GDT: 8/7/11 - DET (61-52) AT KC (48-65) - 2:10 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Kansas City RoyalsSunday, August 7, 2011
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Game Time - 2:10 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. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Scherzer looking to stay strong against RoyalsBy Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 8/6/2011 11:30 PM ET
Six starts ago, Max Scherzer failed to get out of the third inning for the second time this season.
The Tigers right-hander rebounded nicely five days later in Kansas City, tossing 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Royals. That outing began a stretch of five dominant starts in which Scherzer posted a 2.14 ERA.On Sunday, Scherzer looks to continue his stellar stretch where it began and help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep of the Royals.A sweep would certainly be disappointing for the Royals, especially considering Saturday's defeat marked their first losing series since dropping a four-game set in Minnesota following the All-Star break.
One of the reasons for Kansas City's ability to avoid series losses has been its bullpen, a strength throughout the season. Although the 'pen suffered the loss in Friday's series opener, Royals manager Ned Yost still feels confident in his relief corps and its versatility.
Yost has used various relievers in different roles throughout the season, which he thinks has helped the group's performance.
"You can keep your bullpen fresher that way," Yost said. "You're just not set up to one seventh inning guy, one eighth inning guy and one ninth-inning guy. It keeps everybody fresher and it keeps everybody healthier."
Tigers: Papa Grande nearing historyJose Valverde recorded his 32nd consecutive save to open the season on Saturday night, tying the longest such streak in club history. Willie Hernandez also converted 32 straight from April 6-Sept. 23, 1984.• Outfielder Brennan Boesch is hitting .327 with 12 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in his last 54 games.
Royals: Chen looks to reboundBruce Chen starts on Sunday, looking to rebound from his first home loss of the season against the Orioles in his last start. In that outing, the left-hander allowed three runs on seven hits while lasting only 4 2/3 innings. He defeated the Tigers on April 9, tossing six shutout innings while striking out a season-high seven. He is 3-3 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) in his career against Detroit.
• Johnny Giavotella is 3-for-6 with a run, RBI, walk and stolen base in his first two Major League games.
Worth noting•
Miguel Cabrera is hitting .500 (8-for-16) with three home runs and two doubles against Chen in his career, while two of Ryan Raburn's five career hits against the lefty have left the yard.•
Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez left Saturday's game with a left knee sprain and will be reevaluated on Sunday. Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (11-6, 4.23 ERA)Scherzer deserved a better fate after six innings of two-run ball against the Rangers on Tuesday at Comerica Park, leaving with a three-run lead. A Texas comeback left him with a no-decision after alternating wins and losses.
Royals: LHP Bruce Chen (5-5, 4.37 ERA)Chen couldn't quite hit the strike zone consistently enough and threw 115 pitches over just five innings in giving up three runs to the Orioles in what turned into an 8-2 loss for the Royals.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
-
Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
60-day DL on May 11)
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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, August 8: OFF DAY
• Tuesday, August 9: Tigers (RHP
Doug Fister (1-0, 2.57 ERA))
AT Indians (RHP
Justin Masterson (9-7, 2.63 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Wednesday, August 10: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (11-6, 4.49 ERA))
AT Indians (RHP
Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9, 4.64 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Thursday, August 11: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (16-5, 2.30 ERA))
AT Indians (?HP
? (?-?, ?.?? ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)