The experimentation continued yesterday as Dontrelle Willis and Armando Galarraga effectively split their start yesterday in an attempt to get Willis some innings.  Willis didn’t allow a run in four innings and he gave up just two hits but he walked five, including three walks alone in the fourth inning.  The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning and then saw it disappear when Galarraga, in his first inning of work, gave up a three run homer in the corner to Eric Chavez.  The Tigers took the lead back in the seventh on Carlos Guillen’s RBI single, but Casey Fossum, who had just been called up and who made his Tiger debut, combined with Zach Miner to give up a run in the eighth.

Then the Tigers lost it in the eleventh.  Bobby Seay left with a runner on second and one out and while Freddy Dolsi eventually got that lead baserunner out on a fielder’s choice, a single, a walk and another single later and the A’s had their second straight walk off win of the series.

The Tigers drew twelve walks in all but they stranded fifteen guys.  Edgar Renteria, who was 0 for 5, came and went with ten men on base.  Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez each drew three walks while Placido Polanco went two for six with a run and an RBI.

The best the Tigers can finish on their west coast swing is now 4-5.  It’ll be Nate Robertson going up against Justin Duchscherer this afternoon.  The fact that Duchscherer is on my fantasy team pretty much ensures that the Tigers will find their stroke and put up a ten spot.

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