GDT: 7/22/09 - DET (49-42) VS SEA (49-44) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- For a week and a half, Armando Galarraga didn't have to worry about pitch location, or first-inning damage, or how many energy drinks he'd have before a game, or any other solutions he could figure to his first-half woes. Galarraga didn't go anywhere for the All-Star break, but he got away.

"Just trying to get my mind off things," Galarraga said. "It's a little break."

On Wednesday, he gets back to the reality of his season. And the reality is that he's going up against Felix Hernandez to start his second half.

After the Tigers were swept out of the Bronx with twin aces Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson, they have the chance to take this three-game series against the Mariners with the back half of their rotation. The challenge is that after slugging out a win against Seattle and fifth starter Garrett Olson, they now face the heart of a Mariners staff that owns the lowest ERA in the league.

After Hernandez gets his chance tonight at the park where he made his Major League debut, the Tigers will have to deal with suddenly stingy Jarrod Washburn in Thursday's series finale. It'll be a big test for a lineup that made an impression on manager Jim Leyland Tuesday, but was all but shut down on back-to-back afternoons at Yankee Stadium by CC Sabathia and Joba Chamberlain over the weekend.

They were selective, yet aggressive against Olson. That's a whole other challenge Wednesday.

"You always talk about being aggressive, but don't swing at bad pitches," Leyland said. "And we did that [Tuesday]. I thought everybody was patient, but everybody was aggressive. I thought we had a great approach, the best approach of the weekend."

Just as important for the Tigers, however, will be a good approach from Galarraga. He was coming off back-to-back solid outings against the A's and Royals, allowing two runs on seven hits over 13 1/3 combined innings, before the Indians made him use 56 pitches over his first three innings.

A strong outing tonight could lower his ERA under the 5.00 mark for the first time since mid-May. It could also allow the Tigers to feel a little better about a rotation that needs Galarraga eating innings in between rookies Rick Porcello and Luke French.

A solid outing from Galarraga could give them a shot against Hernandez, who's 6-0 with a 1.30 ERA over his last 10 starts, but has had mixed results against the Tigers. He won his last start at Comerica Park on Aug. 9, 2007, but gave up six earned runs on 10 hits over five innings in the process.

He has put his game together since then, enough though it seems more of a test for Detroit's offense than Hernandez's pitching.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (5-8, 5.09 ERA)
In his first-ever meeting against the Mariners, Galarraga will try to pick up his pitching recovery that had been building before the All-Star break. He lost his last start with four runs on nine hits over six-plus innings against Cleveland last Saturday, but he pitched into the seventh inning with one run allowed in both of his previous outings. Pitching into the seventh itself is big for Galarraga and the Tigers, who badly need a third starter who can take on a big workload alongside Verlander and Jackson. If Galarraga can do it effectively, the Tigers rotation looks deep heading into their playoff run.

SEA: RHP Felix Hernandez (10-3, 2.51 ERA)
In his most recent start, Hernandez dominated the Indians most of the night, striking out eight and allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over eight innings in earning his 10th victory of 2009. Against the Tigers, who beat Hernandez in his debut in 2005, Hernandez has won four straight. In Detroit's first shot at King Felix this season, on April 17, Hernandez scattered seven hits and a walk over six innings of work, allowing three runs while earning the win. Hernandez is 4-2 lifetime against the Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Left fielder Carlos Guillen will resume his Minor League rehab assignment Wednesday for Triple-A Toledo. "He's going to go down there and hit for a few days," Leyland said, "and then we'll reevaluate after that." Given that, it's possible Guillen could be back with the Tigers by the end of the weekend.
... Magglio Ordonez will not be in Detroit's starting lineup Wednesday despite his grand slam in Tuesday's series opener. Leyland will load up his lineup with left-handed hitters against Hernandez, who has given up a .305 batting average and .842 OPS to lefties compared with a .241 average against righties.
... Miguel Cabrera has a career-high 16-game hitting streak.
... Leyland has not yet announced Detroit's starter for the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the White Sox, but hopes to do so Tuesday [Thursday]. The pitcher will be somebody not currently with the big league club.
... Dontrelle Willis is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game Wednesday at Triple-A Toledo, where he has been working out for much of the past two weeks.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Tigers (Lucas French, 1-0, 1.89 ERA) vs. Mariners (Jarrod Washburn, 7-6, 2.87 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 10-5, 3.34 ERA) vs. White Sox (Jose Contreras, 4-8, 4.75 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Eddie Bonine, 0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. White Sox (Bartolo Colon, 3-6, 4.23 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Seattle AVG
Suzuki, I, RF .361
Branyan, 1B .275
Lopez, J, 2B .269
Griffey Jr., DH .215
Balentien, LF .223
Langerhans, CF .224
Johnson, Ro, C .209
Hannahan, 3B .191
Cedeno, SS .193

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .256
Polanco, 2B .259
Cabrera, M, 1B .330
Thomas, C, RF .263
Thames, DH .271
Anderson, J, LF .248
Raburn, 3B .262
Laird, C .239
Santiago, SS .261

RAIN DELAY

Inge not playing due to two banged up legs

Tigers getting ready to take the field

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Ichiro Suzuki grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Russell Branyan flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Jose Lopez grounds out, third baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

9 pitch 1st for Gala!

0-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to left fielder Wladimir Balentien.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Langerhans. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.



B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Dropped foul pop error by right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.
B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Clete Thomas called out on .


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames walks. Placido Polanco to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Josh Anderson flies out to left fielder Wladimir Balentien.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ken GriffeyJr. flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Wladimir Balentien flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

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

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Rob Johnson grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Ronny Cedeno to first baseman Russell Branyan.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jack Hannahan grounds out, third baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


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


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ichiro Suzuki flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

3 innings 35 pitches for Gala, not bad!

0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, first baseman Russell Branyan to pitcher Felix Hernandez.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.


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


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Clete Thomas batting, Placido Polanco steals (4) 2nd base.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ryan Langerhans. Placido Polanco scores.
DET 1, SEA 0

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames singles on a pop up to pitcher Felix Hernandez. Clete Thomas to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Injury Delay. Hernandez twisted ankle but stays in


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Josh Anderson strikes out swinging.

After 3 innings
Hernandez 63 pitches
Gala 35 pitches

DET 1, SEA 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half


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


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jose Lopez lines out to third baseman Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Ken GriffeyJr. pops out to third baseman Ryan Raburn.

DET 1, SEA 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Felix Hernandez. Ryan Raburn to 1st.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Gerald Laird batting, Ryan Raburn caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Rob Johnson to second baseman Jose Lopez.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, first baseman Russell Branyan to pitcher Felix Hernandez.

DET 1, SEA 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Wladimir Balentien flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Langerhans singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Rob Johnson pops out to catcher Gerald Laird in foul territory.




B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Jack Hannahan walks. Ryan Langerhans to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ronny Cedeno flies out to left fielder Josh Anderson.

DET 1, SEA 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman Russell Branyan.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (19) on a line drive to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, shortstop Ronny Cedeno to first baseman Russell Branyan.

DET 1, SEA 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Ichiro Suzuki grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Russell Branyan swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Jose Lopez pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

DET 1, SEA 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames flies out to left fielder Wladimir Balentien.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Josh Anderson grounds out, second baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman Russell Branyan.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.


DET 1, SEA 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ken GriffeyJr. lines out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Wladimir Balentien swinging.

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


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Rob Johnson strikes out swinging.

DET 1, SEA 0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Ronny Cedeno to first baseman Russell Branyan.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Russell Branyan.

DET 1, SEA 0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Brandon Inge replaces third baseman Ryan Raburn, batting 7th, playing third base.

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

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


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

B:2 S:1 O:2 - Ichiro Suzuki reaches on a fielder's
choice out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to third baseman Brandon Inge.
Jack Hannahan out at 3rd.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Russell Branyan homers (24) on a fly ball to right center field. Ichiro Suzuki scores.
SEA 2, DET 1


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

SEA 2, DET 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Mark Lowe replaces Felix Hernandez.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhan


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas strikes out swinging, catcher Rob Johnson to first baseman Russell Branyan.

SEA 2, DET 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ken GriffeyJr. flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Wladimir Balentien walks.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Langerhans pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Rob Johnson grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

SEA 2, DET 1 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: David Aardsma replaces Mark Lowe.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames flies out to center fielder Ryan Langerhans.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Josh Anderson swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

Tigers lose 1-2

July 22, 2009

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

Seattle AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Suzuki, I, RF 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 .357 Branyan, 1B 4 1 1 2 0 1 0 .274 Lopez, J, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 Griffey Jr., DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Balentien, LF 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .219 Langerhans, CF 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 .235 Johnson, Ro, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .204 Hannahan, 3B 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .190 Cedeno, SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .189 Totals 29 2 2 2 5 3 9 BATTING HR: Branyan (24, 8th inning off Seay, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Branyan 4; Langerhans. RBI: Branyan 2 (54). 2-out RBI: Branyan 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cedeno. Team RISP: 0-for-2. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING E: Suzuki, I (4, fielding).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .256 Polanco, 2B 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .262 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .329 Thomas, C, RF 4 0 1 1 0 2 3 .263 Thames, DH 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .273 Anderson, J, LF 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .242 Raburn, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .256 --Inge, 3B 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 Laird, C 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .236 Santiago, SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 Totals 33 1 6 1 1 11 11 BATTING 2B: Cabrera, M (19, Hernandez, F). TB: Granderson; Polanco 2; Cabrera, M 2; Thomas, C; Thames. RBI: Thomas, C (25). 2-out RBI: Thomas, C. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Anderson, J 3; Thomas, C. Team RISP: 1-for-6. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Polanco (4, 2nd base off Hernandez, F/Johnson, Ro). CS: Raburn (2, 2nd base by Hernandez, F/Johnson, Ro).
Seattle IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR -ERA- Hernandez, F (W, 11-3) 7.0 6 1 1 1 8 0 2.45 Lowe, M (H, 15) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.02 Aardsma (S, 23) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.79		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga 7.1 1 1 1 4 3 0 4.82 Seay (BS, 4)(L, 1-2) 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.16 Lyon 0.2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.57
WP: Hernandez, F. Pitches-strikes: Hernandez, F 112-75, Lowe, M 10-7, Aardsma 11-9, Galarraga 111-66, Seay 10-5, Lyon 11-6. Groundouts-flyouts: Hernandez, F 8-5, Lowe, M 0-2, Aardsma 0-1, Galarraga 7-12, Seay 2-1, Lyon 1-1. Batters faced: Hernandez, F 28, Lowe, M 3, Aardsma 3, Galarraga 27, Seay 4, Lyon 3. Inherited runners-scored: Seay 1-1. Umpires: HP: Joe West. 1B: Ed Rapuano. 2B: Paul Schrieber. 3B: Paul Nauert. Weather: 65 degrees, overcast. Wind: 6 mph, L to R. T: 2:26 (:38 delay). Att: 29,758. July 22, 2009