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Polanco powers Tigers past Giants

Jun 19, 2008 - 12:59 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Perhaps a string of offensive outbursts actually can erase a disappointing start to the season.

Placido Polanco had four hits to help the surging Detroit Tigers knock off the San Francisco Giants, 7-2, at AT&T Park on Wednesday and creep closer toward the top of the crowded American League Central.

The Tigers, who have won eight of their last nine games, got to Barry Zito (2-11) early. The Giants starter allowed five runs, five hits and four walks in two innings - his shortest outing since signing a seven-year, $126 million contract prior to the 2007 season.

"I had a good bullpen before the game," Zito said. "I had a good (bullpen) a couple days before, so I think it's just a matter of taking that stuff out there, making quality pitches when you have to. I think the difference is just being a little more relaxed out there. You can't be too fine. You just have to let it go."

Zito has lost seven in a row at home, with his last win at AT&T Park coming on September 7 against San Diego.

"He might have been frustrated, but I don't know. It was obvious he wasn't quite there with his command," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "You hate taking a starter out after two innings, but we were down five with a chance to get back in the ballgame, a day off tomorrow, so I knew I could use the bullpen."

After Polanco hit a one-out single in the first, Carlos Guillen walked and Magglio Ordonez delivered an RBI base hit for a 1-0 lead. Miguel Cabrera followed with a run-scoring single to double the advantage.

Polanco smacked an RBI single in the second to score Tigers starter Armando Galarraga (7-2), who walked to lead off the three-run inning. Guillen, who was 2-for-4, followed with a two-run double.

In the fourth, Polanco and Guillen led off with back-to-back singles off Giants reliever Billy Sadler. With one out, Cabrera grounded into a fielder's choice to third, and Polanco scored on a throwing error by second baseman Travis Denker.

The Tigers tacked on another run against Alex Hinshaw in the fifth, when Polanco singled in Curtis Granderson, who led off the inning with a double.

Galarraga allowed two unearned runs and seven hits in six innings in improving his record in interleague play this season to 3-0. He struck out five and walked two in extending his streak of not allowing an earned run to 13 innings.

"He's been a savior so far," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He's given us innings. Not only has he given us innings, he's won games. "It's one thing to give us innings and it's another thing to win ballgames. He keeps his demeanor pretty good and he keeps his cool pretty good. He's done a good job."

San Francisco, which scored on a wild pitch in the second and an error in the sixth, had a chance to cut into Detroit's 7-1 lead in the fifth. But with the bases loaded and two outs, Galarraga struck out Aaron Rowand to escape unscathed.

"It was like, this is your game," Galarraga said. "It's one of those moments where you have guys on base and you have to make a good pitch. You have to concentrate more to make a good pitch."

Freddy Dolsi tossed two scoreless innings and Zach Miner worked a perfect ninth to seal the victory.

Marcus Thames, who entered with a five-game home run streak, went 0-for-3 for the Tigers.

Polanco extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He is batting .520 (23-for-44) during that span.