GDT: 5/19/10 - DET (22-17) AT OAK (20-20) - 10:07 p.m. ET

GDT: 5/19/10 - DET (22-17) AT OAK (20-20) - 10:07 p.m. ET




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Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Game Time - 10:07 p.m. EDT


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Tigers hope to ruin Braden's party

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

The Athletics are holding a week-long celebration of Dallas Braden's perfect game, and Wednesday night, the man himself steps out from behind the curtain.

Much of the commemoration plays off the Stockton, Calif., area code Braden made famous -- 209. Some Coliseum tickets have even been priced at $2.09, and the A's would've liked nothing better than to arrange for a team batting .209 to oppose the left-hander in his first home start since that perfect Mother's Day.

Alas, no such luck. The Tigers pack one of the American League's most sound lineups. As with any team, they aren't without holes or immune to quiet days -- witness being held to three runs or fewer in one-third of their games.

Paced by Triple Crown threat Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez, Detroit can put a damper on the Braden fest. Then again, he can hold his own against the best: His perfect game came against the Rays, the league's highest-scoring ensemble.

The Tigers' strong start is particularly impressive in view of how manager Jim Leyland has had to juggle the lineup to compensate for injuries to veterans. Major League novices -- five position players have already made their big league debuts this season -- have made major contributions.

Brennan Boesch, the latest sensation, was one of the few bright spots of Tuesday's loss to Chicago, going 2-for-4 for the 10th multi-hit game of his 20-game career.

After Danny Worth singled on his first Major League at-bat in Sunday's game, Leyland said of the newest kid brought up mainly for his good infield glove, "He's a very, very solid defensive player. Offensively, he's bigger and stronger. I don't look for him to pull a Boesch, but he'll be fine."

Austin Jackson? So last month. If you've got your choice of young hitters to cite as examples, you've got a pretty good thing going.

Tigers: Youth on the rise
Scott Sizemore and Casper Wells have also debuted. The Tigers haven't had as many players debut within a season's first 38 games since 1922, when the newbies were Danny Clark, Bob Fothergill, Fred Haney, John Mohardt and Topper Rigneyall.

... Fourteen of Boesch's 29 hits have gone for extra bases -- nine doubles, two triples and three homers.

... Boesch didn't play his first game until April 23 but he is catching up to Jackson (16) in multi-hit games.

... Monday's rainout pushed Justin Verlander's start back a day, forcing him to prepare for a different opponent. It also means he will not get a chance to pitch (and bat) at Dodger Stadium. He's 0-for-12 at the plate and is desperately seeking his first big league hit. He has been known in Spring Training to swing away after manager Jim Leyland has called for him to take three strikes and sit down.

Athletics: Crisp gets off to hot start for Ports
Coco Crisp (fractured finger) and Mark Ellis (left hamstring sprain) both began rehab assignments with advanced Class A Stockton on Tuesday, and both have a chance to be activated off the disabled list in time for the weekend Interleague Series against the Giants. Crisp had four hits, including a three-run home run, in four at-bats for the Ports.

Worth noting
Eric Chavez is still waiting for his power and run production to catch up, but a hot spurt has raised his average (.240) to a respectable level. Tuesday's game was his 31st of the season, matching the combined total he played in 2008-09.

... Wednesday begins the Tigers' second and final West Coast trip of the season. They won't have to visit any team west of the central time zone the rest of the season.

... Boesch went to school nearby at the University of California, and expects to have some friends at the ballpark.

... Monday's rainout cost Dontrelle Willis a chance to pitch in Oakland. However, he still expects to have many friends and family members at the park.

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From MLB Tigers Press Pass


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 6-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox yesterday afternoon at Comerica Park. Rick Porcello (3-4) took the loss for Detroit after allowing four runs in seven innings of work. Johnny Damon belted a solo home run for the Tigers, while Brennan Boesch finished with two hits. Brandon Inge added a run-scoring single for the Tigers. The Tigers begin a seven-game road trip with the first game of a two-game series at Oakland this evening. The trip continues with a three-game series at Los Angeles and a two-game series at Seattle.

WINNING OVER THE WEST: The Tigers have compiled a 30-20 record against clubs from the American League’s West Division since the start of the 2009 season. Detroit’s .600 winning percentage against the American League’s West Division is second-best among league clubs since the start of the 2009 season. The Yankees have compiled a 31-19 record, a .620 winning percentage, versus the American League’s West Division.

MIGGY AT HIS BEST AGAINST THE WEST: Miguel Cabrera enters this evening’s game versus the Athletics batting .351 (133x379) with 71 runs scored, 35 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 91 RBI in 98 games against clubs from the American League’s West Division during his career. He is tops among all active major league players with a .351 batting average versus the American League’s West Division, while he is third with a .607 slugging percentage.

CABRERA’S A ROAD WARRIOR: Migue Cabrera enters tonight’s game at Oakland hitting .421 (32x76) with eight doubles, seven home runs and 28 RBI in 19 games on the road this season. He is tops among all American League players with a .421 batting average and 28 RBI on the road this season, while he is second with seven home runs and an .803 slugging percentage.

ACTION JACKSON TAKES HIS SHOW ON THE ROAD: Austin Jackson has hit safely in 18 of his 19 games on the road this season, batting .353 (30x85) with six doubles, three triples, a home run and five RBI. He is seventh among all American League players with a .353 batting average on the road this season.

PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 17 outings for the Tigers, tossing 16.2 scoreless innings. He is tops among all American League relievers with a .123 batting average against, while he is second with a 0.51 ERA and tied for third with 10 saves.

DRIVING THEM IN: Brennan Boesch has collected at least one RBI in 12 of his first 20 career games with the Tigers. He is the first Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one RBI in 12 of his first 20 career games.

MORE ON BOESCH: Brennan Boesch is hitting .413 (26x63) with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and 18 RBI over his last 17 games dating back to April 28. He is tops among all American League players with a .413 batting average during that stretch, while he is tied for second with 13 extra-base hits, is third with a .746 slugging percentage and tied for fifth with 18 RBI.

BOESCH PROVIDES EXTRA-BASE POP: Brennan Boesch has collected 14 extra-base hits in his first 20 games with the Tigers. He has collected at least one extra-base hit in 11 of the 20 games, becoming the first Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one extra-base hit in 11 of his first 20 career games.

EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 36 of the club’s 39 games this season. Detroit is third among all American League clubs with 128 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, the Tigers are second in the league with 91 doubles.

LOOKING AT THE ROOKIE LEADERS: Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch have both enjoyed success during their rookie campaigns. Jackson is tops among all American League rookies with 28 runs scored and 53 hits, while he is second with a .329 batting average. Boesch is leading all league rookies with a .387 batting average and 19 RBI, while he is second with 29 hits and three home runs.

BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Through the club’s first 39 games this season, Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-4 record and 2.49 ERA (134.0IP/37ER). Tigers relievers lead the American League with 11 victories, a 2.49 ERA and 134.0 innings pitched.

CABRERA IN A GROOVE WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game versus the Athletics hitting .444 (20x45) with runners in scoring position. He is tied for second among all American League players with a .444 batting average with runners in scoring position this season.

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