The Tigers played their 50th game of the season Tuesday night. Here is how those first 49 games broke down when it comes to a telling statistic:

First 44 games: Three one-run wins by the Tigers.

Next five games: Four one-run wins by the Tigers.

Trammell regularly has noted that the Tigers must learn to win close games, that they have to like the challenge of them, and that they have to be committed to doing that something that makes the difference.

“”It’s a good sign,”” Trammell said of the recent one-run wins. “”Those are tough times – guys get a little nervous, get a little tight. But that’s a good thing, to be able to feel those butterflies and that apprehension, but you are able to win.

“”It’s the guy who can rise to the top that can do it in those situations. If you’re going to be a championship kind of club, you’re going to be playing in front of a lot of people and there are going to be a lot of tight situations. That’s why you’re here, and that’s what gets you to stay, if you can handle all these things.””

Torres down

Andres Torres started in center Tuesday night, but he had a right to feel disappointed. The Tigers acquired Alex Sanchez from Milwaukee on Tuesday, which meant that Torres will lose his job as the centerfielder. “”I have to keep playing hard,”” said Torres, uncertain if he would be sent to Triple-A Toledo to make room for Sanchez.

Asked why he hadn’t bunted as often lately as in his first few days in the lineup, Torres said infielders now were playing in against him.

“”For a number of our players, this is probably as good of a bunting field as you can get,”” Trammell said of Comerica Park. He pointed out that the field’s thick grass and the almost mud-like dirt in front of the plate slow bunts, increasing the chances those bunts can become hits.

Down on the farm

Farm director Steve Boros said that when he and several other club officials visited the Dominican Republic last week, three of the organization’s young pitchers there were so impressive that the club has decided to have them move up this summer to pitch in Florida’s Gulf Coast League instead of in the Dominican Summer League: Sendy Vasquez, Freddy Dolsi and Cristhian Martinez.

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