Detroit Tigers Notes And Quotes 6-2-11

--RHP Rick Porcello had his good sinker and worked inside to left-handed batters, which helped him pitch six scoreless innings before giving up his only runs of the game on a two-run home run in the seventh. "When he's got his sinker going," manager Jim Leyland said, "his secondary stuff gets better. He could be a real good pitcher." It also appears Porcello is no longer on a short leash, as Leyland allowed him to throw 106 pitches, his fourth time above 100 this season.

--1B Miguel Cabrera owns both of the three-run home runs hit by Detroit players this year, the second coming Wednesday in the third inning of the Tigers' 4-2 victory over Minnesota. Cabrera took a curve for a strike on the first pitch but got the fastball he was looking for on the second and lined it into the Detroit bullpen past the left field wall. Minnesota has pitched him carefully, but he came up following a pair of one-out walks.

--C Alex Avila singled home Detroit's first run, in the second inning, and now stands one RBI from equaling his total of 31 from last season. Avila has done a nice job of working the count this season to get himself into good hitting situations. With two strikes in the second inning, he adjusted his swing to loop his base hit to left after taking healthy cuts at fastballs before he reached a 2-2 count.

--RHP Joaquin Benoit turned in another scoreless relief appearance, his sixth in a row since being pelted with three runs in a loss May 16. Manager Jim Leyland had gotten good results since giving Benoit back his job as the Tigers' setup man. Benoit has gotten confidence back in his fastball and changeup. He worked a 1-2-3 eighth including a strikeout to collect his eighth hold.

--RHP Jose Valverde made it 14 saves without a failure, facing five batters in the ninth inning of Detroit's 4-2 win over Minnesota. Valverde was told to walk 1B Justin Morneau intentionally with a man on second and two outs because Morneau had hit two home runs Tuesday night. Valverde got 2B Michael Cuddyer to ground out to third on the next pitch to end the game. Valverde has been consistently in the 94-96 mph range with his fastball this season.

--3B Brandon Inge became a "10-and-5" man, having spent his whole career with Detroit, the moment he stepped on the field against Minnesota. With 10 years in the majors and five with his current team, he now has veto rights over any trade. "To even get to the big leagues is a blessing, and to play for this long, I'm flattered," said Inge, 34. "I'm proud to have been able to do it all with the Tigers. There's no place else I would ever want to go."

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's fun to watch. He looks like he's having fun. He was a catcher, and now he's one of the more athletic third basemen in the league. He gets after the game. He's not afraid to smile.

"When I'm sitting in my dugout, I'm always looking at him and I'm telling him, 'I'm going to bunt on you.' He's looking back at me as if he's saying, 'Go ahead.' I like that. It's been a pleasure watching him play."

--RF Magglio Ordonez is scheduled to begin a weekend rehab assignment with Class AAA Toledo on Friday night, and he could rejoin the Tigers in Texas on Monday if all goes well. Ordonez has been on the disabled list since May 11 due to right ankle weakness after hitting .172 in 99 at-bats. "He looks really good," manager Jim Leyland said.

BY THE NUMBERS
61 -- Years since Detroit has won nine straight games from Minnesota. In fact, it was so long ago (1950) the team was the Washington Senators. The Tigers tamed the Twins for a ninth straight time dating back to late last season with a 4-2 win Wednesday.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"They're a team you want to beat, no matter how they're playing." -- OF Brennan Boesch, on Detroit's nine-game winning streak against Minnesota.

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