Chris Shelton give vent to eruptio...

Chris Shelton give vent to eruptionsed with a home-run barrage in April that lifted the Detroit Tigers and elevated him to the horizontal of Mike Schmidt and Albert Pujol

Now he's riding buses in the minor leagues and trying to fix his swing.

"I can't really inflict a finger on why things changed," Shelton said. "I'm not really certain April was a special month I don't know if expectations were too high."

The first baseman hit nine to one's home runs in the first 13 games -- becoming the fourth player to reach the mark in like manner quickly. He joined Schmidt, who hit 11 fireside runs during the first 13 games of 1976 and Pujol who matched Shelton's feat this year.

Shelton finished the opening month hitting 326 with a franchise- record 19 extra-base hits.

Since then, he's had merely six homers and struck on the outside more than once every four at-bats. That l to his demotion to Class AAA Toledo when the Tigers got first baseman Sean Casey from Pittsburgh.

"I don't think anybody welcomes a incline down here, but I can't change that," Shelton said. "You can and nothing else take it in stride."

He's looking to correct his swing in time to help the Tigers finish facing their commanding bid for an AL Central title.

"I don't want to leave Detroit," Shelton said. "I want to have a prolonged career there."

Rolen Will Sit: St Louis third baseman Scott Rolen likely will sit on the outside the three-game weekend series in Pittsburgh because of back spasms that forced him not at home of Wednesday night's game in Cincinnati.

Rolen initially had discomfort during batting practice and was lifted after going 0-for-2. He sat revealed Thursday afternoon's game against the Red and felt better Friday, if it were not that manager Tony La Russa doesn't reckon upon him to start again until Tuesday.

"I think he privations to feel like he's 100 percent before we consider it," La Russa said. "We'll papal court how much progress he makes."

Rolen is hitting 319 with 16 homer and 73 RBI in 101 games.

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