Tigers rookies shutout Dodgers

Rookies Armando Galarraga and Freddy Dolsi combined for a three hit shutout tonight as the Tigers beat the Dodgers 5-0 in the first game of a three game series. The big Cat went seven innings allowing 3 hits and no walks along with 5 strikeouts. Armando leads all Tigers starters with a 3.31 ERA in 11 starts. Dolsi went two perfect innings to get the save and leads all Bengal relievers with a 2.20 ERA in 16 1/3 innings. It was the Tigers first shutout of the season.

Detroit got all the runs they needed when they scored two in the 5th. Marcus Thames belted his 8th homer of the year in just 104 at bats to give them the lead. Michael Hollimon then hit a sacrifice fly for his first major league RBI for the other run. Hollimon was playing in place of Edgar Renteria who apparently missed the game with a sore pectoral muscle. Also, Ryan Raburn played in place of the resting Ryan Raburn went three for three with a stolen base.

The game almost broke out into a fight in the 8th inning when Cory Wade hit Carlos Guillen in the elbow with a pitch. Guillen got angry and both benches emptied but it was pretty uneventful and no punches were throw. The first ones out of the dugout were Miguel Cabrera and Pudge Rodriguez. Wade paid the price when next batter Magglio Ordonez slugged his tenth long ball of the year.

So all was good for the suddenly ferocious Tigers tonight. They have now won four in a row and six out of seven and are seven games below .500. Another rookie Eddie Bonine goes tomorrow for the Tigers versus Brad Penny at 3:50 in the so called nationally televised game that most of the country won't see. It will Bonine's first major league start.

Note: FSN is reporting that Clay Rapada will be optioned to Toledo to make room for Bonine