GDT: 6/30/09 - DET (42-34) at OAK (32-43) - 10:05 p.m. ET

OAKLAND -- Ask Jim Leyland about how well his players seem to get along and he can't help but smile.

Leyland throws his feet up on his desk, takes a smoke from his cigarette and answers with a matter-of-fact tone.

"This is the closest team we've had since I've been here," said Leyland, whose Tigers face the Oakland A's Tuesday in the second game of a three-game set. "This is a team with guys that pull for each other."

What makes this team so close? Is it the way they play together on the field? How they spend their time off of it?

"It's all-around," Leyland said. "We have a lot of characters. ...It's a really fun group."

A fun group that doesn't mind being made fun of.

Leyland referenced a recent clubhouse moment in Houston involving Gerald Laird.

The catcher left Saturday's contest against the Astros in the first inning with lower back spasms. Felipe Paulino allowed one run on three hits and struck out nine in seven innings to lead Houston to an 8-1 win.

Laird was back in the lineup the next day.

"I called it Paulino-itis. It was a miraculous comeback. He got rid of it in about 12 hours," Leyland joked. "We had fun with him, and he handled it like a champ."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (4-7, 5.65 ERA)
Galarraga broke a 10-game winless streak last Thursday with six innings against the Cubs, limiting them to four runs on six hits despite a three-run first. He had lost seven consecutive decisions since his previous victory, on April 26. Galarraga still has some improvement to do, but he said after his most recent start that he felt like he made a big step and had a better plan with which to attack hitters. In Galarraga's last outing against Oakland, on May 17 at Comerica Park, the A's knocked him out in the first inning with five earned runs on four hits and three walks.

OAK: LHP Gio Gonzalez (0-1, 8.03 ERA)
Gonzalez got off to a solid start against the Giants Wednesday, retiring five of the first seven batters he faced with four strikeouts. Then San Francisco shook him. Gonzalez surrendered three runs in both the second and fourth frames and was chased after just 3 2/3 innings of work. He allowed 10 hits and walked two, losing his first Major League start of the season to Randy Johnson.

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Tidbits

... Recalled from Triple-A Toledo Sunday night, left-hander Lucas French landed at San Francisco International Airport Monday and went straight to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The flight came on the heels of a road trip with the Mud Hens through Indianapolis. "I need some sleep," joked French, who's scheduled to start Friday at Minnesota.
... Recent callup Fu-Te Ni is apparently all the rage back in his native Taiwan. "[My friends] are telling me I'm the front-page guy in the paper back home," Ni said through an interpreter.
... The Tigers had homered in 12 consecutive games until Monday. It's the longest streak since the 1999 club pulled the same trick.
... Fernando Rodney is streaking, too. He's converted 17 saves in as many chances -- the longest streak by a Detroit closer since Todd Jones had 19 straight in 2006.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Wednesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 8-3, 3.40 ERA) at Athletics (Dallas Braden, 5-7, 3.26 ERA), 3:35 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Tigers (Lucas French, LHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) at Twins (Kevin Slowey, RHP (10-3, 4.41 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .258
Polanco, 2B .256
Cabrera, M, 1B .331
Thames, DH .259
Raburn, LF .239
Inge, 3B .276
Ordonez, RF .265
Ryan, D, C .222
Everett, SS .267

Oakland AVG
Kennedy, A, 3B .291
Cabrera, O, SS .247
Holliday, LF .277
Giambi, 1B .200
Suzuki, K, C .284
Sweeney, R, CF .270
Garciaparra, DH .250
Cust, RF .222
Ellis, M, 2B .214

Current Conditions

Oakland Coliseum

Fair 65 F

Humidity: 69 %

Wind: from the NW at 16 mph

Barometer: 29.80 in

last updated: 6/30/09 5:45 PM PDT

Inning 1
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco homers (5) on a fly ball to left field. Curtis Granderson scores.
DET 2, OAK 0




B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames singles on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Holliday.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Ryan Raburn doubles (5) on a fly ball to
center fielder Ryan Sweeney. Marcus Thames to 3rd. Ryan Raburn out at
3rd on the throw, center fielder Ryan Sweeney to second baseman Mark
Ellis to third baseman Adam Kennedy to catcher Kurt Suzuki.

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

DET 2, OAK 0

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Orlando Cabrera on foul tip.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Matt Holliday reaches on fielding error by shortstop Adam Everett. Adam Kennedy to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Jason Giambi walks. Adam Kennedy to 3rd. Matt Holliday to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Kurt Suzuki grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jason Giambi out at 2nd.

DET 2, OAK 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a fly ball to right fielder Jack Cust.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Dusty Ryan walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:1 - Adam Everett out on a sacrifice bunt,
pitcher Gio Gonzalez to second baseman Mark Ellis. Magglio Ordonez to
3rd. Dusty Ryan to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:2 - Curtis Granderson reaches on a fielder's
choice out, third baseman Adam Kennedy to catcher Kurt Suzuki. Magglio
Ordonez out at 3rd. Dusty Ryan to 3rd. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.

Maggs just froze....

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

DET 2, OAK 0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Dropped foul pop error by left fielder Ryan Raburn.

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

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Nomar Garciaparra flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jack Cust walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Mark Ellis grounds out, pitcher Armando Galarraga to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 2, OAK 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (15) on a fly ball to right fielder Jack Cust.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames pops out to catcher Kurt Suzuki.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ryan Sweeney. Miguel Cabrera scores.
DET 3, OAK 0

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Brandon Inge grounds into double play,
shortstop Orlando Cabrera to second baseman Mark Ellis to first baseman
Jason Giambi. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd.

DET 3, OAK 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

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

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

DET 3, OAK 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to right fielder Jack Cust.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Dusty Ryan called out on .

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

DET 3, OAK 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Jason Giambi swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

Gala with a great backup at 3rd so the ball did not go into the dugout... saved a run.


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


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Nomar Garciaparra walks.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jack Cust singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Ryan Sweeney scores. Nomar Garciaparra to 2nd.
DET 3, OAK 1

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Mark Ellis swinging.


DET 3, OAK 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Jack Cust.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco bunt pops out to pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

B:2 S:0 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
pitcher Gio Gonzalez to second baseman Mark Ellis to first baseman
Jason Giambi. Curtis Granderson out at 2nd.

DET 3, OAK 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Orlando Cabrera lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Matt Holliday grounds into a force out,
fielded by shortstop Adam Everett. Adam Kennedy out at 2nd. Matt
Holliday to 1st.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Giambi called out on .

DET 3, OAK 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Santiago Casilla replaces Gio Gonzalez.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Jason Giambi.


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn doubles (6) on a fly ball to left fielder Matt Holliday.


B:3 S:0 O:1 -
With Brandon Inge batting, wild pitch by Santiago Casilla, Ryan Raburn to 3rd.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a fly ball to left fielder Matt Holliday. Ryan Raburn scores.
DET 4, OAK 1

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into a force
out, second baseman Mark Ellis to shortstop Orlando Cabrera. Brandon
Inge out at 2nd. Magglio Ordonez to 1st.

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

DET 4, OAK 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

B:3 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Nomar Garciaparra grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 4, OAK 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, catcher Kurt Suzuki to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Orlando Cabrera to first baseman Jason Giambi.

DET 4, OAK 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Josh Anderson replaces left fielder Ryan Raburn, batting 5th, playing left field.


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jack Cust walks.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Ellis flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Armando Galarraga.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Bobby Seay.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Orlando Cabrera singles on a ground ball to pitcher Joel Zumaya. Jack Cust to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Matt Holliday flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 4, OAK 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Russ Springer replaces Santiago Casilla.

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Matt Holliday.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Marcus Thames called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Josh Anderson pops out to third baseman Adam Kennedy.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge reaches on force attempt, fielding error by shortstop Orlando Cabrera. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

DET 4, OAK 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Giambi flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

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

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

DET 4, OAK 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Edgar Gonzalez replaces Russ Springer.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Dusty Ryan swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett doubles (10) on a line drive to left fielder Matt Holliday.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson hit by pitch.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to right fielder Jack Cust. Adam Everett scores. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.
DET 5, OAK 1

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Mark Ellis.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Marcus Thames on foul tip.


DET 5, OAK 1 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Joel Zumaya.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Nomar Garciaparra walks.


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

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Jack Cust flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Ellis homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Nomar Garciaparra scores.
DET 5, OAK 3

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Orlando Cabrera grounds into double
play, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Adam Kennedy out at 2nd.

win 5-3

June 30, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1		5	12	2
Oakland	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2		3	5	1

Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 .259 Polanco, 2B 5 1 2 3 0 1 3 .259 Cabrera, M, 1B 5 1 2 0 0 1 3 .332 Thames, DH 5 0 1 0 0 2 4 .256 Raburn, LF 3 1 3 1 0 0 0 .263 --Anderson, J, LF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 Inge, 3B 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .275 Ordonez, RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .264 Ryan, D, C 3 0 0 0 1 3 1 .167 Everett, SS 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .269 Totals 36 5 12 5 2 10 19 BATTING 2B: Raburn 2 (6, Gonzalez, G, Casilla, S), Cabrera, M (15, Gonzalez, G), Everett (10, Gonzalez, E). HR: Polanco (5, 1st inning off Gonzalez, G, 1 on, 0 out). TB: Granderson; Polanco 5; Cabrera, M 3; Thames; Raburn 5; Inge; Ordonez; Everett 2. RBI: Polanco 3 (33), Raburn (19), Inge (52). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Inge; Polanco 2; Ordonez; Thames. S: Everett. GIDP: Inge; Cabrera, M. Team RISP: 3-for-10. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Everett (7, fielding), Raburn (2, fielding). DP: 2 (Everett-Polanco-Cabrera, M, Inge-Polanco-Cabrera, M).		Oakland AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Kennedy, A, 3B 3 0 1 0 2 0 1 .292 Cabrera, O, SS 5 0 1 0 0 1 3 .247 Holliday, LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273 Giambi, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .197 Suzuki, K, C 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .279 Sweeney, R, CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .270 Garciaparra, DH 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 .242 Cust, RF 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 .224 Ellis, M, 2B 4 1 1 2 0 1 4 .216 Totals 31 3 5 3 7 5 16 BATTING 3B: Sweeney, R (1, Galarraga). HR: Ellis, M (2, 9th inning off Rodney, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Kennedy, A; Cabrera, O; Sweeney, R 3; Cust; Ellis, M 4. RBI: Cust (39), Ellis, M 2 (13). 2-out RBI: Cust. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ellis, M; Holliday. GIDP: Suzuki, K; Cabrera, O. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Cabrera, O (12, fielding). Outfield assists: Sweeney, R (Raburn at 3rd base). DP: 2 (Cabrera, O-Ellis, M-Giambi, Gonzalez, G-Ellis, M-Giambi).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga (W, 5-7) 6.1 2 1 1 6 5 0 5.34 Seay (H, 17) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.33 Zumaya (H, 6) 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.10 Rodney 1.0 2 2 2 1 0 1 4.36		Oakland IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Gonzalez, G (L, 0-2) 5.0 7 3 3 2 5 1 7.27 Casilla, S 2.0 2 1 1 0 2 0 5.65 Springer 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.02 Gonzalez, E 1.0 2 1 1 0 2 0 5.74
WP: Casilla, S. HBP: Granderson (by Gonzalez, E). Pitches-strikes: Galarraga 97-53, Seay 6-4, Zumaya 23-18, Rodney 19-10, Gonzalez, G 84-44, Casilla, S 37-25, Springer 16-10, Gonzalez, E 18-11. Groundouts-flyouts: Galarraga 9-5, Seay 0-1, Zumaya 1-3, Rodney 2-1, Gonzalez, G 6-3, Casilla, S 4-0, Springer 0-2, Gonzalez, E 0-1. Batters faced: Galarraga 27, Seay 1, Zumaya 5, Rodney 5, Gonzalez, G 21, Casilla, S 8, Springer 5, Gonzalez, E 6. Inherited runners-scored: Seay 1-0, Zumaya 1-0. Umpires: HP: Lance Barksdale. 1B: Angel Hernandez. 2B: Randy Marsh. 3B: Marvin Hudson. Weather: 62 degrees, clear. Wind: 15 mph, Out to RF. T: 2:50. Att: 12,126. June 30, 2009