Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter VI Mobile College Basketball March Mayhem Picks College Basketball March Mayhem Picks VegasInsider.com VegasInsider.com
Handicapper Bios Sports Picks Free Odds Contests Sportsbook
VI Home NFL NBANHLMLBNCAA FBNCAA BKGolfAutoHorsesBoxingVI More Sports
 
MLB Scores Matchups Teams Standings
 
 · Regular Season
Schedules Injuries News
 
 · Latest News
 · Player Updates
 · Transactions
Buy Picks Vegas Odds
 
 · Vegas Odds
 · Offshore Odds
 · Future Odds
 
Recap: Rays , Tigers
 •  BT Movements
Game: 0
Venue:
Date: March 26, 2009 6:05 PM EDT
  

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) -Rick Porcello has more work to do if he's going to win the final spot in Detroit's rotation.

The prized prospect struggled with his command Thursday night, but the Tigers got a home run and a double from Curtis Granderson in a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Advertisement

It was the first spring training game in which the Tigers have had most of their regular starters. Slick-fielding shortstop Adam Everett was out with a sprained left ankle, but sluggers Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez played with Detroit for the first time since returning from Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Granderson, who played for Team USA, also made the trip back to Lakeland. All four, plus pitcher Armando Galarraga, made brief appearances before leaving for the WBC.

Porcello allowed one run and three hits while walking three in 2 1-3 innings, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland hasn't given up on him. Leyland said Porcello still has at least two more chances to pitch before the team breaks camp.

``He fought trouble,' Leyland said. ``I would like to see him go 1-2-3 all night, but he wouldn't have necessarily made the club if he pitched five scoreless innings. He just has to get his pitches over the plate.'

The 20-year-old Porcello was selected in the first round of the 2007 draft and spent last season at Class-A Lakeland. Still, he has been considered a long shot to skip the higher minors and make it to Detroit in April.

He threw 36 pitches in the first inning against Tampa Bay and said he felt a little nervous knowing that only a few rotation candidates remain at spring training.

``I am not worried about making the team,' Porcello said. ``I am just focused on being a starter for whoever I pitch for this season. It is a learning process and I am still learning. Maybe I tried to throw too hard, I don't know. What I know is that I need to get ahead of the hitters and I didn't do that tonight.'

The Rays scored a run in the first, but Porcello had to pitch his way out of a jam. He was placed on a 65-pitch limit and was yanked in the third.

``He struggled, absolutely,' Leyland said. ``He had some nerves and it took him some time to get over them. He has got to get better but he knows that.'

Porcello missed a start last week after a line drive sliced open a finger on his pitching hand.

Leyland was excited to get his key players back, but said the middle of his lineup was behind.

``They have to do a lot to get ready in a short time,' Leyland said. ``The WBC guys were a little bit sluggish, but they will play just about every day between now and the start of the season. They need their at_bats.'

Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine pitched 4 1-3 innings. He gave up seven hits and four runs, three earned.

The right-hander allowed homers to Brandon Inge and Granderson, but manager Joe Maddon wasn't worried.

``Sonnanstine just allowed a couple of homers that were basically fly balls that went out,' Maddon said. ``He pitched real well.'

Maddon also praised Lance Cormier, who is trying to land a job in Tampa Bay's bullpen. Cormier pitched in 45 games last year for Baltimore, and the Rays are looking for middle relief help. He worked 2 2-3 scoreless innings and allowed four hits.

``Lance Cormier threw a lot of strikes,' Maddon said. ``I wanted to see him on back-to-back days and I liked what I saw.'

Cabrera went 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Dioner Navarro had three hits for the Rays, but projected closer Troy Percival allowed two earned runs in one inning.

Notes: The Tigers reassigned C Max St. Pierre to minor league camp. St. Pierre has been in professional baseball since 1997 without getting a major league at-bat. ``I just told him to never give up on his dreams,' Leyland said. ... Granderson said he lost about 10 pounds over the last three weeks and he felt a bit weak, but he plans to put the weight back on.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2012
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   RUN   O/U 
 TAM         
 DET         
BT MOVEMENTS

 
 
  
GOLD Membership
Receive a 20% discount on all Daily Picks. Signup Today!
 
 
Las Vegas Travel
 
 

NFL
NFL Picks
NFL Odds
NFL Matchups
NFL Scores

NBA
NBA Picks
NBA Odds
NBA Matchups
NBA Scores

MLB
MLB Picks
MLB Odds
MLB Matchups
MLB Scores


NCAA FB
NCAA FB Picks
NCAA FB Odds
NCAA FB Matchups
NCAA FB Scores

NCAA BK
NCAA BK Picks
NCAA BK Odds
NCAA BK Matchups
NCAA BK Scores

NHL
NHL Picks
NHL Odds
NHL Matchups
NHL Scores


More Sports
Golf
Auto Racing
Horse Racing
Boxing
UFC
WNBA
Soccer

Features
Free Odds
Mobile Odds
Contests
Newsletters
VI Radio
Las Vegas Travel
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook


Sports Betting Tools
Live Odds
Parlay Calculator
Gaming Terms
TV Listings
Handicapping Records
Sportsbook Reviews

VegasInsider Info
About Us
Help Center
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Contact Us
User Feedback

Sportsbooks
BetOnline.ag
Bodog.ca
Bookmaker
Bovada.lv
SBG Global.eu
Sportsbook
TopBet.com

Rotation Schedules
Baseball:

 
Mar 28 - June 5

Copyright © 1997-2012, VegasInsider.com Inc., The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. All rights reserved.
For questions or comments, please contact us at 1-800-211-4759.