwyn Young.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ramon Santiago replaces Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge walks. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Andrew McCutchen. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

Tigers Lose 3-9

June 13, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0		3	7	0
Pittsburgh	0	4	0	4	0	1	0	0	X		9	16	0

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Raburn, CF 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .243 Polanco, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .262 Thames, LF 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .300 --Perry, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --Seay, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --b-Kelly, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --Lyon, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .326 --1-Santiago, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 Ordonez, RF 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .276 Inge, 3B 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .269 Laird, C 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .217 Everett, SS 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .271 Galarraga, P 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 --Robertson, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --a-Anderson, J, PH-LF 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 Totals 32 3 7 3 2 4 12 a-Grounded out for Robertson in the 5th. b-Flied out for Seay in the 8th. 1-Ran for Cabrera, M in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Ordonez (9, Duke). HR: Thames (2, 1st inning off Duke, 0 on, 2 out), Raburn (4, 5th inning off Duke, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Raburn 5; Polanco; Thames 4; Cabrera, M; Ordonez 2; Everett. RBI: Thames 2 (5), Raburn (14). 2-out RBI: Thames. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M; Everett 2. SF: Thames. GIDP: Polanco. Team RISP: 1-for-7. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING Outfield assists: Ordonez (McCutchen, A at home). DP: 3 (Polanco-Cabrera, M, Polanco-Cabrera, M-Everett, Galarraga-Everett-Cabrera, M).		Pittsburgh AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG McCutchen, A, CF 4 1 1 2 1 0 2 .304 Morgan, LF 4 1 1 1 1 0 5 .265 Sanchez, F, 2B 4 1 2 4 0 1 2 .311 LaRoche, Ad, 1B 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .256 Young, RF 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 .338 LaRoche, An, 3B 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 .291 Jaramillo, J, C 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 .288 Wilson, Ja, SS 4 2 3 1 0 0 2 .268 Duke, P 3 0 1 0 0 1 5 .231 --a-Vazquez, R, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 --Chavez, J, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 36 9 16 9 2 6 24 a-Grounded out for Duke in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Morgan (6, Galarraga), Jaramillo, J (11, Robertson), Wilson, Ja (13, Perry). HR: LaRoche, Ad (8, 2nd inning off Galarraga, 0 on, 0 out), Sanchez, F (5, 4th inning off Robertson, 3 on, 2 out). TB: McCutchen, A; Morgan 2; Sanchez, F 5; LaRoche, Ad 6; Young 2; LaRoche, An; Jaramillo, J 3; Wilson, Ja 4; Duke. RBI: LaRoche, Ad (29), Wilson, Ja (20), McCutchen, A 2 (7), Morgan (22), Sanchez, F 4 (24). 2-out RBI: Morgan; Sanchez, F 4. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Sanchez, F; Wilson, Ja. GIDP: Sanchez, F; LaRoche, An; Morgan. Team RISP: 7-for-18. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING DP: (Wilson, Ja-LaRoche, Ad).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga (L, 3-7) 2.0 8 4 4 1 0 1 5.56 Robertson 2.0 3 4 4 1 3 1 6.52 Perry 2.0 3 1 1 0 1 0 3.24 Seay 1.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 4.50 Lyon 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.50		Pittsburgh IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Duke (W, 7-4) 8.0 6 3 3 1 3 2 3.10 Chavez, J 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.63
Galarraga pitched to 2 batters in the 3rd. WP: Robertson, Perry. IBB: McCutchen, A (by Robertson). Pitches-strikes: Galarraga 43-29, Robertson 32-21, Perry 35-23, Seay 16-12, Lyon 8-6, Duke 106-68, Chavez, J 22-12. Groundouts-flyouts: Galarraga 3-2, Robertson 3-0, Perry 5-0, Seay 0-1, Lyon 2-1, Duke 14-7, Chavez, J 0-2. Batters faced: Galarraga 13, Robertson 9, Perry 8, Seay 5, Lyon 3, Duke 30, Chavez, J 5. Inherited runners-scored: Robertson 2-0. Umpires: HP: Mike Everitt. 1B: Gerry Davis. 2B: James Hoye. 3B: CB Bucknor. Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, Out to RF. T: 2:27. Att: 31,411. June 13, 2009