GDT: 7/29/09 - DET (52-47) AT TEX (56-42) - 8:05 p.m. ET

ARLINGTON -- Jim Leyland does not have a team of baserunning threats. But he's having to make them run the bases to get offensive threats going.

With a pair of nasty young hurlers on the mound Wednesday night to complete the Tigers' visit to Texas, Leyland is left trying to get Detroit's dormant offense going any way he can.

Leyland knows the clamoring that comes from fans as they watch the Tigers struggle to put runs on the board. He knows the second-guessing as to why the Tigers don't run more often, or lay down more bunts, or try to take extra bases. But he also knows the reality of his team, that it's neither a roster of speedsters nor a lineup built for small ball.

What Leyland has done is to pick and choose his spots to be aggressive and push the tempo. The Tigers stole three bases and used the hit-and-run other times Friday against White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who has struggled mightily to throw out runners this year, in order to get a jump on starter Jose Contreras. They used a squeeze bunt from catcher Gerald Laird later in the game to push across an insurance run in the eighth inning.

It was one of the more aggressive games on the basepaths by the Tigers since they laid down multiple squeeze bunts against the Mariners back in April. But it isn't something they can do all the time. It hasn't been something they've been able to do in Texas, where starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has thrown out just shy of a quarter of would-be basestealers.

The raw numbers from Bill James Online do not paint a great picture of the Tigers on the bases. Add up their opportunities to take the extra base, the ability to avoid groundball double plays, stolen bases and baserunning outs, and the Tigers' rating of minus-8 on net bases taken is a slight improvement from 2008. They're on track to hit into fewer double plays than last year and make far fewer baserunnig outs, but they'll also end up taking fewer bases.

Likewise, Leyland admitted after Monday's loss that he has been aggressive in allowing his hitters to swing at 3-0 pitches, figuring that opposing pitchers would give them a pitch over the plate to hit. But it isn't something his team normally does.

"In the history of my career, I've never given the green light more to hitters than I have since I've come to Detroit," Leyland said. "And I can count on my hand the times that guys have swung [on] 3-0."

They'll need to get something going against Rangers starter Scott Feldman if they're going to avoid a three-game sweep and an eighth consecutive road loss. Feldman's .228 batting average allowed ranks fourth-lowest among American League starters.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (11-5, 3.12 ERA)
Verlander has led the American League in strikeouts for much of the season and it isn't really close. He is among the AL leaders in wins, despite some of the low-scoring no-decisions and losses he has taken over the past month. The Tigers gave him an early lead in his last start, and he went the distance with it for a complete-game six hitter, having allowed a lone unearned run. But the road presents a particular test for Verlander, who owns a 4-5 record and 4.76 ERA away from Comerica Park compared with 7-0 and 1.15 at home.

TEX: RHP Scott Feldman (9-3, 3.59 ERA)
Feldman pitched eight scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Royals on Friday, his longest outing in 42 career Major League starts. He is now 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his past six starts and he has a 3.04 ERA in 17 starts this season. He is 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 11 games, including nine starts, at home this season. He has a 6.43 ERA in five relief appearances and one start against the Tigers in his career.

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Tidbits

... Ramon Santiago hopes to be available to play Wednesday despite leaving Tuesday's game with a bruised right shin suffered on a foul tip at the plate in the fourth inning. He tried to stay in the game Tuesday but couldn't put much pressure on the leg as he tried to run out to the infield between innings. If he plays, Santiago could give second baseman Placido Polanco or third baseman Brandon Inge a day off ahead of Thursday's off-day.
... Curtis Granderson is 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs lifetime off Feldman.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• 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
• Saturday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 9-7, 4.62 ERA) at Indians (Cliff Lee, 7-9, 3.14 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .257
Polanco, 2B .260
Guillen, C, DH .227
Cabrera, M, 1B .328
Ordonez, RF .261
Thames, LF .265
Raburn, 3B .243
Laird, C .233
Everett, SS .242

Texas AVG
Vizquel, 2B .274
Young, M, 3B .321
Murphy, Dv, LF .280
Byrd, CF .279
Blalock, 1B .254
Jones, An, DH .230
Hamilton, RF .224
Teagarden, C .200
Andrus, El, SS .263

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson homers (21) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 1, TEX 0


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Elvis Andrus to first baseman Hank Blalock.


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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Marlon Byrd.

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


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames walks. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.



B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to second baseman Omar Vizquel.

DET 1, TEX 0

Bottom Half

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


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Michael Young called out on strikes.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
David Murphy strikes out swinging.

DET 1, TEX 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Josh Hamilton.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to shortstop Elvis Andrus.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson homers (22) on a fly ball to right field. Adam Everett scores.
DET 3, TEX 0






B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco doubles (23) on a line drive to left fielder David Murphy.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to center fielder Marlon Byrd. Placido Polanco scores.
DET 4, TEX 0


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


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a sharp ground ball to pitcher Scott Feldman. Carlos Guillen to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines into double play, pitcher Scott Feldman to shortstop Elvis Andrus. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd.

DET 4, TEX 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Marlon Byrd swinging.


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


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Andruw Jones homers (16) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 4, TEX 1


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Josh Hamilton swinging.

DET 4, TEX 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Marcus Thames doubles (6) on a line drive to center fielder Marlon Byrd.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to center fielder Marlon Byrd. Marcus Thames scores.
DET 5, TEX 1


B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Josh Hamilton.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to center fielder Marlon Byrd. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Guillermo Moscoso replaces Scott Feldman.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Curtis Granderson batting, wild pitch by Guillermo Moscoso, Ryan Raburn to 3rd. Adam Everett to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder David Murphy.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen walks. Ryan Raburn scores. Adam Everett to 3rd. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.
DET 6, TEX 1

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Marlon Byrd.

DET 6, TEX 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


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




B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Omar Vizquel singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Michael Young strikes out swinging.

DET 6, TEX 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Michael Young to first baseman Hank Blalock.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames homers (11) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 7, TEX 1



B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Hamilton.


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird hit by pitch. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.


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



B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett pops out to second baseman Omar Vizquel.


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

DET 7, TEX 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
David Murphy strikes out swinging.

6 k's and 165 so far this year for JV


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

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Hank Blalock called out on strikes. (7 )

DET 7, TEX 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder David Murphy.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen walks.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Miguel Cabrera batting, passed ball by Taylor Teagarden, Carlos Guillen to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (22) on a line drive to left fielder David Murphy. Carlos Guillen scores.
DET 8, TEX 1




B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Elvis Andrus to first baseman Hank Blalock.


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

DET 8, TEX 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Clete Thomas replaces left fielder Marcus Thames, batting 6th, playing left field.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Andruw Jones reaches on fielding error by third baseman Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Josh Hamilton singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Andruw Jones to 2nd.



B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Taylor Teagarden swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Elvis Andrus singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Andruw Jones to 3rd. Josh Hamilton to 2nd.



B:1 S:0 O:1 - Omar Vizquel singles on a line drive to
center fielder Curtis Granderson. Andruw Jones scores. Josh Hamilton to
3rd. Elvis Andrus to 2nd.
DET 8, TEX 2





B:3 S:2 O:1 - Michael Young doubles (31) on a line
drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Josh Hamilton scores. Elvis
Andrus scores. Omar Vizquel to 3rd.
DET 8, TEX 4


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
David Murphy swinging.








B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Marlon Byrd called out on strikes.

10 k's

DET 8, TEX 4 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Elvis Andrus to first baseman Hank Blalock.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird doubles (15) on a fly ball to right fielder Josh Hamilton.

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

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Adam Everett batting, Gerald Laird steals (2) 3rd base.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Josh Hamilton. Gerald Laird scores.
DET 9, TEX 4

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Eddie Guardado replaces Guillermo Moscoso.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Hank Blalock.

DET 9, TEX 4 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Hank Blalock called out on .


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Andruw Jones swinging.

k #12


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Josh Hamilton lines out to shortstop Adam Everett.

DET 9, TEX 4 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco reaches on fielding error by shortstop Elvis Andrus.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen hit by pitch. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (20) on a fly ball to right field. Placido Polanco scores. Carlos Guillen scores.
DET 12, TEX 4


B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Michael Young to first baseman Hank Blalock.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Marlon Byrd.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to left fielder David Murphy. Clete Thomas to 2nd.



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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Jason Jennings replaces Eddie Guardado.


B:0 S:2 O:2 - Gerald Laird grounds into a force out,
third baseman Michael Young to second baseman Omar Vizquel. Clete
Thomas to 3rd. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd. Gerald Laird to 1st.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to center fielder Marlon Byrd. Clete Thomas scores. Gerald Laird to 2nd.
DET 13, TEX 4


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson pops out to shortstop Elvis Andrus.

DET 13, TEX 4 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Brandon Inge replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 5th, playing third base.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from third base to left field for Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Taylor Teagarden called out on strikes.

13 k's


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Elvis Andrus lines out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Omar Vizquel grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Justin Verlander.

DET 13, TEX 4 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Joaquin Arias replaces third baseman Michael Young, batting 2nd, playing third base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco hits a ground-rule double (24) on a fly ball to left-center field.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder David Murphy.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Omar Vizquel to first baseman Hank Blalock. Placido Polanco to 3rd.

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

DET 13, TEX 4 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Justin Verlander.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Joaquin Arias flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.



B:4 S:0 O:1 -
David Murphy walks.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Marlon Byrd swinging.

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

DET 13, TEX 4 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Darren O'Day replaces Jason Jennings.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Clete Thomas swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, second baseman Omar Vizquel to first baseman Hank Blalock.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Gerald Laird called out on .

DET 13, TEX 4 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Casey Fien replaces Brandon Lyon.


B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Andruw Jones homers (17) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 13, TEX 5


B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Josh Hamilton swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Taylor Teagarden swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Elvis Andrus singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Omar Vizquel called out on .

win 13-5

July 29, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Detroit	1	3	2	1	1	1	4	0	0		13	19	1
Texas	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	1		5	8	1

Detroit AB-- R--- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Granderson, CF 5 2 2 3 1 0 4 .259 Polanco, 2B 6 2 2 0 0 0 3 .261 Guillen, C, DH 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 .230 Cabrera, M, 1B 6 1 4 4 0 0 4 .333 Ordonez, RF 4 0 0 0 1 0 3 .258 --Inge, 3B 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253 Thames, LF 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 .272 --Thomas, C, LF-RF 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .258 Raburn, 3B-LF 6 1 3 1 0 0 3 .253 Laird, C 5 1 1 0 0 1 3 .232 Everett, SS 4 1 3 2 0 0 2 .251 Totals 45 13 19 13 5 5 25 BATTING 2B: Polanco 2 (24, Feldman, Jennings), Thames (6, Feldman), Cabrera, M (22, Moscoso), Laird (15, Moscoso). HR: Granderson 2 (22, 1st inning off Feldman, 0 on, 0 out; 2nd inning off Feldman, 1 on, 1 out), Thames (11, 4th inning off Moscoso, 0 on, 1 out), Cabrera, M (20, 7th inning off Guardado, 2 on, 0 out). TB: Granderson 8; Polanco 4; Guillen, C; Cabrera, M 8; Thames 6; Thomas, C; Raburn 3; Laird 2; Everett 3. RBI: Granderson 3 (50), Guillen, C 2 (12), Raburn (28), Thames (24), Cabrera, M 4 (57), Everett 2 (30). 2-out RBI: Guillen, C; Everett. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Raburn 2; Cabrera, M 2; Granderson 2; Thames; Inge. SF: Everett. Team RISP: 5-for-18. Team LOB: 13. BASERUNNING SB: Laird (2, 3rd base off Moscoso/Teagarden). FIELDING E: Raburn (5, fielding).		Texas AB-- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Vizquel, 2B 5 0 2 1 0 1 1 .281 Young, M, 3B 3 0 1 2 0 2 1 .321 --Arias, Jo, 3B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Murphy, Dv, LF 3 0 0 0 1 3 2 .276 Byrd, CF 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .275 Blalock, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .251 Jones, An, DH 4 3 2 2 0 1 0 .235 Hamilton, RF 4 1 1 0 0 2 0 .224 Teagarden, C 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .191 Andrus, El, SS 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .266 Totals 36 5 8 5 1 18 10 BATTING 2B: Young, M (31, Verlander). HR: Jones, An 2 (17, 2nd inning off Verlander, 0 on, 2 out; 9th inning off Fien, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Vizquel 2; Young, M 2; Jones, An 8; Hamilton; Andrus, El 2. RBI: Jones, An 2 (37), Vizquel (8), Young, M 2 (45). 2-out RBI: Jones, An. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Byrd 2. Team RISP: 3-for-6. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING E: Andrus, El (13, fielding). PB: Teagarden (3). DP: (Feldman-Andrus, El).
Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Verlander (W, 12-5) 7.0 6 4 3 0 13 1 3.16 Lyon 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.42 Fien 1.0 2 1 1 0 3 1 2.70		Texas IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Feldman (L, 9-4) 2.1 10 6 6 2 1 2 3.99 Moscoso 3.1 4 3 2 3 1 1 4.32 Guardado 0.2 3 4 2 0 0 1 4.15 Jennings 1.2 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.54 O'Day 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.66
WP: Moscoso. HBP: Laird (by Moscoso), Guillen, C (by Guardado). Pitches-strikes: Verlander 115-80, Lyon 16-9, Fien 23-16, Feldman 71-43, Moscoso 69-39, Guardado 25-16, Jennings 18-16, O'Day 12-7. Groundouts-flyouts: Verlander 2-6, Lyon 0-1, Fien 0-0, Feldman 1-4, Moscoso 3-6, Guardado 2-0, Jennings 2-2, O'Day 1-0. Batters faced: Verlander 28, Lyon 4, Fien 5, Feldman 18, Moscoso 18, Guardado 7, Jennings 7, O'Day 3. Inherited runners-scored: Moscoso 2-1, Jennings 2-1. Umpires: HP: Greg Gibson. 1B: Ted Barrett. 2B: Tim McClelland. 3B: Andy Fletcher. Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, In from RF. T: 3:05. Att: 33,235. July 29, 2009