GDT: 6/28/09 - DET (41-33) at HOU (35-37) - 2:05 p.m. ET

HOUSTON -- Edwin Jackson's game revolves around his rhythm on the mound. If he has it, he can roll through outs with impressive efficiency. If he doesn't, he has been able to find it in due time on his own rather than needing all sorts of help to get it.

Relievers, on the other hand, can have a tougher time. Their outings usually don't last long enough for them to find their way as they work on the mound.

If Jackson can provide another solid performance in Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Astros, he could send Detroit onto the next leg of its three-city, nine-game road trip with some pretty good rhythm, as well. But the Tigers could still end up needing Joel Zumaya to shore up the victory, and they need Zumaya throwing strikes more consistently to do that.

Zumaya's 65 percent strike rate is still the highest of his career, but it has taken a drop lately. His past 10 games have featured 13 walks over eight innings. He has thrown 57 percent of his pitches for strikes over that stretch, including three games in which he threw less than half his pitches for strikes.

Friday's loss, in which his three consecutive walks in the eighth inning led to Houston's game-tying and go-ahead runs, was not one of those games. He threw 17 of his 30 pitches for strikes, and all three walks went to full counts. Still, what worries manager Jim Leyland is that he couldn't throw a strike when he needed to.

"He throws so hard," Leyland said, "so he thinks sometimes that's a reason that it's OK to not throw strikes. That's not the case. If you need to back off for a little bit, whatever it may be, [so be it]. If you throw 100, 101 [mph], that's exciting to the guy in section 129, seat 6, but that isn't worth squat.

"If he can throw a strike at 103, fine. But if you can't, you need to figure out an area where you can."

Zumaya was spotting his breaking ball for strikes better than his fastball Friday, Leyland said. The manager did not mean that in a good way. Without fastball command, every other pitch becomes less effective, though Zumaya has thrown almost exclusively fastballs and curveballs since giving up a go-ahead home run to Cubs slugger Micah Hoffpauir in the eighth inning Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

How Zumaya adjusts could have an impact on Detroit's late-inning mix. Although Zumaya will remain the primary option at setup, in no small part because he has the best stuff, Brandon Lyon has worked his way into more seventh- and eighth-inning situations with his recent strong performances.

Lyon has allowed four runs on 10 hits in 21 1/3 innings over his last 16 outings to go with a .143 batting average. In addition, Zach Miner has found his way into more situational work by using his sinker to induce timely double plays.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (6-4, 2.40 ERA)
The signs of Jackson's maturity as a pitcher are best seen when he doesn't have his best stuff, and Tuesday was one of times. With a biting slider that was moving almost too much to command, Jackson had the bases loaded with Cubs three batters into the game and escaped that jam with a lone run allowed. He then allowed one more run over his next six innings for a no-decision in his duel with Carlos Zambrano. His ratio of hits per nine innings is down to 7.016, best among American League starters, and his 2.39 ERA stands second in the league to the Royals' Zack Greinke.

HOU: RHP Russ Ortiz (3-3, 3.47 ERA)
Ortiz's 17 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings was broken up against the Rangers, and Ortiz looked to get another streak started against the Royals his last time out. Ortiz gave up runs in the second and third innings but held the Astros in the game, allowing just the two runs on five hits over seven innings, his longest outing of the season. The right-hander is 7-6 in 27 career Interleague games (23 starts) and has no record and a 6.14 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Dusty Ryan is expected to catch Sunday after Gerald Laird left Saturday's game with lower back spasms. He's considered day-to-day.
... Left fielder Carlos Guillen is expected to begin hitting off a tee Monday as he continues his rehab back from his right shoulder injury at a facility in Miami. Guillen, on the disabled list since May 5, began playing catch from 45 feet two days ago. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said he could resume workouts with the club when the Tigers return home a week from Monday.
... Placido Polanco is 6-for-22 for his career against Ortiz with two home runs, four walks and three RBIs. Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-21 lifetime off Ortiz with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs.
... Lance Berkman is 1-for-7 lifetime off Jackson with a double, a walk and a strikeout.
... Ivan Rodriguez has two doubles off Jackson in four career plate appearances.
... Miner has a better than 2-to-1 ratio of ground balls (76) to fly balls (37) this season.
... Detroit is 9-2 on Sundays.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 8-4, 3.55 ERA) at Athletics (Vin Mazzaro, 2-2, 2.56 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 4-7, 5.65 ERA) at Athletics (Gio Gonzalez, 0-1, 8.03 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 8-3, 3.40 ERA) at Athletics (Dallas Braden, 5-7, 3.26 ERA), 3:35 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. Granderson, CF
   
2. Polanco, 2B
   
3. Cabrera, 1B
   
4. Thames, LF
   
5. Inge, 3B
   
6. Ordonez, RF
   
7. Laird, C
   
8. Everett, SS
   
9. Jackson, P
   

ASTROS

1. Michael Bourn, CF
   
2. Jeff Keppinger, SS
   
3. Lance Berkman, 1B
   
4. Carlos Lee, LF
   
5. Geoff Blum, 3B
   
6. Hunter Pence, RF
   
7. Ivan Rodriguez, C
   
8. Kazuo Matsui, 2B
   
9. Russ Ortiz, P
   

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Bourn.

B:0 S:2 O:1 - With Placido Polanco batting, Curtis
Granderson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Ivan Rodriguez to second
baseman Kazuo Matsui.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Bourn.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
third baseman Geoff Blum to second baseman Kazuo Matsui to first
baseman Lance Berkman. Placido Polanco out at 2nd.

0-0

Robertson to DL; Ni in Houston
BECK'S BLOG

The Tigers placed Nate Robertson on the 15-day DL this morning with a mass in the medial portion of his left elbow. The move is retroactive to Saturday. To take his place, they purchased the contract of Fu-Te Ni from Triple-A Toledo. He flew to Houston this morning and should be available for the game today.

UPDATE: Robertson is flying back to Detroit to have his elbow checked out team doctor Stephen Lemos. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said the tissue mass in his elbow is like a cyst, and it has been aggravating his nerves, causing numbness and tingling in his ring and pinky fingers. They expect he'll have to undergo minor surgery to have the mass excised, but they hope to do that along the same area where he had Tommy John surgery years ago. The timetable on any return depends on how that procedure goes.

As for Ni, he arrived in the clubhouse a little bit ago, as did his translator, Fox.

Posted on June 28, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Bottom Half

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

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


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Lance Berkman grounds into double play, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jeff Keppinger out at 2nd.

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Marcus Thames swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge pops out to first baseman Lance Berkman.

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

0-0 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Lee pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Geoff Blum grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to pitcher Edwin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Hunter Pence flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

0-0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird bunt grounds out, pitcher Russ Ortiz to first baseman Lance Berkman.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett pops out to second baseman Kazuo Matsui.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Edwin Jackson swinging.


Bottom Half

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


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Kazuo Matsui lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Russ Ortiz called out on .

0-0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jeff Keppinger.


B:1 S:1 O:2 - Placido Polanco grounds into double
play, third baseman Geoff Blum to second baseman Kazuo Matsui to first
baseman Lance Berkman. Curtis Granderson out at 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Hunter Pence.

0-0 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Michael Bourn triples (6) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jeff Keppinger hit by pitch.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Lance Berkman out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Michael Bourn scores.
HOU 1, DET 0




B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Lee singles on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Thames. Jeff Keppinger to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Geoff Blum pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Hunter Pence hits a ground-rule double (15) on a line drive to left field. Jeff Keppinger scores. Carlos Lee to 3rd.
HOU 2, DET 0




B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Ivan Rodriguez strikes out swinging.

HOU 2, DET 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames flies out to center fielder Michael Bourn.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jeff Keppinger.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Hunter Pence.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird doubles (9) on a fly ball to center fielder Michael Bourn. Brandon Inge scores.
HOU 2, DET 1

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Jeff Keppinger to first baseman Lance Berkman.

HOU 2, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Kazuo Matsui grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Edwin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Russ Ortiz lines out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Michael Bourn swinging.


HOU 2, DET 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Edwin Jackson swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson homers (18) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 2, HOU 2

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco hit by pitch.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Marcus Thames grounds into a force out,
shortstop Jeff Keppinger to second baseman Kazuo Matsui. Placido
Polanco out at 2nd.

DET 2, HOU 2 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jeff Keppinger flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Lance Berkman swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Lee grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 2, HOU 2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Hunter Pence.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Geoff Blum to first baseman Lance Berkman.

DET 2, HOU 2 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Geoff Blum hit by pitch.


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

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Hunter Pence swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ivan Rodriguez flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Kazuo Matsui doubles (8) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Geoff Blum scores. Kazuo Matsui to 3rd.
HOU 3, DET 2

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Russ Ortiz flies out to left fielder Marcus Thames.

HOU 3, DET 2 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Jeff Keppinger to first baseman Lance Berkman.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Tim Byrdak replaces Russ Ortiz, batting 9th.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Edwin Jackson.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn swinging.

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

HOU 3, DET 2 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Edwin Jackson, batting 9th.

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

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

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Lance Berkman flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

HOU 3, DET 2 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Darin Erstad replaces left fielder Carlos Lee, batting 4th, playing left field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Tim Byrdak, batting 9th.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Hunter Pence.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Michael Bourn.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Josh Anderson replaces Marcus Thames.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge homers (18) on a fly ball to left field. Josh Anderson scores.
DET 4, HOU 3

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez strikes out swinging.

DET 4, HOU 3 AFTER 8.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Matt Kata replaces Darin Erstad.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Bobby Seay, batting 9th.


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

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Matt Kata grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Fernando Rodney.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Jason Michaels replaces Geoff Blum.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Hunter Pence pops out to catcher Gerald Laird in foul territory.

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

B:1 S:2 O:3 - Ivan Rodriguez grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Jason
Michaels out at 2nd.

TIGERS WIN 4-3

June 28, 2009

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

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .263 Polanco, 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .260 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .331 Thames, LF 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .265 --1-Anderson, J, PR-LF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .257 Inge, 3B 4 2 2 2 0 0 0 .274 Ordonez, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .265 Laird, C 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .234 Everett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262 Jackson, E, P 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 --a-Raburn, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 --Seay, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --Rodney, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 31 4 7 4 1 8 6 a-Struck out for Jackson, E in the 8th. 1-Ran for Thames in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Laird (9, Ortiz, R). HR: Granderson (18, 6th inning off Ortiz, R, 0 on, 1 out), Inge (18, 9th inning off Valverde, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Granderson 6; Polanco; Inge 5; Laird 2. RBI: Laird (18), Granderson (43), Inge 2 (51). 2-out RBI: Laird; Inge 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Everett. GIDP: Cabrera, M; Polanco. Team RISP: 0-for-1. Team LOB: 2. BASERUNNING CS: Granderson (4, 2nd base by Ortiz, R/Rodriguez, I). FIELDING DP: (Everett-Cabrera, M).		Houston AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Bourn, CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .300 Keppinger, SS 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .257 Berkman, 1B 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 .252 Lee, C, LF 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299 --Erstad, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158 --a-Kata, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 Blum, 3B 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 .271 --1-Michaels, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179 Pence, RF 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .316 Rodriguez, I, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .249 Matsui, K, 2B 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .247 Ortiz, R, P 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .200 --Byrdak, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 --Valverde, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 31 3 6 3 0 5 10 a-Grounded out for Erstad in the 9th. 1-Ran for Blum in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Pence (15, Jackson, E), Matsui, K (8, Jackson, E). 3B: Bourn (6, Jackson, E). TB: Bourn 3; Keppinger; Lee, C; Blum; Pence 2; Matsui, K 2. RBI: Berkman (45), Pence (32), Matsui, K (17). 2-out RBI: Pence; Matsui, K. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, I 2; Ortiz, R. SF: Berkman. GIDP: Berkman. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 4. FIELDING DP: 2 (Blum-Matsui, K-Berkman 2).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Jackson, E 7.0 5 3 3 0 5 0 2.49 Seay (W, 1-1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.38 Rodney (S, 17) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.94		Houston IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Ortiz, R 7.1 6 2 2 0 5 1 3.36 Byrdak (H, 6) 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.46 Valverde (BS, 4)(L, 0-2) 1.0 1 2 2 1 1 1 3.86
HBP: Keppinger (by Jackson, E), Blum (by Jackson, E), Polanco (by Ortiz, R). Pitches-strikes: Jackson, E 98-67, Seay 11-6, Rodney 15-10, Ortiz, R 91-62, Byrdak 8-6, Valverde 18-10. Groundouts-flyouts: Jackson, E 6-10, Seay 2-1, Rodney 2-1, Ortiz, R 9-7, Byrdak 0-0, Valverde 0-2. Batters faced: Jackson, E 27, Seay 3, Rodney 4, Ortiz, R 26, Byrdak 2, Valverde 5. Umpires: HP: James Hoye. 1B: Bill Welke. 2B: Jim Reynolds. 3B: Tim Welke. Weather: 73 degrees, roof closed. Wind: 0 mph, None. T: 2:31. Att: 34,041. June 28, 2009