--LHP Nate Robertson gave up a three-run home run to the third batter he faced, RF Bobby Abreu, but settled down after that and pitched into the sixth inning before coming out after giving up a two-out single. Robertson was behind the hitters in the first inning but changed that pattern thereafter and wound up throwing 106 pitches before departing. He allowed seven hits.
--UT Brandon Inge replaced C Ivan Rodriguez on Thursday after filling in for CF Curtis Granderson the night before. Inge is faced with drastically reduced playing time because the Tigers' regular lineup is in place for the first time this season. Manager Jim Leyland will try to get Inge in the lineup several times a week to take advantage of his defensive abilities. --1B Miguel Cabrera is doing one of the things the Tigers are paying him big money to do -- produce runs. Cabrera had an RBI triple and a two-run home run Thursday to spark the Tigers' 8-4 victory over the New York Yankees. He now has 22 RBIs season after a slow start. He's such a good hitter he can either pull pitches or go the other way -- seemingly at will.
--INF Ramon Santiago got his first start at shortstop as manager Jim Leyland gave regular SS Edgar Renteria a rest. There's nothing wrong with Renteria, it was just that Leyland was giving his reserve a weekly look at pitching while letting Renteria take a breather.
--RHP Francisco Cruceta reported to the Tigers on Thursday and his manager immediately got him on the mound. "I'm so glad to be here, man," he said. "I'm so happy right now to play the game, try to compete." He relieved to start the ninth inning with an 8-4 lead and walked the first batter he faced but retired the next three to make his first Tigers appearance successful. "If he can pitch, he'll be good," said manager Jim Leyland. "If he can't, he'll just be a nice-looking kid with a good smile."
--RHP Fernando Rodney threw a six-minute bullpen session that the Tigers called his best of the spring. The session was Rodney's first since a visit with Dr. James Andrews on April 16 determined there was nothing major wrong with his arm. Rodney told the Tigers it was his best bullpen session since his right shoulder began to bother him early in spring training. "He felt comfortable with his delivery, and he was finishing his pitches," trainer Kevin Rand said. "He threw with greater intensity." Rodney will throw Saturday or Sunday, depending on how he feels.
--RHP Joel Zumaya threw off a mound for the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery last fall. Zumaya threw a six-minute bullpen session that was limited to fastballs and changeups. Zumaya is scheduled for another bullpen session Saturday. There still is no timetable for his return.
BY THE NUMBERS: 100 -- Major League games Carlos Guillen had played at third base (for Seattle) prior to making his first start at the position for Detroit this week. Guillen also said he'd played the position extensively in winter ball in Venezuela.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We believe it makes our team better. Actually, I know it makes our team better. In the long run, I believe your job as a manager is to get the most out of your players and put them in position to be the most successful. I believe that this makes our club better." -- Manager Jim Leyland, in announcing the switching of Carlos Guillen to third base and Miguel Cabrera to first.
