--C Dane Sardinha got the start Sunday to give regular C Gerald Laird, whose hitting has fallen off, a day of rest. Sardinha led off the seventh inning of a tie game, a situation that normally calls for a pinch-hitter since the backup catcher has a weak bat. But Sardinha fought back from an 0-2 count and eventually drilled a pitch into right center for a double. No pinch-runner, either, as Leyland believes in keeping a player on the bench, if at all possible, when he's been told he's getting a day off. "My first two at-bats didn't look so great," Sardinha said. "I tried to battle this time and got a pitch up and away I was able to drive to right center."

--3B Brandon Inge remains a productive player for Detroit on a daily basis. Inge belted his eighth home run his first time up Sunday, in the second inning. It was the 24th game Detroit has played this year and the 24th game in which Inge has reached base. His next goal is the 30 straight games CF Ron LeFlore reached base at the start of the 1976 season.

--RF Magglio Ordonez still hasn't shown a prolonged burst of power. He's hitting .253 now but even that has taken a 4-for-12 string to reach. He has just two extra base hits -- home runs -- but remains a dangerous hitter. Sunday he came up with a runner on third and one out and, instead of trying to yank the ball over the fence, grounded an RBI single up the middle to expand Detroit's lead to 3-1.

--RHP Joel Zumaya worked his second straight game Sunday. It looks clean in the box score -- out batter and one out -- but it was anything but as Zumaya threw a pitch that was lined sharply to short and almost made it over SS Adam Everett's head. The previous night, Zumaya worked 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball to gain his first win since 2007.

MEDICAL WATCH:

C Matt Treanor (torn labrum in right hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 24. He had surgery April 30, and is likely out for the season.

DH/OF Marcus Thames (left ribcage muscle strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He won't begin any physical activity for two to four weeks, and he will need a rehab assignment before returning to the Tigers.

LHP Dontrelle Willis (anxiety disorder) went on the 15-day disabled list March 29. The disorder was diagnosed through blood tests. He made a rehab start for Class A Lakeland on April 21, and he started for Class AA Erie on April 26.

RHP Jeremy Bonderman (right rib removal, blood clot surgery in June 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He won't return until he nudges his fastball back up 90 mph on a consistent basis.

ROTATION:

RHP Justin Verlander

RHP Edwin Jackson

RHP Armando Galarraga

RHP Rick Porcello

RHP Zach Miner

BULLPEN:

RHP Fernando Rodney (closer)

RHP Joel Zumaya

RHP Brandon Lyon

LHP Bobby Seay

RHP Juan Rincon

LHP Nate Robertson

RHP Ryan Perry

LHP Clay Rapada

CATCHERS:

Gerald Laird

Dane Sardinha

INFIELDERS:

1B Miguel Cabrera

2B Placido Polanco

SS Adam Everett

3B Brandon Inge

INF Ramon Santiago

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Josh Anderson

CF Curtis Granderson

RF Magglio Ordonez

DH Carlos Guillen

OF Ryan Raburn