--3B Brandon Inge might have broken out of his slump Wednesday night. Inge got three hits, including a two-run home run to deep left in the sixth inning that gave Detroit a brief 5-4 lead. He had been swinging at pitches out of the strike zone in recent days but Wednesday began restricting his swing to good pitches. He had two singles to center, a good sign for Inge's hitting prospects.

--1B Miguel Cabrera changed up his pattern Wednesday, and it might have paid off. Cabrera is a notorious first-pitch hitter most of the time -- and he entered the Minnesota series hitting .600 when he hit a first pitch -- and he continued that pattern Tuesday night. But Wednesday night he took the first pitch his first three times up. On the fourth, however, he creamed the first offering by RHP Matt Guerrier for a three-run home run that gave Detroit an 8-7 lead.

--C Gerald Laird was supposed to get two days off in an effort to get him out of a slump that has seen him get just one hit in his last 35 at-bats entering Wednesday. C Dane Sardinha started for him Wednesday night and will play again Thursday afternoon. Laird pinch-hit for Sardinha leading off the 10th inning of a tie game. Manager Jim Leyland said he wanted Laird "to rest and clear the cobwebs. Right now, he's beating his head against the wall."

"I've not had a slump like this," Laird said. "It gets in your head, and you've got to relax to do what you do. I'm getting pitches to hit and popping them up."

--LHP Dontrelle Willis made a successful yet unsuccessful return to the major leagues Wednesday in his first start since May 23 of last year. It was successful in that Willis walked just two batters -- the first and last he faced -- and was consistently around the strike zone in 4 2/3 innings of work. Yet he allowed eight hits and four runs and left with Detroit trailing Minnesota 4-2. His fastball was in the low to middle 90s, but his breaking ball wasn't consistent and he wasn't able to dominate left-handed hitters as he generally does when he's right. But he certainly showed enough to make more starts.

--RHP Jeremy Bonderman will make a rehab start Saturday for low Class A West Michigan, which starts the clock ticking on a possible return to the major leagues. Bonderman has been on the disabled list since spring training while trying to get his right shoulder back into shape. He had an 87-pitch extended spring game Monday that went well and threw a side session Wednesday morning, reporting no soreness. Getting his fastball back into the low 90s, which was not happening in spring training, while remaining free of pain were the two key factors the Tigers wanted to see before getting Bonderman on a rehab assignment. Detroit will have 30 days from Saturday to make a decision on the pitcher's future.

--RHP Ryan Perry will pitch earlier in games and for more innings rather than protecting leads with single innings. Perry worked two innings and threw 42 pitches Tuesday night, the most pitches he's thrown with Detroit. "He needs innings under his belt," manager Jim Leyland said. "If we can't get them for him, then we need to send him out. But I think we can get them for him. This was a perfect example."

Perry won't pitch again until Detroit returns home Friday to host Oakland. "I think this is a good way to break Perry in," Leyland said. "I was absolutely very pleased what I saw. He did a tremendous job. Perry will be a guy earlier now to pitch some innings. He won't pitch the rest of this series, but he'll be fresh and ready when we get home."

--RHP Juan Rincon was designated for assignment after Tuesday night's game to make room for LHP Dontrelle Willis, who was activated off the disabled list to start Wednesday at Minnesota. Rincon, 30, was 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA in seven games for the Tigers after making the team as a non-roster invitee during spring training. If Rincon is not traded and clears waivers, he would have three days to accept an assignment to Class AAA Toledo or become a free agent.

--2B Placido Polanco was charged with a throwing error at the back end of a double play attempt Tuesday night, ending a streak of 61 straight games without a miscue. He set the major league record for errorless games at second base at 186 games and 911 total chances from July 1, 2006, to April 8, 2008.

MEDICAL WATCH:

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 was activated to start for Detroit on May 13.

LF/DH Carlos Guillen (left shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list May 5.

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.

RHP Jeremy Bonderman (right rib removal, blood clot surgery in June 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He will begin a rehab assignment with Class A West Michigan on May 16.

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.

ROTATION:

RHP Justin Verlander

RHP Edwin Jackson

RHP Armando Galarraga

RHP Rick Porcello

LHP Dontrelle Willis

BULLPEN:

RHP Fernando Rodney (closer)

RHP Joel Zumaya

RHP Brandon Lyon

LHP Bobby Seay

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