AP PhotoDetroit's Magglio Ordonez is congratulated by teammate Placido Polanco after homering in the eighth inning Saturday against Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroit hasn't gotten many big hits in the late innings or clutch relief pitching of late.

They got both Saturday in a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez hit two-run homers in the eighth inning for the tying and go-ahead runs that held up because Clay Rapada, Kyle Farnsworth and Fernando Rodney shut the door.

AP PhotoDetroit's Curtis Granderson rounds the bases after homering in the eighth inning against Minnesota on Saturday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroit manager Jim Leyland said center fielder Curtis Granderson has blossomed into a "total" hitter capable of moving up from the leadoff spot to an RBI position in the batting order.

Granderson said he still has plenty to work on as a hitter before such a move could be made, adding, "I'm comfortable at the top of the lineup."

Granderson had a double and key two-run homer in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins, continuing to supply power from the top of the order.

AP PhotoDetroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga hangs his head after giving up a grand slam to Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the fifth inning Friday night.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroit Tigers starter Armando Galarraga looks like an American League Rookie of the Year contender against everybody but the Minnesota Twins.

Friday night's 10-2 loss was another chapter in his struggles with them.

Galarraga (12-5) allowed season-highs with six earned runs and six walks, and is now 0-4 with a 5.46 ERA against the Twins. He is 12-1 with a 2.92 ERA against everyone else.

AP PhotoJustin Verlander is pulled by Jim Leyland in the second inning against the New York Yankees on Monday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Verlander realizes that numbers don't lie.

He was 35-15 with a 3.64 ERA for the Tigers in 2006 and 2007, and is 10-15 with a 4.74 ERA going into today's start here against the Twins.

"But being able to fight through negatives is a positive," Verlander said Friday, "and I am going to do that."

Verlander had his shortest stint in 93 big league starts the last time out, giving up eight runs (five earned) in 1 2/3 innings against the New York Yankees, and afterward said:

AP PhotoDetroit's Kenny Rogers is 1-7 with an 8.50 ERA since July 28. He took the loss Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels.

DETROIT -- When Kenny Rogers walked off the mound during the third inning Thursday, many applauded as he neared the Detroit dugout. Some even stood and cheered.

It isn't what you expect after giving up eight hits and getting only six outs. But it seemed as if those in Comerica Park were saying thank you to Rogers, sensing that it would be one of their last opportunities to watch him.

"They could've booed me," Rogers said after the 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. "They pull for me as much or more than any fans I've had. I can't explain what it means to me. As supportive as they've been, that makes you want to do it even more for them. Sometimes that isn't good. But they have been fantastic to me."

DETROIT -- Detroit's outfield defense was a contributing factor in the 3-6 homestand just completed. Several outfielders missed cutoff men with errant throws and made late or poor breaks on balls hit to them.

There isn't a single outfielder on the team playing crisp defense right now, according to Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

"We haven't played well in the outfield lately," Leyland said. "I don't know the answer to that, and I've thought about it long and hard. We're making some fundamental mistakes."

AP PhotoDetroit's Placido Polanco, right, celebrates the Tigers' win with teammate Mike Hessman. Polanco drove in three runs while Hessman homered.

DETROIT -- It's too bad the Detroit Tigers have been struggling. Otherwise, Curtis Granderson might be the talk of baseball.

Granderson drove in the tying run Wednesday night with his league-leading 13th triple, and then scored the go-ahead run later in the seventh inning.

He scored three times on three hits in a 9-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels, and has now scored 48 times in the last 45 games to lead the American League since the All-Star break. He is third in the league with 98 runs for the season.

AP PhotoMike Hessman hits a two-run home run in his first game since being called up from Toledo.

DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Mike Hessman made the most of an opportunity. In his first start since being recalled from Toledo, Hessman hit a two-run homer and made several strong defensive plays in a 9-6 win Wednesday over the Los Angeles Angels.

"Hessman was one of the stars of the game," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland, who before the game said Hessman "might run into one."

And he sure did, hitting a 396-foot shot off Justin Speier on a full-count slider after fouling back a couple pitches to lock in.

AP PhotoTigers center fielder Curtis Granderson reaches up for the ball after missing it on a diving attempt Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.

DETROIT -- Sure, Francisco Rodriguez got his 54th save to draw within three of the single-season major league record.

And, sure, Miguel Cabrera hit a dramatic, two-out homer in the eighth inning to briefly tie Tuesday night's game. It was his 31st of the season, and third straight game with an opposite-field homer.

Those are moments guaranteed to make the highlight reels.

DETROIT -- Freddy Garcia and Dontrelle Willis pleased Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland with their pitching during a simulated game Tuesday afternoon.

"I was very happy with Dontrelle," Leyland said. "He was a little tentative at the beginning, but then free and easy. I was impressed. He threw two or three of the better sliders I've seen him throw. He had control and velocity and was looking more confident every inning."

Ramon Santiago, Ryan Raburn, Jeff Larish and Toledo callups Mike Hessman and Dusty Ryan hit against them with three outs per inning.

DETROIT -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland would have preferred that Justin Verlander hadn't said that home plate umpire Chuck Meriwether had a "tight" strike zone after giving up eight runs (five earned) in Monday's loss to the New York Yankees.

"Diversionary tactics are not good," Leyland said. "There are times when you've just got to say, 'I couldn't get anybody out.' I'm not taking a shot at Justin Verlander. That goes for all of us.
"You start by not looking for other reasons. Chuck Meriwether had nothing to do with Justin Verlander's horse-blank outing."

Leyland is big on accountability, and said the best approach is to simply admit you didn't have it and take steps to improve upon your faults. He was pleased that Verlander spent one hour studying videotape of the performance with Tigers bullpen coach Jeff Jones.

AP PhotoYankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez was overwhelmed when he received a standing ovation before his first at-bat. "These fans in Detroit are great," he said.

DETROIT -- Nita Hanchett stood in the stands behind the batting cage, watching her beloved Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez taking cuts for his new team. What was it like watching him in a New York Yankees uniform?

"It kills me," Hanchett said.

Hanchett, manager of the Fanatic U store in Garden City, wore a 2005 All-Star Game jersey with PUDGE on the back. It's one of five Rodriguez Tigers jerseys she owns. She had Rodriguez sign autographs at her store two days before his July 30 trade.

AP PhotoDetroit starter Justin Verlander hands the ball to manager Jim Leyland after the shortest outing of his career. Verlander didn't get out of the second inning of the Tigers' 13-9 loss to New York.

DETROIT -- There was a day when three homers and Justin Verlander starting were money in the bank for the Detroit Tigers. Monday definitely was not one of those days.

Verlander didn't get out of the second inning, giving up eight runs (five earned) and getting only four outs in a 13-9 loss to the New York Yankees. It was his shortest outing in 93 career starts, and only the third time he has not completed four innings.

"I didn't feel very good and my control was erratic," Verlander said. "The guy behind the plate (umpire Chuck Meriwether) had a tight (strike) zone. That happens. I don't feel it's unfair.

AP PhotoIvan Rodriguez is hitting just .203 with two home runs and two RBIs for the Yankees.

DETROIT -- Justin Verlander is going to face an Ivan Rodriguez wearing pinstripes today, but over the weekend he recalled Rodriguez as a teammate during the crowning moment of his career.

"I can still picture him jumping up and down and running toward me after the last out of the no-hitter," said Verlander, recalling his 4-0 gem here against Milwaukee on June 12, 2007. "He was so excited, and that meant a lot to me.

"He was just as excited as I was. He yelled and screamed and hugged me. To have a guy like that catch that game and be that excited was really special."

AP PhotoDetroit's Miguel Cabrera hits a two-run double in the eighth inning Sunday against Kansas City. He also homered in the sixth.

DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera is making his mark.

The Tigers first baseman drove in all the runs for Detroit in Sunday's 4-2 win over Kansas City.

He now has 104 RBIs for the season to rank third in the American League behind Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton and Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau.