ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- With the All-Star Game fast approaching next week, its natural for teams to evaluate their progress at the unofficial halfway point of the season. That Detroit won its third straight against host Tampa Bay on Saturday marked what the Tigers hoped to be a turning point in a thus-far mediocre season.Detroit has pounded out 23 runs on so far this series, which concludes on Sunday. Second baseman Ian Kinsler made note of the good feeling the team shares lately, but added the pitching staff has just as much to do with the teams success as its bats.Our bullpen is shaping up nicely, our rotation is shaping up, too, Kinsler said. (Francisco Rodriguez) has done an unbelievable job. Justin Wilson and Shane Greene have done an unbelievable job, and then we obviously have guys who can be steady down there in Alex Wilson and Kyle Ryan, guys that can provide you innings.As long as we can stay healthy, like we have been saying since spring training, we should be OK.Verlander took home honors Saturday after collecting eight strikeouts in seven innings. On Sunday, Mike Pelfrey will get the ball as the Tigers attempt to secure a road series sweep versus Tampa Bay.Pelfrey won his last start, against Miami, despite allowing 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings. He seeks his first win since June 4, but is 0-5 on the road this season with a 4.19 ERA.Saturday marked the exact midpoint in the Tigers season. Detroit has posted a 43-38 record so far, a number thats encouraging considering the team endured 11 losses in 12 games to kick off May.But manager Brad Ausmus would still like improvement in the second half.Overall, the first half hasnt been bad, but wed like it to be better, he said. Pitching is the key in baseball, period.Saturdays loss for the Rays marked the 15th in their last 17 games as Tampa Bay still seeks to round the corner before its too late.Perhaps one of the Rays biggest problems so far is a rash of untimely injuries that have decimated their roster, especially in the outfield. Entering Sundays series finale with Detroit, Tampa Bay has 28 roster moves in 32 days. Nine players have been put on the DL in the past 50 days including four outfielders -- Kevin Kiermaier, Mikie Mahtook, Brandon Guyer and Steven Souza Jr.With all of the walking wounded and a sometimes cobbled-together roster, its no wonder the Rays are still just short of jelling as a team.Any mistake or something that works against us seems to turn into a run against us right now, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. I think the best way we overcome that is come out and do what we did against Boston and kind of create the runs ourselves. Gives the guys some breathing room.The Rays (33-47) reach the midpoint of their season on Sunday. Cheap Shoes Wholesale Free Shipping . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Cheap Shoes Wholesale . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. http://www.saleshoesuk.com/ . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Cheap Shoes Clearance . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Sale Shoes Uk Clearance . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . New Zealand wont medal at the World Baseball Softball Confederation World Championship, but its postgame haka won over the crowd in Surrey, Canada.After losing to the Netherlands in the first day of the playoffs, the New Zealand White Sox saluted the crowd with a haka, a war cry that is a New Zeaaland tradition.dddddddddddd?While the U.S. will face the winner of Japan and Canada for the gold medal, no team remaining will come close to having a haka like that. ' ' '