Tigers send Inge to Toledo

Third baseman has .177 batting average, 1 home run

Detroit Tigers' Brandon Inge was hitting .177 with 1 home run in 70 games this season.

CHICAGO — The Detroit Tigers outrighted the contract of third baseman Brandon Inge to Triple-A Toledo. Inge has accepted the assignment and will report to the Mud Hens.

The 34-year-old Inge was designated for assignment on July 22 after the Tigers acquired Wilson Betemit from the Kansas City Royals. Inge was hitting just .177 with one home run in 70 games this season.

Since coming up with the Tigers in 2001, Inge has appeared at third base, catcher and all three outfield positions. He hit 27 home runs in 2006 and 2009 and drove in a career-high 84 runs in 2009.

When Inge was designated for assignment last week, he vowed he would work out of his slump in the minors and return to the Tigers.