GDT: 7/28/09 - DET (52-46) AT TEX (55-42) - 8:05 p.m. ET

ARLINGTON -- Jim Leyland sees a very capable reliever in sinkerballer Zach Miner. But the Tigers' manager sees the source of a fair amount of frustration, too.

When Miner is on, he's one of the more versatile, durable relievers in the American League, capable of eating up innings as a former starter turned long reliever or getting a key ground ball as a situational pitcher with men on base. He began the season as the fifth starter in the rotation, and he has entered as late as the ninth inning of a tie game.

When Miner struggles to locate strikes, however, he's tough to get through an inning, and Leyland sometimes has to make moves in a hurry. In Sunday's case, Miner's three walks in the seventh prompted Leyland to put Casey Fien in the unenviable position of facing Paul Konerko with the bases loaded in his Major League debut.

He's a vital pitcher in Detroit's bullpen, especially now. With rookie Luke French starting the middle game of this three-game series against the Rangers, Miner becomes vital.

The way the Tigers' non-rookie pitchers have performed lately, from Justin Verlander to Edwin Jackson and even Armando Galarraga, it has allowed Leyland to have a fresh bullpen on the nights when rookies French and Rick Porcello pitch. Miner is part of the bridge in that group that carries the game from the starters to the late-inning crew of Bobby Seay, Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney.

"I love him to death," Leyland said. "He's a very usable big league pitcher. I really like him. I want him on this team. But I do get tired of looking [the walks]. ...

"I don't want this to come out like I'm picking on Zach, because I'm not. I love him. He's good enough to be a real effective pitcher for us. But that picking and picking and picking [at the strike zone], it gets old."

Miner said it wasn't a matter of pitching around guys, but not being able to locate.

"Just wasn't working," Miner said. "I was putting everything over the plate. Everything was down."

In that sense, he's being effective in not allowing damage. He has allowed only one extra-base hit out of four hits total in his past five outings, covering five innings. He has allowed a lone home run since May 17. But that hasn't always made his outings easy.

He could easily be called upon to protect a Tigers' lead Tuesday. While French has put forth quality work in four starts since joining the Tigers' rotation at the start of the month, Detroit has had its fair share of success against Texas starter Vicente Padilla.

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Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Lucas French (1-1, 2.22 ERA)
With the Tigers still looking for starting pitching on the market and the non-waiver Trade Deadline looming, this could be French's final start for a while. But it also could be the next step in this 23-year-old rookie's development, which has gone better than expected so far. Though he took his first Major League loss last Thursday against the Mariners, he struck out six over 5 1/3 innings and had a relative pitching duel going until he gave up a run in the sixth. He'll face a Rangers lineup that bats nine points lower against left-handed pitchers compared with right-handers.

TEX: RHP Vicente Padilla (7-5, 4.67 ERA)
Padilla was skipped in his previous start against the Red Sox because of what turned out to be a case of swine flu. But he is recovering and the Rangers expect him to start against the Tigers. Padilla is 4-2 with a 3.56 ERA in his past seven games. He is 3-4 with a 6.00 ERA in nine starts at home. Left-handed hitters are batting .330 off him and right-handed hitters are batting .232. He is 3-2 with a 4.63 ERA in six starts at home.

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Tidbits

... Look for Ramon Santiago in Tuesday's starting lineup. He's 6-for-11 with a home run and four RBIs for his career off Padilla.
... Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-21 with three home runs for his career off Padilla.
... The Tigers have committed seven errors over their past three games.
... Magglio Ordonez could earn another outing against a right-handed pitcher, given his three extra-base hits in 11 at-bats against Padilla.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Wednesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 11-5, 3.12 ERA) at Rangers (Scott Feldman, 9-3, 3.59 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 7-5, 2.59 ERA) at Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 3-7, 5.15 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. Curtis Granderson, CF
   
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
   
3. Clete Thomas, LF
   
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Carlos Guillen, DH
   
6. Magglio Ordonez, RF
   
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
   
8. Ramon Santiago, 3B
   
9. Dusty Ryan, C
   

P: Luke French

RANGERS

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
   
2. Michael Young, 3B
   
3. Marlon Byrd, LF
   
4. Nelson Cruz, RF
   
5. Hank Blalock, 1B
   
6. Andruw Jones, DH
   
7. Josh Hamilton, CF
   
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
   
9. Elvis Andrus, SS
   

P: Doug Mathis

Tigers won't face Vicente Padilla
BECK'S BLOG
Posted on July 28, 2009 at 4:24 PM

The Tigers won't get to face starter Vicente Padilla, who's healthy but still weak from bout with swine flu, according to a Rangers spokesperson. RHP Doug Mathis will start in Padilla's place.

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Ian Kinsler to first baseman Hank Blalock.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco lines out to center fielder Josh Hamilton.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas swinging.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ian Kinsler reaches on fielding error by shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Michael Young flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Ian Kinsler to 2nd.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Marlon Byrd pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Nelson Cruz flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.



0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Nelson Cruz.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


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


B:3 S:1 O:2 - Ramon Santiago doubles (5) on a line
drive to center fielder Josh Hamilton. Miguel Cabrera scores. Magglio
Ordonez to 3rd.
DET 1, TEX 0


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Dusty Ryan singles on a line drive to left fielder Marlon Byrd. Magglio Ordonez scores. Ramon Santiago scores.
DET 3, TEX 0






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


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Marlon Byrd.

DET 3, TEX 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Hank Blalock flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Andruw Jones doubles (14) on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Josh Hamilton pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jarrod Saltalamacchia walks.


B:1 S:1 O:2 - Elvis Andrus singles on a line drive to
center fielder Curtis Granderson. Andruw Jones scores. Jarrod
Saltalamacchia to 3rd.
DET 3, TEX 1


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Ian Kinsler triples (3) on a fly ball to
center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jarrod Saltalamacchia scores. Elvis
Andrus scores.
DET 3, TEX 3


B:2 S:1 O:2 - Michael Young doubles (30) on a line
drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson, deflected by right fielder
Magglio Ordonez. Ian Kinsler scores.
TEX 4, DET 3


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Marlon Byrd flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

TEX 4, DET 3 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Ian Kinsler to first baseman Hank Blalock.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to left fielder Marlon Byrd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a pop up to second baseman Ian Kinsler.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen pops out to shortstop Elvis Andrus.

TEX 4, DET 3 after 2.5 innings

beckjason - Rangers just called up ex-Tigers prospect Guillermo Moscoso. Detroit dealt him in the Gerald Laird trade last winter.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Nelson Cruz strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Hank Blalock doubles (17) on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


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


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Josh Hamilton flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

TEX 4, DET 3 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ian Kinsler.


B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to left fielder Marlon Byrd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.


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


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Injury Delay.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Dusty Ryan grounds out softly, pitcher
Doug Mathis to first baseman Hank Blalock. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.
Brandon Inge to 2nd.



B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Nelson Cruz.

ANOTHER WASTED SCORING CHANCE!

TEX 4, DET 3 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Adam Everett replaces shortstop Ramon Santiago, batting 8th, playing shortstop.

beckjason - Replays show #tigers SS Ramon Santiago took a hard foul tip off his right knee.



B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jarrod Saltalamacchia flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Elvis Andrus singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:1 - With Ian Kinsler batting, Elvis Andrus
steals (20) 2nd base, . Elvis Andrus advances to 3rd, on throwing error
by first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Ian Kinsler out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Elvis Andrus scores.
TEX 5, DET 3


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Michael Young flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

TEX 5, DET 3 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jason Grilli replaces Doug Mathis.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Ian Kinsler to first baseman Hank Blalock.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to right fielder Nelson Cruz.


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


TEX 5, DET 3 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Marlon Byrd doubles (31) on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Nelson Cruz flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Hank Blalock strikes out on foul tip.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Lucas French intentionally walks Andruw Jones.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Josh Hamilton singles on a fly ball to left fielder Clete Thomas. Marlon Byrd scores. Andruw Jones to 2nd.
TEX 6, DET 3


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

great play by Everett!!!

TEX 6, DET 3 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Detroit Tigers shortstop Ramon Santiago left the game due to an injured leg.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to center fielder Josh Hamilton.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .


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

TEX 6, DET 3 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Lucas French.


B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Elvis Andrus homers (4) on a fly ball to left field.
TEX 7, DET 3

This crap is getting old -- errors galore, home runs allowed, Inge striking out every time, out batters stinking up the joint --

DD better do something NOW!

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


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Michael Young reaches on missed catch error by first baseman Miguel Cabrera, assist to shortstop Adam Everett.



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


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Nelson Cruz grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

TEX 7, DET 3 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Omar Vizquel replaces second baseman Ian Kinsler, batting 1st, playing second base.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Eddie Guardado replaces Jason Grilli.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett pops out to second baseman Omar Vizquel.


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


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to third baseman Michael Young in foul territory.


TEX 7, DET 3 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Hank Blalock swinging.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Andruw Jones pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Josh Hamilton flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

TEX 7, DET 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Darren O'Day replaces Eddie Guardado.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Michael Young to first baseman Hank Blalock.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to right fielder Nelson Cruz.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to first baseman Hank Blalock in foul territory.


TEX 7, DET 3 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jarrod Saltalamacchia flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler left the game due to an injured leg.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Elvis Andrus grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Omar Vizquel pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

TEX 7, DET 3 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Guillermo Moscoso replaces Darren O'Day.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to center fielder Josh Hamilton.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to left fielder Marlon Byrd.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett called out on .

PUSSY CATS LOSE AGAIN 3-7

July 28, 2009

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

Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .257 Polanco, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Thomas, C, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .328 Guillen, C, DH 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .227 Ordonez, RF 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .261 Inge, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 3 3 .254 Santiago, SS 2 1 1 1 0 1 2 .253 --Everett, SS 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242 Ryan, D, C 3 0 1 2 0 1 2 .182 Totals 34 3 7 3 1 10 14 BATTING 2B: Santiago (5, Mathis, D). TB: Cabrera, M 2; Guillen, C; Ordonez; Inge; Santiago 2; Ryan, D. RBI: Santiago (26), Ryan, D 2 (4). 2-out RBI: Santiago; Ryan, D 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Granderson 2. Team RISP: 2-for-6. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING E: Santiago (5, fielding), Cabrera, M (6, throw), Everett (10, throw).		Texas AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Kinsler, 2B 3 1 1 3 0 0 0 .242 --Vizquel, 2B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 Young, M, 3B 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .321 Byrd, LF 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .279 Cruz, N, RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .265 Blalock, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .254 Jones, An, DH 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .230 Hamilton, CF 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 .224 Saltalamacchia, C 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .240 Andrus, El, SS 4 3 3 2 0 0 0 .263 Totals 34 7 9 7 2 3 13 BATTING 2B: Jones, An (14, French), Young, M (30, French), Blalock (17, French), Byrd (31, French). 3B: Kinsler (3, French). HR: Andrus, El (4, 6th inning off Miner, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Kinsler 3; Young, M 2; Byrd 2; Blalock 2; Jones, An 2; Hamilton; Andrus, El 6. RBI: Andrus, El 2 (19), Kinsler 3 (63), Young, M (43), Hamilton (29). 2-out RBI: Andrus, El; Kinsler 2; Young, M; Hamilton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cruz, N; Byrd; Hamilton; Saltalamacchia. SF: Kinsler. Team RISP: 4-for-13. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Andrus, El (20, 2nd base off French/Ryan, D).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA French (L, 1-2) 5.0 8 6 5 2 2 0 3.38 Miner 3.0 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.58		Texas IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Mathis, D 4.0 6 3 3 1 4 0 2.42 Grilli (W, 1-2) 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.79 Guardado 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.64 O'Day 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.70 Moscoso 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.60
IBB: Jones, An (by French). Pitches-strikes: French 88-57, Miner 41-24, Mathis, D 79-52, Grilli 22-15, Guardado 15-9, O'Day 14-9, Moscoso 12-10. Groundouts-flyouts: French 1-12, Miner 3-5, Mathis, D 3-5, Grilli 1-2, Guardado 0-2, O'Day 1-2, Moscoso 0-1. Batters faced: French 26, Miner 11, Mathis, D 19, Grilli 6, Guardado 3, O'Day 3, Moscoso 4. Umpires: HP: Andy Fletcher. 1B: Greg Gibson. 2B: Ted Barrett. 3B: Tim McClelland. Weather: 91 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, In from RF. T: 2:36. Att: 21,615. July 28, 2009

TWO EX-TIGER SYSTEM PLAYERS HELPED BEAT US --
Grilli
Moscoso (he was part of the trade for Laird)