Dontrelle Willis was solid through three innings but then a four run fourth inning knocked him out of the game. In all, he gave up five runs on seven hits and four walks with a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings. Zach Miner threw 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief while Aquilino Lopez continued his exceptional spring with a hitless eighth inning.
Gary Sheffield and Ivan Rodriguez both went deep in the 5-3 loss. For Pudge, it was his seventh long ball of the season. He had just eleven homers all of last season. Unfortunately for the Tigers, those two homers accounted for half of the Tigers four hits in the game.
Kenny Rogers get the starts tomorrow against the Phillies and the Tigers’ hitters will be going up against a familiar face. Chad Durbin will be that familiar face.