GDT: 6/18/09 - DET (34-31) AT STL (36-30) - 8:15 p.m. ET

ST. LOUIS -- Tigers rookie Rick Porcello stops to listen whenever his teammates, coaches and even opposing players come to him to offer up some advice.

But with the temperature expected to reach 96 degrees on Thursday in St. Louis when he starts against the Cardinals, manager Jim Leyland doesn't have much to add in the way of help.

"I don't think there is any way you can tell somebody to prepare for the heat," Leyland said. "You drink a lot of water, you drink a lot of fluids and you do what your momma told you."

Justin Verlander struggled with the St. Louis humidity on Tuesday night, lasting only four innings and giving up five runs. He said afterward that he should have better prepared himself to pitch in the Midwest heat and was exhausted by the end of the first inning.

Porcello pitched for the Tigers' Class A affiliate in Lakeland, Fla., last summer and made several starts in the heat. None may have been with as high of humidity and sticky conditions as he will face when he steps on the mound on Thursday night, but he won't be getting any sympathy from his skipper.

"These guys won't understand because some of them are too young, but this is a piece of cake compared to playing on that turf when we played in St. Louis when it was hot," Leyland said. "Guys would come in between innings and put their feet in buckets. Yeah, it's hot, but what do you want me to do about it?"

Leyland will up Porcello's pitch count to around 95 pitches for Thursday's start as he continues to closely monitor how the organization's top pitching prospect is handling his first year higher than Class A.

The stadiums, the teams, the hitters -- and even the heat -- are all experiences that Porcello is learning from on the go.

"At my age and having the amount of experience that I have, which is not much, every day I'm learning something new from everybody," Porcello said. "It's kind of one of those years where you are taking new things in every day and just going with it and trying to make the best you can out of it.

"If you hang a breaking ball and it gets hit out of the park, you know you 'don't do that again and make a better pitch.'"

Porcello, who is 7-4 with a 3.41 ERA, started with a few hiccups in April, but was named the AL Rookie of the Month in May when he went 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA. It's been a constant adjustment for the rookie, who has had to learn the differences between pitching in Lakeland and the Major Leagues.

"It's a little bit more exhausting because you have Albert Pujols to worry about instead of somebody in A-ball," Porcello said.

"It's a great opportunity and I'm honored to be here right now. I'm just trying to make the most of it and help us win."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (7-4, 3.71 ERA)
Porcello gets another chance to help his own cause at the plate after becoming the first Tigers pitcher since 1972 to drive in multiple runs in a game Friday at Pittsburgh. More important were his seven innings of one-run ball in 99 pitches, showing some efficient execution for a 20-year-old.

STL: RHP Joel Pineiro (5-7, 3.99 ERA)
Quietly, Pineiro continues to turn in one solid start after another. His strikeout totals are coming up a bit, while his walk and home run numbers stay down. That's a formula for success, one that's worked very well for Pineiro thus far in 2009. Another thing that's worked well is pitching at home, which he will do on Thursday. Pineiro has a 2.52 ERA at Busch Stadium in 2009 (5.27 on the road).

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Tidbits

...Tigers radio broadcaster Dan Dickerson has not been cleared to travel with the club following an injury while jogging in Kansas City and is not on the current road trip that ends with Thursday's game in St. Louis. FOX Sports Detroit pregame show host John Keating has been filling in during the trip, but Dickerson should return to the booth on Friday night when the Tigers host the Brewers.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Friday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-7, 5.56 ERA) vs. Brewers (Braden Looper, 5-3, 4.39 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (TBD) vs. Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-3, 5.31 ERA), 4:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 7-3, 3.39 ERA) vs. Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 7-3, 2.93 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

94 degrees right now in St Louis
Partly Cloudy

Heat Index 100 degrees

Gonna be a hot sticky night

Game Time Temp around 90 degrees

Low around 80

Humid; But No Severe Weather Expected

South Winds 5-10 mph

Starting Lineups

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .264
Polanco, 2B .259
Cabrera, M, 1B .328
Thames, LF .283
Raburn, RF .234
Inge, 3B .268
Laird, C .214
Everett, SS .262
Porcello, P .667

St. Louis AVG
Schumaker, 2B .284
Rasmus, CF .271
Ludwick, RF .236
Duncan, 1B .254
Ankiel, LF .247
Molina, Y, C .280
Thurston, 3B .234
Pineiro, P .143
Ryan, SS .300

Current Conditions

Busch Stadium

Partly Cloudy 91 F

Humidity: 55 %

Wind: from the SSW at 9 mph

Barometer: 29.78 in

last updated: 6/18/09 6:25 PM CDT

Inning 1
Top Half

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

B:0 S:1 O:0 - Placido Polanco singles on a sharp
ground ball to left fielder Rick Ankiel. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.
Placido Polanco to 2nd on the throw.

B:0 S:1 O:0 - Miguel Cabrera reaches on fielding error
by third baseman Joe Thurston. Curtis Granderson scores. Placido
Polanco to 3rd.

DET 1, STL 0


B:0 S:1 O:1 - Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman
Joe Thurston to first baseman Chris Duncan. Placido Polanco scores.
Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

DET 2, STL 0



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

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Ludwick. Miguel Cabrera scores.

DET 3, STL 0



B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird doubles (8) on a line drive to left fielder Rick Ankiel. Brandon Inge scores.

DET 4, STL 0


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

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds out softly, pitcher Joel Pineiro to first baseman Chris Duncan.


DET 4, STL 0

Bottom Half

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

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Colby Rasmus flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Ludwick walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Chris Duncan singles on a ground ball to left fielder Marcus Thames. Ryan Ludwick to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Rick Ankiel swinging.

DET 4, STL 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Rick Porcello grounds out, shortstop Tyler Greene to first baseman Chris Duncan.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Skip Schumaker to first baseman Chris Duncan.

DET 4, STL 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Yadier Molina singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Joe Thurston singles on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Marcus Thames. Yadier Molina to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:0 - Joel Pineiro reaches on force attempt,
throwing error by catcher Gerald Laird. Yadier Molina scores. Joe
Thurston to 3rd. Joel Pineiro to 2nd.
DET 4, STL 1



B:0 S:0 O:0 - Tyler Greene singles on a sharp ground
ball to second baseman Placido Polanco, deflected by first baseman
Miguel Cabrera. Joe Thurston scores. Joel Pineiro to 3rd.

DET 4, STL 2



B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Skip Schumaker grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Tyler Greene to 2nd.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Colby Rasmus swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ryan Ludwick flies out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

DET 4, STL 2 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out sharply, pitcher Joel Pineiro to first baseman Chris Duncan.

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

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Marcus Thames lines out to shortstop Tyler Greene.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to first baseman Chris Duncan in foul territory.

DET 4, STL 2 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Chris Duncan walks.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Rick Ankiel grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Chris Duncan out at 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Yadier Molina grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 4, STL 2 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

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

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Joe Thurston to first baseman Chris Duncan.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds out sharply, pitcher Joel Pineiro to second baseman Skip Schumaker to first baseman Chris Duncan.

DET 4, STL 2 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Joe Thurston bunt grounds out, catcher Gerald Laird to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Joel Pineiro on foul tip.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Tyler Greene pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

DET 4, STL 2 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Rick Porcello grounds out, pitcher Joel Pineiro to first baseman Chris Duncan.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Skip Schumaker to first baseman Chris Duncan.

DET 4, STL 2 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Skip Schumaker singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Colby Rasmus singles on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Thames. Skip Schumaker to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Ryan Ludwick grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Skip
Schumaker to 3rd. Colby Rasmus out at 2nd. Ryan Ludwick to 1st.

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

B:0 S:2 O:2 - Chris Duncan grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Skip
Schumaker scores. Ryan Ludwick out at 2nd. Chris Duncan to 1st.
DET 4, STL 3



B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Rick Ankiel singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Chris Duncan to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Yadier Molina grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Brandon Inge. Chris Duncan out at 3rd.

DET 4, STL 3 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman Joe Thurston to first baseman Chris Duncan.


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

DET 4, STL 3 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Joel Pineiro flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Tyler Greene doubles (5) on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Thames.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Rick Porcello, batting 5th.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Defensive Substitution: Josh Anderson replaces pitcher Rick Porcello, batting 9th, playing right field.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Skip Schumaker on foul tip.

DET 4, STL 3 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett lines out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.

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

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Josh Anderson swinging.

DET 4, STL 3 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Albert Pujols replaces Colby Rasmus.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Albert Pujols grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Ludwick walks.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Chris Duncan called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Rick Ankiel grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 4, STL 3 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Albert Pujols remains in the game as the first baseman.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from first base to left field for Chris Duncan.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to center field for Rick Ankiel.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Trever Miller replaces Joel Pineiro, batting 8th.

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

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Jason Motte replaces Trever Miller, batting 8th.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco homers (2) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 5, STL 3



B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out sharply, pitcher Jason Motte to first baseman Albert Pujols.

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

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames homers (3) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 6, STL 3



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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Don Kelly singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Rick Ankiel.

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

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds into a force out, shortstop Tyler Greene to second baseman Skip Schumaker. Don Kelly out at 2nd.

DET 6, STL 3 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay, batting 4th, replacing left fielder Marcus Thames.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Don Kelly remains in the game as the left fielder.

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

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Joe Thurston lines out softly to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Khalil Greene replaces Jason Motte.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Khalil Greene swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Tyler Greene flies out to right fielder Josh Anderson.

DET 6, STL 3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Josh Kinney replaces Jason Motte, batting 8th.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Josh Anderson grounds into a force out,
shortstop Tyler Greene to second baseman Skip Schumaker. Adam Everett
out at 2nd. Josh Anderson to 1st.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Rick Ankiel. Josh Anderson to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Joe Thurston. Josh Anderson out at 3rd.

DET 6, STL 3 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Brandon Lyon, batting 4th.


B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Skip Schumaker walks.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Albert Pujols flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
With Ryan Ludwick batting, wild pitch by Fernando Rodney, Skip Schumaker to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Ludwick walks.

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

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Chris Duncan walks. Skip Schumaker to 3rd. Ryan Ludwick to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Rick Ankiel grounds into double play, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Chris Duncan out at 2nd.

Tigers win 6-3

June 18, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0		6	9	1
St. Louis	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		3	9	1

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 5 1 2 0 0 1 0 .266 Polanco, 2B 5 2 2 1 0 0 2 .262 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 .322 Thames, LF 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 .280 --Lyon, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --Rodney, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Raburn, RF 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .225 --Seay, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --a-Kelly, PH-LF 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .308 Inge, 3B 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 .272 Laird, C 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .215 Everett, SS 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .257 Porcello, P 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 --Anderson, J, RF 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .250 Totals 37 6 9 6 1 5 10 a-Singled for Seay in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Laird (8, Pineiro). HR: Polanco (2, 8th inning off Motte, 0 on, 1 out), Thames (3, 8th inning off Motte, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Granderson 2; Polanco 5; Thames 4; Kelly; Inge 2; Laird 2. RBI: Cabrera, M (41), Thames 2 (7), Inge (43), Laird (15), Polanco (25). 2-out RBI: Inge; Laird; Thames. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Everett; Polanco. Team RISP: 1-for-6. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING E: Laird (1, throw). DP: 2 (Polanco-Everett-Cabrera, M, Everett-Cabrera, M).		St. Louis AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Schumaker, 2B 4 1 1 0 1 1 3 .284 Rasmus, CF 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .272 --a-Pujols, PH-1B 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .320 Ludwick, RF 2 0 0 0 3 0 4 .233 Duncan, 1B-LF 3 0 1 1 2 1 2 .255 Ankiel, LF-CF 5 0 1 0 0 1 7 .245 Molina, Y, C 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .284 Thurston, 3B 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .235 Pineiro, P 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .125 --Miller, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --Motte, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --b-Greene, K, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .198 --Kinney, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Greene, T, SS 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .270 Totals 35 3 9 2 6 6 24 a-Grounded out for Rasmus in the 7th. b-Struck out for Motte in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Greene, T (5, Porcello). TB: Schumaker; Rasmus; Duncan; Ankiel; Molina, Y 2; Thurston; Greene, T 3. RBI: Greene, T (5), Duncan (30). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ankiel; Ludwick 2; Molina, Y; Schumaker. GIDP: Ankiel 2. Team RISP: 1-for-11. Team LOB: 11. FIELDING E: Thurston (7, fielding).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello (W, 8-4) 5.2 8 3 1 2 3 0 3.54 Seay (H, 13) 1.1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.98 Lyon (H, 2) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.09 Rodney (S, 13) 1.0 0 0 0 3 0 0 4.33		St. Louis IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Pineiro (L, 5-8) 7.0 5 4 1 0 4 0 3.76 Miller 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.95 Motte 0.2 3 2 2 0 0 2 5.13 Kinney 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 9.82
WP: Rodney. Pitches-strikes: Porcello 97-62, Seay 20-12, Lyon 15-10, Rodney 22-9, Pineiro 83-61, Miller 5-3, Motte 16-12, Kinney 17-10. Groundouts-flyouts: Porcello 10-4, Seay 2-0, Lyon 0-2, Rodney 2-1, Pineiro 10-7, Miller 0-0, Motte 2-0, Kinney 2-1. Batters faced: Porcello 27, Seay 5, Lyon 4, Rodney 5, Pineiro 27, Miller 1, Motte 5, Kinney 5. Inherited runners-scored: Seay 1-0. Umpires: HP: Chris Guccione. 1B: Mike Winters. 2B: Jerry Layne. 3B: Tony Randazzo. Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, Out to CF. T: 2:53. Att: 41,323. June 18, 2009