GDT78: 6/28/13 - DET (42-35) AT TB (41-38) - 7:10 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (11-0, 3.05 ERA)

Scherzer is looking to become the first starter to win his first 12 decisions to begin a season since Roger Clemens in 1986. He allowed just two earned runs in seven innings Saturday against the Red Sox, with six strikeouts.



Rays: RHP Alex Colome (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Colome has not allowed an earned run in his first two Major League starts -- a win against the Marlins and a no-decision against the Yankees. The 24-year-old will be making his first career appearance at Tropicana Field.






Scherzer aims to be first to 12-0 since 1986
Colome faces Tigers in first start at Tropicana Field

By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 6/27/2013 6:18 PM ET

Alex Colome has stood on the mound at Tropicana Field before, pitching an inning or two, as he recalls it, back when he was with the Rays' Rookie-level affiliate.

Suffice it to say, Friday night's showdown with the Tigers will be quite a bit different than the last time he pitched in St. Petersburg. Colome will make his first start at Tropicana Field against the Tigers, lining up opposite the undefeated Max Scherzer, the early leader in the American League Cy Young Award race.

"It's a hard team to beat," Colome said. "I think it's one of the best lineups in the big leagues."

And they just might have the best pitcher in the AL right now, too. Scherzer is looking to become the first pitcher to start the season 12-0 since Roger Clemens accomplished the feat for Boston in 1986. That's hardly what the Rays want to hear, given how tough the Tigers' pitching staff has been on them over the past few years

"It's the way they pitch us," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "They pitch us well. We've actually pitched against them pretty well, I think, overall. They pitch us very tough. That's been our difficulty versus them over the last couple years. We have not scored many runs."

But Colome, set to make his third start of the season for the Rays, feels like he's in a good place to face that challenge. He gave up three runs on five hits and five walks over 4 1/3 innings his last time out, but he has yet to allow an earned run over his first two starts, the first pitcher since 2009 to begin his Major League career by making two straight starts without an earned run.

"I feel really good. I think I'm going to feel better than the second time," Colome said. "I feel like I can make better pitches in better locations. I feel more strong, more confident. I feel very good."

He might have to be even better than "very good" to beat Scherzer, who carries an 11-0 record and a 3.05 ERA into Friday's outing. Scherzer is the fastest Tigers pitcher to reach double digits in wins since Jack Morris in 1987.

What's more, Scherzer has struck out at least six batters in each of his 15 starts this season, tying Pedro Martinez in 1999 for the second-longest streak of six-strikeout games to begin a season in AL history.

The right-hander is coming off two impressive starts against hot-hitting lineups, holding the Orioles to one run with 10 strikeouts, then permitting two runs over seven innings against the Red Sox on Saturday.

Tigers: Scherzer chasing Pedro
• Scherzer may have tied Martinez for the second-longest streak of six-strikeout games to begin a season in AL history, but he's got a long way to go before he's even within striking distance of the top spot. Martinez put together a 29-game streak with six strikeouts or more in 2000, when he fanned 284 batters in 217 innings en route to the AL Cy Young Award.

• Friday's game is the first of a three-city, two-country, 11-game road trip for the Tigers. Detroit will play in Tampa Bay, Toronto and Cleveland during the stretch.

While the 11-game trip will be a test, manager Jim Leyland is trying to see the bright side.

"You know, I've always looked at it with a positive spin, I like to take the Detroit Tigers anywhere," Leyland said. "We've got a good team, and I'd like the world to see them. You can look at it a lot of ways … We might go on the road and might not be very good, or we might go on the road and win eight out of 11. Whatever it is, who knows? I like to take our team on the road. I like people to se the Detroit Tigers. We're pretty good."

Rays: Intentional walks working out
• Wil Myers joined the Rays with plenty of hype and high expectations, but that hasn't stopped opposing pitchers from intentionally walking batters to get to him. That doesn't mean the strategy has paid off against the rookie sensation, of course.

The batter ahead of Myers has been intentionally walked three times, and Myers has two hits with a homer and five RBIs in those situations, most recently knocking an RBI single to left field off Mark Buehrle on Tuesday night.

"As he continues to come through, that's going to go away," Maddon said.

• The Rays are 21-14 this season when playing teams outside the AL East.

Worth noting
• Rays first baseman James Loney is batting .380 (27-for-71) against left-handed pitchers this season. He was a career .248 hitter against lefties entering this year.

• Scherzer has historically had some trouble with a couple of new Rays. Shortstop Yunel Escobar owns a 1.062 OPS in 33 plate appearances against Scherzer, and Loney has hit .294/.333/.529 against the right-hander. Overall, however, current Rays hitters own a .227/.286/.375 batting line against Scherzer with 34 strikeouts in 128 at-bats.






INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)

• RHP Anibal Sanchez (Right shoulder stiffness, placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 16, 2013.)

• C Alex Avila (Left forearm injury, placed on the 15-day disabled list June 17, 2013.)

• LF Matt Tuiasosopo (Left strained intercostal, placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20, 2013.)







To track MLB play-by-play: http://m.mlb.com/scores/


On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
•  SCOREBOARD
•  Official Press Pass game notes


On television

•
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


On radio

• AND/OR
• XM Channel Schedule








• SAT, Jun 29:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (8-5, 3.90 ERA)) AT
RAYS: (RHP Chris Archer (2-3, 4.21 ERA))
7:15  p.m. ET (FOX / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Jun 30:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (4-5, 5.27 ERA)) AT
RAYS: (RHP Jeremy Hellickson (6-3, 5.11 ERA))
1:40  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• MON, Jul 01:
TIGERS: (LHP Jose Alvarez (1-1, 3.78 ERA)) AT
BLUE JAYS: (RHP R.A. Dickey (7-8, 4.72 ERA))
1:07  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

   Austin Jackson, CF
   Torii Hunter, RF
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B
   Prince Fielder, 1B
   Victor Martinez, DH
   Jhonny Peralta, SS
   Don Kelly, LF
   Omar Infante, 2B
   Brayan Pena, C

P: Max Scherzer




RAYS (career numbers off Scherzer)

   Matt Joyce, LF (2-for-13, HR, walk, 3 K’s)
   Desmond Jennings, CF (1-for-9, 4 K’s)
   Ben Zobrist, 2B (1-for-12, 2 walks, K)
   Evan Longoria, 3B (2-f0r-11, HR, walk, 5 K’s)
   James Loney, 1B (5-for-17, HR, walk, K)
   Wil Myers, RF
   Luke Scott, DH (2-for-9, walk, K)
   Jose Lobaton, C (0-for-5, 3 K’s)
   Yunel Escobar, SS (11-for-28, HR, 3 walks, 7 K’s)

P: Alex Colome

DET - Top 1st
B:4 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Torii Hunter pops out to second baseman Ben Zobrist.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera homers (23) on a fly ball to left field. Austin Jackson scores.

DET 2 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:2
Prince Fielder flies out to left fielder Matt Joyce.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez flies out to left fielder Matt Joyce.




TB - Bot 1st
B:1 S:0 O:1
Matt Joyce flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Desmond Jennings strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Ben Zobrist grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.

 DET 2 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman James Loney.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Don Kelly flies out to center fielder Desmond Jennings.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Omar Infante lines out to center fielder Desmond Jennings.


TB - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Evan Longoria grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
James Loney strikes out on a foul tip.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Wil Myers strikes out swinging.

  DET 2 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
Defensive Substitution: Kelly Johnson replaces third baseman Evan Longoria, batting 4th, playing third base.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Brayan Pena hit by pitch.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds into a double play, shortstop Yunel Escobar to second baseman Ben Zobrist to first baseman James Loney. Brayan Pena out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Torii Hunter grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman James Loney.


TB - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:3 O:1
Luke Scott strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Jose Lobaton grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Yunel Escobar grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.

DET 2 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Miguel Cabrera homers (24) on a fly ball to left center field.
DET 3 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:0
Prince Fielder doubles (21) on a line drive to center fielder Desmond Jennings.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez lines out to right fielder Wil Myers. Prince Fielder to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman James Loney.

With Don Kelly batting, wild pitch by Alex Colome, Prince Fielder scores.
DET 4 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:3
Don Kelly grounds out to first baseman James Loney.


TB - Bot 4th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Matt Joyce strikes out swinging, catcher Brayan Pena to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Desmond Jennings pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Ben Zobrist homers (5) on a line drive to right field.
DET 4 - 1

B:2 S:3 O:3
Kelly Johnson strikes out swinging.

 DET 4 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Omar Infante pops out to first baseman James Loney in foul territory.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Brayan Pena called out on strikes.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Kelly Johnson to first baseman James Loney.


TB - Bot 5th
B:1 S:3 O:1
James Loney strikes out on a foul tip.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Wil Myers homers (3) on a line drive to left field.
DET 4 - 2

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria left the game due to an injured foot.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Luke Scott grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to pitcher Max Scherzer.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Jose Lobaton flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET 4 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter grounds out, third baseman Kelly Johnson to first baseman James Loney.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Matt Joyce.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Victor Martinez strikes out on a foul tip.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Desmond Jennings.


TB - Bot 6th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Yunel Escobar grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:4 S:1 O:1
Matt Joyce walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Desmond Jennings pops out to first baseman Prince Fielder in foul territory.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Ben Zobrist called out on strikes.

 DET 4 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
Pitching Change: Jamey Wright replaces Alex Colome.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Don Kelly grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman James Loney.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Omar Infante singles on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Joyce.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Brayan Pena strikes out swinging. Omar Infante steals (4) 2nd base.


B:3 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.


TB - Bot 7th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Kelly Johnson strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
James Loney grounds out to pitcher Max Scherzer.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Wil Myers singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Luke Scott doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter. Wil Myers scores.
DET 4 - 3

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Jose Lobaton grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

  DET 4 - 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitching Change: Kyle Farnsworth replaces Jamey Wright.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter grounds out, third baseman Kelly Johnson to first baseman James Loney.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera doubles (20) on a fly ball to center fielder Desmond Jennings.

Pitching Change: Cesar Ramos replaces Kyle Farnsworth.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Prince Fielder homers (13) on a fly ball to right field. Miguel Cabrera scores.
DET 6 - 3

B:0 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Desmond Jennings.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Jhonny Peralta lines out to left fielder Matt Joyce.


TB - Bot 8th
Pitching Change: Al Alburquerque replaces Max Scherzer.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Yunel Escobar walks.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Matt Joyce strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Desmond Jennings strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Al Alburquerque. Yunel Escobar to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Drew Smyly replaces Al Alburquerque.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Ben Zobrist strikes out swinging.

DET 6 - 3 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Don Kelly singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Matt Joyce.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Omar Infante walks. Don Kelly to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Brayan Pena out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman James Loney to second baseman Ben Zobrist. Don Kelly to 3rd. Omar Infante to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Austin Jackson lines into a double play, shortstop Yunel Escobar to third baseman Kelly Johnson. Don Kelly doubled off 3rd.


TB - Bot 9th
Pitching Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Drew Smyly.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Kelly Johnson strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:1
James Loney singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Wil Myers called out on strikes.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Luke Scott pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

 
TIGERS WIN 6-3

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Scherzer (12-0)
L: Colome
S: Benoit (5)


Game Info

WP: Colome.
HBP: Pena, B (by Colome).
Pitches-strikes: Scherzer 109-71, Alburquerque 19-10, Smyly 7-5, Benoit 14-12, Colome 84-51, Wright, J 15-8, Farnsworth 7-5, Ramos, C 22-14.
Groundouts-flyouts: Scherzer 8-2, Alburquerque 0-0, Smyly 0-0, Benoit 0-0, Colome 7-4, Wright, J 1-0, Farnsworth 1-0, Ramos, C 1-1.
Batters faced: Scherzer 26, Alburquerque 3, Smyly 1, Benoit 4, Colome 24, Wright, J 4, Farnsworth 2, Ramos, C 7.
Inherited runners-scored: Smyly 1-0, Ramos, C 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Brian Knight. 1B: Dan Iassogna. 2B: Vic Carapazza. 3B: Mark Carlson.
Weather: 72 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:59.
Att: 17,645.
Venue: Tropicana Field.
June 28, 2013