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          Former Rangers Monroe, Pudge spark Tigers' win

          Jun 2, 2005

            DETROIT (AP) -- Alan Trammell is ready for a blowout.

            For the third time in five days, his Detroit Tigers pulled off a
            late-inning comeback, this time scoring twice in the ninth and once
            in the 10th to beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 Thursday.

            "I remember when we used to score runs early in games,''
            Trammell said with a smile. "I like that better, but I'll take
            this. Our last three wins have been nail-biters, but we've got them
            in the right column.''

            Craig Monroe singled home Ivan Rodriguez with the winning run in
            the 10th, and Rondell White homered and drove in three runs for
            Detroit.

            After coming from behind to beat Baltimore on Sunday, the Tigers
            snapped Texas' nine-game winning streak Wednesday night by scoring
            five runs in the seventh.

            "It's easy to win a game when you blow a team out,'' Brandon
            Inge said. "But when you win games like this, it really gives you
            a boost of confidence. I don't know why it is happening, but I
            don't care, as long as they end like this.''

            The Rangers took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but
            Detroit rallied against All-Star closer Francisco Cordero with a
            sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Carlos Guillen and a two-out RBI
            single by Omar Infante. It was Cordero's third blown save in 19
            chances.

            "I've got to do my job,'' said Cordero, who began his career
            with the Tigers. "I've got to make my pitches, and today I paid
            for it.''

            With one out in the 10th, Rodriguez doubled off Nick Regilio
            (1-2), and Monroe followed with a line single to right. Andres
            Torres' throw to the plate appeared to beat Rodriguez, but it
            skipped over catcher Rod Barajas' shoulder.

            "We've got to win those games,'' Rangers first baseman Mark
            Teixeira said. "But give them credit -- they fought back and they
            deserved to win them in the end.''

            Ugueth Urbina (1-3) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win.
            Alfonso Soriano led off with a double, but pinch-hitter Hank
            Blalock hit a liner up the middle that rookie shortstop Tony
            Giarratano caught and flipped to Infante at second for an
            inning-ending double play.

            "This was only Tony's second game, but he looks like he belongs
            here,'' said Trammell, probably the best shortstop in Tigers
            history. "He knew where to play Blalock -- you tell him something
            once and he's like a sponge.''

            Rookie right-hander Chris Young gave up three runs in seven
            innings for Texas, striking out a career-best eight. Tigers starter
            Nate Robertson allowed four runs -- three earned -- in 6 1-3 innings.

            Texas scored twice in the first. Torres led off with a double,
            went to third on Michael Young's single and scored on Teixeira's
            single. Kevin Mench hit a potential double-play grounder, but
            Infante's throwing error allowed Young to score from second.

            White's fifth homer made it 2-1 in the second and extended his
            career-best hitting streak to 18 games. Detroit then went ahead
            with a pair of runs in the third.

            Nook Logan led off with a disputed infield single. He hit a
            grounder between the mound and first, and Teixeira collided with
            Chris Young. Logan avoided Teixeira's lunging tag, but replays
            showed he also missed first base.

            Rangers manager Buck Showalter and Teixeira argued, to no avail.

            "First of all, he didn't touch the bag, and second of all, he
            was out of the baseline,'' Showalter said. "Take your choice which
            way he was out.''

            Inge walked and both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt.
            Dmitri Young struck out, but White hit a two-run single off third
            baseman Mark DeRosa's glove.

            Texas put runners in scoring position in the third, fifth and
            sixth. Robertson escaped each time, but the Rangers rallied with
            three runs in the seventh.

            Sandy Alomar led off with a grounder between first and second
            that Chris Shelton fielded cleanly but threw away for a single and
            an error.

            Alomar moved up on DeRosa's single and scored on Torres'
            sacrifice fly. After Michael Young's single off Franklyn German,
            Teixeira's grounder hit first base and bounced over Shelton for a
            go-ahead single. Mench made it 5-3 with the second sacrifice fly of
            the inning.

            Game notes
            Shelton made his third start at first base in his 30th
            career game. His other appearances have all been as a DH or
            pinch-hitter. ... Chris Young struck out seven Yankees on April 22.
            ... Guillen (knee) missed his fourth straight start and sixth in
            the last seven games.