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Tigers outfielder Rondell White said he hopes lightning doesn't strike twice Sunday. And he's not talking about the weather.
White was referring to Sunday's scheduled starter for the Indians, right-hander
Jake Westbrook, who dominated the Tigers on Monday night at Jacobs Field.
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Coming on in the first inning after a rain delay, Westbrook set down all 21 batters he faced after taking over for starter Jeff D'Amico, who gave up four runs without getting an out.
"If he throws that way the rest of the season, you might as well just give
him the Cy Young," White said of Westbrook.
White said he has faced Westbrook before and "he's always been pretty tough."
But tough and unhittable are different things.
"We really only hit one ball hard against him," manager Alan Trammell
said.
White said Westbrook was "in a zone."
"That happens to pitchers, just like it does to hitters," White said.
Westbrook, who had pitched only 5 1/3 innings this season before his seven-inning
gem, said after Monday's performance that it was "probably the sharpest
I've ever felt."
After Westbrook came out, the Tigers broke open a 4-4 game with six runs against
the Tribe bullpen.
Even though it was Westbrook's longest outing of the young season, some Indians
fans questioned manager Eric Wedge for not leaving the pitcher in the game.
Wedge told the Cleveland media: "Anybody who has any clue, who has any
feel for the game, has to appreciate we had already taken Jake further than
we wanted to."
STAYING PUT: There was some speculation that because of Monday's off-day, the
Tigers would skip struggling right-hander Nate Cornejo's turn in the rotation
Tuesday.
"That's not going to happen," Trammell said Friday.
Cornejo has been hit hard in his last two starts; his ERA is 9.37 and he has
allowed 29 hits in 16 1/3 innings.
The Tigers gave Cornejo a 9-0 lead Wednesday in Minnesota, but he couldn't last
long enough to get credit for the Tigers' 11-8 victory.
"It hasn't been good -- he'll admit that," Trammell said. "But
I'm confident that Nate is going to shake out of it.
"I don't think we can forget what he did for us last year and the way he
pitched in the spring.
"Three starts isn't enough for me to cut the cord."
NOTEBOOK: Rightfielder Bobby Higginson was sufficiently recovered from flu and
an ankle sprain to return to the starting lineup Friday, but the flu bug bit
fellow outfielder Alex Sanchez, who couldn't start Friday and was replaced in
center by Brandon Inge. . . .
The stitches will come out of Dmitri Young's fractured right fibula Monday.
"That starts the process of weight bearing," Trammell said. "He'll
be able to do some exercises and walk without crutches, but he's not ready yet
to hit off a tee." The Tigers hope Young can resume baseball activities
in two weeks and join the team late next month after a rehabilitation stint.
. . .
After a hot start, first baseman Carlos Pena cooled off on the recent trip,
going 2-for-25.