--RF Magglio Ordonez took maybe a small step toward breaking out of his slump Friday night with a single down the first base line in his first time up. Ordonez served as the DH for the second game in a row to concentrate on his hitting -- but maybe also to get the more athletic OF Clete Thomas in right field. Ordonez also walked in the fourth on a full count pitch to show he's still got patience at the plate.
--3B Brandon Inge fought out of an 0-for-14 stretch -- his first stretch of games not being on base this season -- with a single down the third base line in the fourth inning Friday night. Inge reached base in Detroit's first 24 games but another matchup with LHP Cliff Lee of Cleveland, against whom he's had success in the past, might have perked up Inge's mental frame of mind. He grounded a single down the line that could have been a double except it bounced off the tarp in foul territory and right back to an Indians' defender. --CF Curtis Granderson made a game-turning catch with one out and a man on in the ninth inning Friday night, leaping above the center field fence to reach over it and haul back a bid for a two-run walk-off home run by CF Grady Sizemore of Cleveland. "He's done that a few times," a smiling and relieved RHP Justin Verlander, the winning pitcher, said. "He timed that so well. That one of the best I've ever seen." Granderson also scored the lone run of the game in the eighth when he walked, stole second on a failed hit-and-run play, moved to third on a groundout and scored when RF Clete Thomas beat out a ground ball to second for a single.
--RF Clete Thomas is in the lineup to give Detroit a little more speed in the lineup. The left-handed hitter can play all three outfield positions but has started in right in his two games since coming back from the minors to Detroit. Thomas showed what running out ground balls full tilt can do when he beat out a hustle single with CF Curtis Granderson on third and two out in the eighth inning. Thomas, who singled in the first, might have more speed than 2B Luis Valbuena estimated because the second baseman double-clutched after fielding the roller, which allowed the outfielder to beat it out for a single.
MEDICAL WATCH:
LF/DH Carlos Guillen (left shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list May 5.
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. He pitched for Class AAA Toledo on May 1 and May 6, and he will be activated to start for Detroit on May 12.
RHP Jeremy Bonderman (right rib removal, blood clot surgery in June 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He might begin a rehab assignment in mid-May.
ROTATION:
RHP Justin Verlander
RHP Edwin Jackson
RHP Armando Galarraga
RHP Rick Porcello
BULLPEN:
RHP Fernando Rodney (closer)
RHP Joel Zumaya
RHP Brandon Lyon
LHP Bobby Seay
RHP Juan Rincon
LHP Nate Robertson
RHP Ryan Perry
RHP Zach Miner
CATCHERS:
Gerald Laird
Dane Sardinha
INFIELDERS:
1B Miguel Cabrera
2B Placido Polanco
SS Adam Everett
3B Brandon Inge
INF Jeff Larish
INF Ramon Santiago
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Josh Anderson
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Magglio Ordonez
DH Clete Thomas
OF Ryan Raburn
