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Robertson back on the mound as Tigers face Athletics

Sep 9, 2008 - 12:22 PM Oakland (65-78) at Detroit (70-74) 7:05 p.m. EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- Nate Robertson is back in the starting rotation for the Detroit Tigers - but only, manager Jim Leyland insists, for one start.

The veteran lefthander will make his first start in 20 days on Tuesday as the Tigers host the Oakland Athletics in the second contest of a three-game series. After struggling throughout this season, Robertson (7-10, 6.30 ERA) was finally banished to the bullpen following an 9-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on August 20, when he gave up eight runs, eight hits and five walks in just 3 2/3 innings.

In his previous start, an 11-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, he gave up five runs in five innings.

His stint as a reliever hasn't gone particularly well, either. In his second appearance out of the Detroit bullpen, Robertson relieved struggling starter Kenny Rogers and lasted just 1 1/3 innings, getting hammered for six runs. On Tuesday, he will be relieving Rogers again - the 43-year-old lefty was scheduled to pitch, but will get the day off while battling a sore hip.

Taking the mound for Oakland is fellow lefthander Dana Eveland (8-8, 4.28), who is 1-0 in three starts since being called up from a three-week stint at Class AAA Sacramento.

The Tigers won the first game of the series on Monday, riding a six-run second inning on their way to a 14-8 victory. Gary Sheffield, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout the year, drove in five runs with a pair of homers in a winning cause, including a game-changing grand slam. He is nearing entry into the 500-home run club, currently sitting at 496 blasts for his career.