GDT: 7/3/11 - DET (44-40) VS SF (48-36) - 1:05 p.m. ET "Every Kid, Every Sunday" Justin Verlander Superhero Cape |
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Detroit Tigers VS San Francisco GiantsSunday, July 3, 2011
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 1:05 p.m. EDT REMEMBERING SPARKYThe Tigers are wearing a patch on their right
sleeves this season in the shape of a home
plate emblazoned with the name SPARKY, to
honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky
Anderson who passed away on November 4, 2010.
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Preview Vogelsong, Porcello set to wrap up Interleague PlayBy Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/3/2011 1:32 AM ET
Rick Porcello's last three starts have not been what the Tigers expect from a young right-hander with loads of potential.
In those three games, the 22-year-old righty has posted a 14.29 ERA (18 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings), with opponents batting .483 against him. A bright spot, however, is that in Porcello's 10 games prior to this stretch, he allowed more than two runs only twice.
Although it certainly has been a long two weeks for Porcello, he isn't viewing it as a repeat of 2010, when he went 10-12 with a 4.92 ERA and spent some time in Triple-A Toledo.
"A year ago, I felt lost. That was then," Porcello said. "Right now, it's a bump in the road, there's no doubt about that. But I mean, I don't have time to sit here and be worried about it. I have to figure it out and fix it. We're trying to win a division. I can't go out there and have performances like that, especially games in a row."
In Porcello's last start, on June 28 against the Mets, he lasted only 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on 11 hits.
"I definitely felt like today, and in previous bad outings, I think guys have been all over my fastball, especially left-handed hitters," Porcello said. "That's been kind of an ongoing thing for me that I've got to make sure I shut down lefties in the lineup. Almost all the lineups I'm going to face are stacked with left-handed hitters. That's just an ongoing challenge."
Although the Giants don't have many left-handed batters in their lineup -- starting two switch-hitters and two left-handers in Saturday's 15-3 rout -- Porcello definitely will see a challenge in Sunday's Interleague finale at Comerica Park.
Left-handed Nate Schierholtz has been especially hot as of late, hitting .474 (9-for-19) with a double, three RBIs and five runs scored on San Francisco's road trip. Also pounding the ball of late is switch-hitter Pablo Sandoval, who is amidst a career-high 13-game hitting streak. Sandoval is hitting .304 (17-for-56) with six doubles, two homers and seven RBIs in that stretch, and he appears to be fully healed after missing 40 games with a fractured hamate bone in his right hand.
"I think he's getting stronger as time goes on," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "And I expect him to get even more aggressive."
Giants: Vogelsong going strongRight-hander Ryan Vogelsong (6-1, 2.09 ERA) has been nothing short of spectacular during his second stint with the Giants. Despite struggling somewhat in his last start, Vogelsong allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits in five innings against the Cubs to earn the win.
"I never really got comfortable all day," Vogelsong said. "Rhythm-wise, tempo-wise, sometimes I was too quick, sometimes I was too slow. I just never really got a comfortable pace going."
That outing broke a streak of nine straight games in which Vogelsong allowed two earned runs or fewer.
• Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, on the disabled list with bicep tendinitis, threw Saturday for the first time. Sanchez said he made about about 25 throws, all fastballs, on flat ground and felt no pain.
Tigers: Jackson has green lightCenter fielder Austin Jackson has 15 stolen bases this season, roughly on the same pace he had last year when he swiped 13 bags through 83 games. He was easily caught on Friday trying to take third, but Tigers skipper Jim Leyland said the youngster has the go-ahead to make things happen on the basepaths.
"I think he's getting pretty good at it," Leyland said. "I think he just made a bad [play] last night because he didn't get a jump. The decision wasn't bad, the execution of it was. He just didn't get a jump, and sometimes when you don't, you've got to back off. But he's doing fine."
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First baseman Miguel Cabrera and right-hander Justin Verlander were named the Tigers Player and Pitcher of the month, respectively, for June by local media. Cabrera hit .376 with seven home runs, 19 RBIs and 21 runs scored, while Verlander went 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA in six starts with 54 strikeouts in 49 innings.
Worth noting• San Francisco is 7-4 against Detroit since the two teams began playing one another in 2003.
• Entering Sunday -- the Tigers' final Interleague game -- Detroit is 6-11 against the National League this season.
• San Francisco's designated hitters are hitting .095 (2-for-21) this season.
• Detroit's Victor Martinez left Saturday's game with a right shoulder contusion. He is listed as day-to-day.
Don Kelly, who replaced Martinez at catcher and pitched earlier this season, now has played all 10 positions (including DH) in his career. Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (6-6, 5.06 ERA)Porcello has struggled in his last three starts, giving up 18 earned runs on 28 hits over 11 1/3 innings. His ERA has risen from 3.58 to 5.06. The biggest issue has been left-handed batters hitting .326 off him in that span.
Giants: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (6-1, 2.09 ERA)Vogelsong's chances of making the National League All-Star team may have been dented by his last performance. Fortunately for him, Giants manager Bruce Bochy has a big say in who'll go to Phoenix for the Midsummer Classic.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 15-3 loss to the Giants last night at Comerica Park. Max Scherzer (9-4) took the loss for Detroit after allowing nine runs (six earned) in two innings of work. Jhonny Peralta and Brennan Boesch both belted solo home runs for the Tigers, while Ryan Raburn finished with a single, double and an RBI. The Tigers conclude a 10-game homestand today with the final game of a three-game series versus the Giants. Following this afternoon’s game, the club hits the road for a seven-game trip to Anaheim and Kansas City.
WILK RECALLED, VILLARREAL OPTIONED: The Tigers today have recalled the contract of lefthanded pitcher Adam Wilk from Triple A Toledo. Wilk has started 10 games for the Mud Hens in 2011, posting a 4-5 record and 3.75 ERA (60.0IP/25ER). Detroit optioned the contract of righthanded pitcher Brayan Villarreal to Toledo following last night’s game versus San Francisco.
WINNING WAYS: Detroit has won 32 of the club’s last 55 games dating back to May 3, a .582 winning percentage. The Tigers are third among all American League clubs with a .582 winning percentage during that stretch. The Red Sox have compiled a 35-19 record during the stretch, a .648 winning percentage, while the Yankees have posted a 33-22 record, a .600 winning percentage.
INTERLEAGUE HAPPENINGS: Today’s contest against the Giants is Detroit’s last of the club’s 18 games during interleague play in 2011. Since interleague play started in 1997, the Tigers have compiled a 140-124 record. The Tigers are 68-39 in interleague games at Comerica Park. Detroit is 6-11 during interleague action in 2011.
AMONG THE BEST SINCE 2006: The Tigers have compiled a 69-38 record, a .645 winning percentage, during interleague play since the start of the 2006 season. The .645 winning percentage during interleague action is second-best among major league clubs during that stretch. The Boston Red Sox have compiled a 72-35 record, a .673 winning percentage, during interleague action over that stretch.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Tigers are batting .298 (302x1012) with 146 runs scored, 48 doubles, nine triples and 36 home runs over the club’s last 29 games dating back to June 3. Detroit is tops among all American League clubs with a .298 batting average during that stretch, while the club is tied for the lead with 36 home runs, is second with a .470 slugging percentage and third with 146 runs scored..HAPPY AT HOME: The Tigers have compiled a 129-78 record at Comerica Park since the start of the 2009 season, a .623 winning percentage. Detroit is second among all American League clubs with a .623 winning percentage at home during that stretch, trailing a .659 winning percentage by the New York Yankees.
VICTOR AT THE BAT: Victor Martinez is hitting .381 (48x126) with 10 doubles, two home runs and 21 RBI over his last 34 games dating back to May 27. He is tops among all American League players with a .381 batting average during that stretch.
BOESCH IS BASHING: Brennan Boesch is hitting .400 (44x110) with nine doubles, seven home runs and 14 RBI over his last 28 games dating back to June 3. He leads the American League with 44 hits during that stretch, while he is second with a .400 batting average, fourth with a .673 slugging percentage and tied for ninth with seven home runs.
GUILLEN ON INJURY REHAB WITH TOLEDO: Carlos Guillen’s injury rehabilitation assignment was transferred from Single A Lakeland to Triple A Toledo on Friday. He is hitting .125 (1x8) with an RBI in two games with Toledo. Guillen joined Lakeland to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment on Monday. He hit .200 (3x15) with two doubles and two RBI in three games with Lakeland.
NOTES ON THE SKIPPER: Jim Leyland is in his sixth season as the manager of the Tigers, compiling a 468-429 record (.523).
- Leyland registered the 1,500th win of his major league career on April 15 at Oakland, becoming just the 19th manager in major league history to accomplish the feat. He is second among all active major league managers with 1,537 wins.
- Today’s game marks the 3,098th game Leyland has managed during his career, 59 games shy of tying Ralph Houk for 15th place all-time in major league history.
- With 468 wins as Detroit’s manager, he enters today’s game 32 wins shy of becoming the fifth manager in Tigers history to register 500 victories with the club.
CROSBY SELECTED TO EL ALL-STAR SQUAD: Double A Erie lefthanded pitcher Casey Crosby has been named to the Eastern League’s mid-season all-star squad. Crosby replaces righthanded pitcher Chance Ruffin, who was promoted to Triple A Toledo.RESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
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Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Al Alburquerque (right forearm flexor mass inflammation,
15-
day disabled list on June 30),
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LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
15-day disabled list on May 11),
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INF Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30),
Rehab with Toledo•
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
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To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet MLB.TV Gameday Audio•
Gameday•
Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
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Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) • Monday, July 4: Tigers (LHP
Charlie Furbush (1-1, 2.49 ERA))
AT Angels (RHP
Joel Pineiro (3-3, 4.14 ERA)),
9:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Tuesday, July 5: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (11-3, 2.32 ERA))
AT Angels (RHP
Dan Haren (8-5, 2.85 ERA)),
10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Wednesday, July 6: Tigers (RHP
Brad Penny (5-6, 4.43 ERA))
AT Angels (RHP
Tyler Chatwood (5-4, 3.83 ERA)),
3:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Thursday, July 7: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (9-4, 4.82 ERA))
AT Royals (LHP
Danny Duffy (1-3, 5.09 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)