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Galarraga, Tigers look to stymie Angels

Apr 20, 2009 - 10:03 PM By Nicolino DiBenedetto Stats Writer

Detroit (7-5) at LA Angels (4-8), 10:05 p.m.

ANAHEIM, California (AP) -- Armando Galarraga's dominance through two starts in 2009 is proving his emergence as the Detroit Tigers' top pitcher last season wasn't a fluke.

The righthander looks to improve to 3-0 for the first time in his career Tuesday night when the Tigers open a three-game road set against the Los Angeles Angels.

Galarraga (2-0, 0.68 ERA), who was acquired from Texas in February 2008, went 13-7 with a 3.73 ERA in 30 games -- 28 starts -- as a rookie last season. He led the Tigers (7-5) in wins while posting the lowest ERA of any member of the rotation.

Galarraga has followed up that impressive season by turning in two strong outings to start 2009. He scattered four hits with five strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings of a 9-0 win over Chicago on Wednesday. That came five days after he starred in Detroit's home opener, allowing one run and five hits while fanning eight in a 15-2 win over the Rangers.

"He was tremendous," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after the victory over the White Sox. "He had late life on his pitches. It was darting and moving late in the strike zone, just at the right time."

Galarraga will now try to help the Tigers, who are 2-1 on their current nine-game road trip, win a third consecutive contest after they beat Seattle 8-2 on Sunday to take that series.

He went 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in two starts against the Angels (4-8) last season. He was impressive in winning his only career start at Anaheim on May 28, giving up two runs and four hits in 8 1-3 innings of a 6-2 victory. That performance also halted Detroit's six-game losing streak at Angel Stadium.

The Tigers are 3-11 in their last 14 games there.

The Angels will try to continue their success against Detroit after being held to a season-low four hits in a 3-1 loss at Minnesota on Sunday that capped a three-game sweep by the Twins.

Despite the poor hitting performance, Angels manager Mike Scioscia doesn't appear ready to tinker with the lineup.

"If we have to move around some guys to jump-start it, it's obviously something we would consider," Scioscia said. "But I don't really think the batting order had anything to do with us getting four hits. We need some guys to start swinging the bats. Then we can start evaluating some things."

The team also appears to be still grieving the loss of Nick Adenhart, the 22-year-old right-hander who was killed in a hit-and-run car accident in Fullerton, Calif., on April 9.

"We're still human, no matter what," said Angels center fielder Torii Hunter, who is 8-for-21 (.381) with three homers and six RBIs in the last six games. "You try to be professional, but it's hidden inside. We're still kind of down in the clubhouse. No music is playing. Guys are kind of quiet and moseying around. You try to bring some life to the clubhouse, but it is what it is."

Los Angeles will turn to Jered Weaver (1-1, 3.09), who is looking to rebound from a rough outing.

The right-hander gave up four runs and 10 hits in five innings of an 11-3 loss at Seattle on Wednesday. That performance was in stark contrast to his season debut on April 10, when he allowed one unearned run and four hits with eight strikeouts in a 6-3 win against Boston.

Weaver is 2-1 with an 8.78 ERA in three career starts against Detroit.