GDT: 8/11/11 - DET (61-55) AT CLE (58-56) - 7:05 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Cleveland IndiansThursday, August 11, 2011
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Game Time - 7:05 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. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Eyes on Verlander in finale of crucial set with TribeBy Jon Star / MLB.com | 8/11/2011 1:14 AM ET
The first two games could not have played out any better for the Indians.
Not only did the newly acquired Ubaldo Jimenez pitch his club to a pivotal win on Wednesday, but the Indians head into Thursday's finale two games behind the Tigers in the American League Central and in position to sweep the series.
Cleveland should feel it has all the momentum, considering the Tribe has now won 13 games in a row at home against the Tigers, but sealing the sweep comes with a tall challenge in the form of Justin Verlander.
"Gotta get there sometime," Verlander said. "Hopefully we never look back."
The Tigers' ace has already been called on to salvage a series four times since mid-May, but Thursday's start comes with the added pressure of giving his club a little more breathing room in the AL Central. Jim Leyland moved Verlander up in the rotation, not necessarily for this situation, but in hindsight, it may prove extremely valuable.
The Tigers are hoping Verlander can mirror his last outing against the Indians, when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on June 14 at Comerica Park and settled for a two-hit, 12-strikeout effort. The right-hander has not won at Progressive Field since May 8, 2010.
Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona has endured a rocky season, but he has been sharper since returning from the disabled list last month. Carmona is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA over three starts, and he acknowledged he will need to maintain a good rhythm to help his team clinch a sweep.
"I think for me, the key is to throw one inning, one pitch, and take my time with each pitch," Carmona said. "I feel more confident on the mound."
Carmona's lone start against the Tigers this season came on June 15, when he yielded four runs (two earned) on seven hits over five innings and picked up the win.
Tigers: Martinez mashing since MayVictor Martinez had a rather slow first eight weeks of the season, but since May 27, the slugger has been on a tear. Martinez is hitting .342 (84-for-245) with 14 doubles and 39 RBIs over 65 games during that stretch, including a .423 (11-for-26) average so far in August. Martinez has come up clutch, hitting .536 (15-for-28) with runners in scoring position since July 17 and owns a .408 mark in those scenarios on the season.
Indians: Kipnis crushing itJason Kipnis' hot start to his Major League career continued on Wednesday, as he hit his sixth career home run in his 16th big league game. Kipnis has hit safely in nine of his past 11 games, dating back to July 31, and his batting average jumped from .232 to .295 thanks to a five-hit night. Kipnis is the second rookie in Indians history to homer in four straight games, which he did between July 31 and Aug. 3.
Worth notingThe Indians' walk-off hit-by-pitch on Tuesday night was the 18th time this season they have won a game in the final at-bat, tying the Royals for the most in the American League. Thirteen of those wins have come at Progressive Field.
Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (16-5, 2.30 ERA)The Tigers switched up their rotation order to pit Verlander against their closest division competitors. He endured a scorching night in Kansas City to beat the Royals and join CC Sabathia as the Majors' only 16-game winners.
Indians: RHP Fausto Carmona (5-11, 5.19 ERA)Carmona allowed four runs (two earned) in a no-decision Saturday at Texas. Since returning from the 15-day disabled list on July 18, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in four starts.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 10-3 loss to the Indians last night. Rick Porcello (11-7) took the loss for Detroit after allowing eight runs in 3.2 innings of work. Wilson Betemit led the Tigers with two hits and two RBI, while Ryan Raburn added a run-scoring triple. The Tigers continue a nine-game road trip tonight with the final game of a threegame series at Cleveland. Following this evening’s game, the club heads to Baltimore to
conclude the trip with a three-game series against the Orioles.
CENTRAL FOCUS: Tonight versus Cleveland marks the sixth game in a stretch in which the Tigers play 12 of the club’s next 15 games against opponents in the American League Central Division. Of Detroit’s final 46 games of the season, 31 are versus teams in the American League Central Division. The Tigers are 25-16 against clubs from the American League Central Division this season, a .610 winning percentage. Detroit is tops among all American League clubs with the .610 winning percentage against the division.
ON THE OFFENSIVE VERSUS THE INDIANS: The Tigers have collected 10-or-more hits in 10 of the club’s last 14 games against Cleveland dating back to August 20, 2010. Detroit is hitting .289 (147x509) with 55 runs scored, 24 doubles, two triples and eight home runs during that 14-game stretch versus the Indians.
MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE TRIBE: Since joining the Tigers in 2008, Miguel Cabrera is hitting .335 (78x233) with 15 home runs and 51 RBI in 60 games against the Cleveland Indians.
He is tops among all active major league players with 15 home runs and 51 RBI versus the Indians during that stretch.ACTION JACKSON’S A HIT IN CLEVELAND: Austin Jackson enters tonight’s game at Cleveland having hit safely in 11 of his 12 games during his career at Progressive Field. He is batting .333 (18x54) with three doubles, a triple and three RBI in 12 games at the park during his career. Jackson enters tonight’s game hitting .340 (36x106) with eight doubles, a triple and four RBI in 24 games during his career against the Indians.
VALVERDE’S CONVERTING SAVES: Jose Valverde converted his 32nd consecutive save to begin the season on Saturday at Kansas City. His 32 straight saves converted matches the longest such streak during a single season in Tigers history. Guillermo Hernandez also converted 32 straight save opportunities for the Tigers April 6-September 23, 1984.
VERLANDER SEEKS HIS 100TH WIN TONIGHT: Justin Verlander takes the mound tonight at Cleveland looking to become the 16th pitcher in Tigers history to register 100 wins with the club. Tonight is the 191st start of Verlander’s career and with a win tonight he would become the fastest Tigers pitcher to reach 100 wins since Denny McLain did so in the 189th outing (181st start) of his career on June 16, 1969 at Yankee Stadium.
VICTOR AT THE BAT: Victor Martinez is hitting .343 (84x245) with 14 doubles, two home runs and 39 RBI over his last 65 games dating back to May 27. He is third among all American League players with a .343 batting average during that stretch.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 1.01 ERA (26.2IP/3ER) and 24 strikeouts over the club’s last six games dating back to August 4. During the six-game stretch, club relievers have limited opponents to a .138 batting average (12x87).
MARTINEZ COMES THROUGH WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION: Victor Martinez is hitting .517 (15x29) with runners in scoring position for the Tigers dating back to July 17. He enters tonight’s game against the Indians tops in the American League with a .404 batting average with runners in scoring position.ALL IS WELL WITH ALBURQUERQUE: Al Alburquerque has compiled a 5-0 record, 1.16 ERA (23.1IP/3ER) and 34 strikeouts over his last 22 outings for the Tigers dating back to May 21. He has not allowed a run over his last eight outings, tossing eight scoreless innings.
Alburquerque is tops among all American League relievers with a .141 batting average against and 4.38 hits per nine innings, while he is second with 13.86 strikeouts per nine innings, tied for fifth with five wins and is sixth with 57 strikeouts.BENOIT ON THE BALL: Joaquin Benoit enters this evening’s game with a 2-0 record, 2.22 ERA (28.1IP/7ER), two saves and 26 strikeouts over his last 31 outings dating back to May 20. He has limited opponents to a .216 batting average (21x97) during the stretch.
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 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•
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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) • Friday, August 12: Tigers (RHP
Brad Penny (7-9, 4.92 ERA))
AT Orioles (RHP
Alfredo Simon (3-5, 4.08 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Saturday, August 13: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (11-7, 4.33 ERA))
AT Orioles (RHP
Jeremy Guthrie (5-15, 4.38 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, August 14: Tigers (RHP
Doug Fister (4-12, 3.37 ERA))
AT Orioles (LHP
Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1, 7.71 ERA)),
1:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Monday, August 15: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (11-7, 4.93 ERA))
VS Twins (LHP
Francisco Liriano (7-9, 5.00 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)