aun, who has been bothered by a bad back, didnt play. . Carlos Gomez returned to the leadoff spot for Milwaukee after being shifted to cleanup while Aramis Ramirez

DETROIT -- Joe Nathan expects to fit in just fine in Detroit -- and now the Tigers dont have to face the closer who has dominated them more than perhaps any other in baseball. Seth DeValve Jersey . Nathan agreed with Detroit on a two-year contract with a club option for 2016, enabling the Tigers to accomplish one of their main objectives this off-season by adding one of the games most accomplished closers to the bullpen. The three-time defending AL Central champions announced the deal Wednesday, two days after trading right-handed starter Doug Fister to Washington. Terms were not disclosed. "Why would I come here?" Nathan asked rhetorically. "I think the question is, why wouldnt I? This team is ready to win. Theyre ready to win now. ... Its not just about getting to the post-season. For me, its about getting to the big one." Nathan, who turned 39 last month, has never pitched in the World Series. He had 43 saves in 46 chances for the Texas Rangers last season. Its been a busy off-season already for Detroit, which traded slugger Prince Fielder to Texas for Ian Kinsler in a move that, coupled with the trade of Fister, gave the Tigers more financial flexibility. Detroits bullpen was unsettled for much of last season. Joaquin Benoit eventually performed well as the closer, but he is now a free agent. "A very big part of what we were trying to accomplish was to get a closer," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "This was always a goal of ours." Nathan posted a 1.39 ERA last season, then declined a $9 million option that would have kept him with the Rangers. Nathan wanted at least a two-year agreement, and the Tigers were willing to give it to him. Now that Mariano Rivera has retired, Nathan is baseballs active leader with 341 saves. Hes pitched for San Francisco, Minnesota and Texas -- and hes been particularly dominant when facing the Tigers, converting all 36 of his save chances with a 1.44 ERA. Thats more saves than any other pitcher has against the Tigers. Nathan even helped hand Detroit one of its most crushing losses in franchise history -- he pitched in relief when the Twins beat the Tigers in extra innings of a one-game playoff for the 2009 division title. "Probably the best game that Ive ever been a part of," Nathan said. "Sorry to bring it up." Nathan missed the 2010 season with the Twins following surgery on his right elbow. He struggled in 2011 but pitched well for the Rangers the last two seasons. Detroit went into last season without a set closer, and after the Tigers brought Jose Valverde back and that didnt work, they went with Benoit. He finished the season with 24 saves in 26 chances, but in Game 2 of the AL championship series, he allowed a tying grand slam by Bostons David Ortiz that was a turning point in the series. The Red Sox went on to win in six games, rallying against the Detroit bullpen again in the finale. Besides trading Fielder and Fister, the Tigers hired Brad Ausmus to replace manager Jim Leyland, who stepped down. The changes will be clear on the field next season. Dombrowski said Wednesday that Miguel Cabrera will move from third base to first -- a switch that seemed likely from the moment Fielder was traded. The Tigers are hoping Nick Castellanos can take over at third. After trading Fister, the Tigers are prepared to move promising left-hander Drew Smyly from the bullpen to the starting rotation. The bullpen will look a lot different next year, especially since Dombrowski says Benoit is unlikely to be back. Detroit declined an option on right-hander Jose Veras, and the Tigers got left-hander Ian Krol in the deal this week with Washington. Dombrowski said he wouldnt think the Tigers would be involved in any other major moves in free agency, although Detroit has been known to pull off an occasional surprise, whether its a free agent signing or a trade. The general manager was asked if the team is now better positioned to sign somebody to a long-term deal, such as Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer, who won the American League Cy Young Award this year and is a free agent after next season. "Well I wouldnt use any specific names, but Id say -- yes, we are," Dombrowski said. "You try to win in the short term, which were trying to do. Were doing everything we can. But youre also trying to maintain long-term success, so youre always trying to work on both of those things." Ibraheim Campbell Jersey . The Tiger-Cats announced on Friday the linebacker has signed a new contract with the team through the 2016 season. Cody Kessler Jersey . Jones took a beating, the worst one of his record reign, in a bout against Alexander Gustafsson that knocked the light heavyweight champion on the canvas for the first time in his career and put his belt in jeopardy. http://www.footballbrownsnflprostore.com/Youth-Bernie-Kosar-Elite-Jersey/ . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program.MILWAUKEE -- Domonic Brown homered and had a two-run single and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied from a big early deficit to outlast the struggling Milwaukee Brewers 9-7 Tuesday night. After surrendering five runs in the first inning, the Phillies scored five in the second off Brewers starter Wily Peralta (9-6). Ben Revere drove in two runs with a ground-rule double and Chase Utley had a two-run single as Philadelphia sent 10 men to the plate. Koyie Hill contributed a run-scoring single. The first-place Brewers have dropped seven of eight games. Kyle Kendrick (4-8) picked up the victory for Philadelphia despite giving up 11 hits and seven earned runs over 5 2-3 innings. He walked two and struck out two. Four Phillies relievers combined to hold the Brewers scoreless over the final 3 1-3 innings. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 21st save in 23 attempts. The Phillies grabbed the lead in the first on Chase Utleys sacrifice fly before the Brewers scored five runs in their half of the inning on Scooter Gennetts solo homer and Lyle Overbays grand slam. Browns solo home run in the third extended the Phillies lead to 7-5. He added a two-run single in the fifth as the Phillies lead grew to four runs. Kendrrick settled down after his first-inning struggles and kept the Brewers struggling offence in check over the next four innings. Trevon Coley Jersey. He ran into trouble in the sixth, giving up a two-run, pinch-hit home run to Mark Reynolds that sliced the Phillies lead to 9-7. Peralta gave up eight hits and nine earned runs over 4 1-3 innings. He walked three and struck out four. He had won five consecutive starts before a no decision Wednesday at Toronto, when he gave up nine hits and four runs over six innings. The Phillies have captured the first two games of the series after losing six straight to the Brewers coming in. NOTES: Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, who has been bothered by a bad back, didnt play. . Carlos Gomez returned to the leadoff spot for Milwaukee after being shifted to cleanup while Aramis Ramirez was out with a hamstring issue. . Overbay hit his fifth career grand slam. . Cole Hamels, who earned the win in Monday nights game, is the first Phillies pitcher since the NL began recording earned runs in 1912 to win three or fewer games in his first 15 starts of the season and have an ERA under 3.00. . Milwaukees Kyle Lohse (9-3) squares off against Philadelphias Robert Hernandez (3-8) Wednesday in the third of a four-game series. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '