Detroit Tigers Notes And Quotes 5-27-11

--LHP Adam Wilk made his major league debut Thursday and turned in a solid performance after relieving starting RHP Max Scherzer with a man on third and none out in the third. Wilk has a deceptive hesitation in his delivery and he retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, including stranding the runner he inherited in the third. Wilk was good against left-handed hitters, showing a sweeping breaking ball that caught the outside part of the plate consistently. Wilk is not a hard thrower but he does get the ball over the plate with movement.

--RHP Max Scherzer had trouble putting the ball where he wanted it and allowed seven hits and seven runs in two innings. The first six pitches Scherzer threw were balls, before he battled back to work a scoreless first. But the first four batters in the second hit safely and a bad indicator came when he put a 3-and-2 fastball right down the middle for rookie SS Drew Sutton to hit for an RBI double. A single, walk and triple in the third chased Scherzer from the game. "When he threw it good, they hit it bad but got good results," manager Jim Leyland said. "And when he threw it bad, they hit it good and got real good results. It just wasn't his day."

--LF Don Kelly is showing Jim Leyland enough that the Detroit manager will find ways to get him into the lineup. Kelly was in the starting lineup two straight days (Wednesday rained out) and hit well, so Leyland wrote him into left field when he decided to return 3B Brandon Inge to the lineup. Kelly has given his team a lift as the No. 2 hitter in the order, a problem spot for the club all season. "To hit No. 2 in the lineup and play in three straight is definitely a confidence-builder," Kelly said. "You just want to go out there and continue to do what you've been doing."

--RHP Ryan Perry still is struggling to be effective. Perry allowed four hits and four runs in 1 1/3 innings and was unable to get an out in the eighth. He struggled to command his fastball and his slider was on and off. His ineffectiveness means manager Jim Leyland can't give him consistent innings and that could make him a surprise candidate to be sent to Toledo when LHP Andy Oliver comes up Saturday to start against Boston. Two days ago, Perry shaved his head in a light-hearted effort to change his luck.

--3B Brandon Inge returned to Detroit's starting lineup Thursday after not being on the bench two straight days, as UTL Don replaced him, with Wednesday's game rained out in the third inning. "In my mind, that was to fire me up," Inge said of being benched. "I think it was just to get me to bear down a little, although I don't think I'm not bearing down. But if you want to get a little attitude in me, that's the way to do it." Said Manager Jim Leyland: "He's struggling, but he'll come out of it. First time, up he hit the ball hard, but after that ... ." Inge was 0-for-3 in the game.

--RHP Enrique Gonzalez was brought up earlier in the week to lend some veteran stability to Detroit's bullpen. He also added some runs. Gonzalez was summoned to clean up a messy eighth inning, but threw too many hittable pitches, allowing two runs on three straight two-out hits.

--RF Magglio Ordonez will report to Detroit to test his right ankle in a pre-game workout Friday on his way toward a probable rehab assignment to see if he has enough strength to generate decent bat speed. Not being able to sufficiently push off on his ankle while hitting and playing defense is the reason Ordonez landed on the 15-day disabled list, effective May 11. Ordonez is batting .172 with one home run and five RBI in 99 at-bats. "He's going to run a little bit, shag a little bit and hit some," manager Jim Leyland said. "That's between a player and the medical people. He will not be activated Saturday, that I can promise you."

--RHP Robbie Weinhardt cleared waivers and was assigned outright Thursday to Detroit's Triple-A Toledo farm club. Weinhardt, 25, was 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA in 13 games for the Mud Hens before being designated for assignment to make room for LHP Adam Wilk on the Tigers' 40-man roster. Weinhardt had a 10.80 ERA in two appearances for Detroit this season and pitched for the Tigers last season. He's had problems keeping his sinker down in the strike zone.

BY THE NUMBERS
0 -- Earned runs allowed by LHPs Charlie Furbush and Adam Wilk in their major league debuts this week, 3 2/3 innings of relief each. Wilk allowed an unearned run in his stint.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"In my mind, that was to fire me up. I think it was just to get me to bear down a little, although I don't think I'm not bearing down. But if you want to get a little attitude in me, that's the way to do it." -- 3B Brandon Inge, who returned to the starting lineup after not being on the lineup card two straight days.

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