Pudge Drives Detroit to Victory; McLouth Rallies Bucs Past Dodgers

Players of the Day for Monday, April 14 American League Though the Tigers are off to the worst start of any team in the majors, they still possess a lineup capable of hammering opponents into submission. Such was the case last night as Detroit won for only the third time in 13 games this season, rallying past Minnesota, 11-9, thanks to the late-inning surge by Ivan Rodriguez and his teammates. Down 9-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Rodriguez connected on his first home run of the year, a leadoff solo shot off reliever Matt Guerrier. Though the Twins' reliever retired the next three batters, the 8th inning would be his - and the Twins - undoing. The Tigers unleashed an offensive assault which sent 10 men to the plate in a six-run eighth-inning, highlighted by Pudge's 2-run triple which tied the game. Rodriguez scored the go-ahead run on Jacques Jones' sac fly and the Tigers added one more for good measure. Pudge finished the night 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. National League The Pittsburgh Pirates may want to reconsider batting Nate McLouth in the leadoff spot, especially after his 3-run, 9th inning home run sent the Pirates to a 6-4 comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night. McLouth, a part-time player over the last three seasons with the Pirates, has been their leadoff man all of 2008. His dramatic home run - his only hit of the night - extended his season-long hitting streak to 13 games, and despite batting leadoff, leads the Pirates with 14 RBI. He's tied with teammate Xavier Nady for second in the league RBI standings, both trailing Arizona's Mark Reynolds by one.