GDT: 5/20/10 - DET (23-17) AT OAK (20-21) - 3:37 p.m. ET
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Detroit Tigers at Oakland AthleticsThursday, May 20, 2010Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CAGame Time - 3:37 p.m. EDT
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Tough act for Bonderman to follow By Alex DiFilippo / MLB.com
Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander have lockers side-by-side in the Tigers' clubhouse at Comerica Park.
Yes, the Tigers are on the road for a two-game set in Oakland, but Bonderman will certainly try to channel some of Verlander's success. The Tigers ace pitched an absolute gem on Wednesday, surrendering one run off four hits en route to a 5-1 victory against the Athletics. The win upped his record to 4-0 in May.
Bonderman (1-2), on the other hand, hasn't seen the same success. His only win of the season came way back on April 10, in the Tigers' fifth game of the season. Since then, he's started five games, earning three no-decisions to go along with his two losses.
Bonderman was expected to start on Tuesday to kick off the series against the White Sox after a rainout Monday, but his start was pushed back to keep Verlander on schedule. He pitched one inning against the Red Sox on Sunday to stay fresh and didn't allow a run.
In his last start, Bonderman threw well, but was unable to garner any run support from his teammates. He allowed only two runs on five hits in seven innings, but took the loss to the Yankees.
"I just thought he mixed stuff pretty good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after Bonderman's last start. "I thought he had some movement on it. I thought he was rested. I think that probably helped him. But I just thought overall, he pitched very, very well."
For the Athletics, right-hander Tyson Ross (1-1) will be making only his second career start. He's never faced the Tigers, who have been on a roll of late, posting 19 runs in their last four games.
Ross was a spot starter in his first career start, and Athletics manager Bob Geren planned on putting him back in the bullpen after taking the loss. Not due to a poor performance, just to give the 23-year-old rookie some time to find his bearings.
But Ross will again start on Thursday and he's comfortable with it. He's been a starting pitcher his whole career before reaching the Majors.
"It's something I'm used to," Ross said after his last start. "It was nice to have that familiar feeling."
Geren didn't mention an exact pitch count for Ross, but he said, "We'll see how it goes and go from there."
Athletics: Braden battles throughAfter throwing a perfect game two starts ago in Oakland, expectations for Athletics starting pitcher Dallas Braden were sky-high entering Wednesday's bout against the Tigers.
Braden (4-4) looked strong on the evening, before allowing two runs in the seventh inning. He exited the game early with flu-like symptoms and took the loss.
His perfect game on May 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays made him an instant celebrity. Mayor Ron Dellums even announced that Friday will be "Dallas Braden Day."
Tigers: Young guns still rollingThe Tigers have had five players make their Major League debut this season -- the most since 1922.
And on Wednesday, the rookies were the key to the Tigers' victory. Four of them were in the starting lineup.
Outfielder Brennan Boesch, who has been red-hot in 21 starts, went 0-for-3. The other three rookies combined to go 7-for-13 on the night.
Outfielder Casper Wells, who was a late addition due to a foot injury to Magglio Ordonez, recorded his first big league hit. But one wasn't enough, as he also recorded a second hit and tallied two RBIs.
Second baseman Danny Worth went 3-for-3 on the night and also tacked on his first RBI.
Worth notingBoesch will face Ross for the first time on Wednesday. The two played together at the University of California.
... Tigers rookie Austin Jackson has recorded a hit in 19 of 20 road games this season.
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Pitching matchupDET: RHP
Jeremy Bonderman (1-2, 4.93 ERA)
Bonderman was expected to start on Tuesday, but his start was pushed back a day to allow Tigers ace Justin Verlander to stay on turn. In his last start, Bonderman looked strong but was unable to garner any run support, as the Tigers lost to the Yankees in the second game of a day-night doubleheader last Wednesday. He allowed only two runs in seven innings before the Yankees went off in the ninth and posted six runs. The right-hander still hasn't won a game since the Tigers' home opener, which was five starts ago. Nothing would make Bonderman happier than shutting down the Oakland A's, the team that drafted him in the first round in 2001 and traded him away the following season. He will be pitching on six days' rest for the first time this season.
OAK: RHP
Tyson Ross (1-1, 3.97 ERA)
Ross will make his second big league start on Thursday in place of injured right-hander Justin Duchscherer. Ross made an emergency start for Duchscherer on Saturday in Anaheim, but was tagged for the loss. Ross retired the initial 11 batters he faced before giving up three straight hits, including a three-run homer to Kendry Morales. Ross said he feels most comfortable as a starter because that's what he's been his whole life. The 6-foot-6 rookie right-hander is yet to face the Tigers in his career.
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From MLB Tigers Press Pass
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Athletics 5-1 last night in Oakland. Justin Verlander (5-2) went the distance to earn the win for Detroit. Danny Worth led the Tigers with three hits and an RBI, while Casper Wells added two hits and two RBI. Brandon Inge belted a solo home run for Detroit. The Tigers continue a seven-game road trip with the final game of a two-game series at Oakland this afternoon. 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 31-20 record against clubs from the American League’s West Division since the start of the 2009 season. Detroit’s .608 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 afternoon’s game versus the Athletics batting .347 (133x383) with 71 runs scored, 35 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 91 RBI in 99 games against clubs from the American League’s West Division during his career. He is tops among all active major league players with a .347 batting average versus the American League’s West Division, while he is third with a .601 slugging percentage.
CABRERA’S A ROAD WARRIOR: Migue Cabrera enters today’s game at Oakland hitting .400 (32x80) with eight doubles, seven home runs and 28 RBI in 20 games on the road this season. He is tops among all American League players with a .400 batting average and 28 RBI on the road this season, while he is second with seven home runs and a .763 slugging percentage.
ACTION JACKSON TAKES HIS SHOW ON THE ROAD: Austin Jackson has hit safely in 19 of his 20 games on the road this season, batting .356 (32x90) with six doubles, three triples, a home run and six RBI. He is seventh among all American League players with a .356 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 21 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 21 career games.
MORE ON BOESCH: Brennan Boesch is hitting .394 (26x66) with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and 18 RBI over his last 18 games dating back to April 28. He is second among all American League players with a .394 batting average during that stretch, while he is tied for second with 13 extra-base hits, is fifth with a .712 slugging percentage and tied for sixth with 18 RBI.
BOESCH PROVIDES EXTRA-BASE POP: Brennan Boesch has collected 14 extra-base hits in his first 21 games with the Tigers. He has collected at least one extra-base hit in 11 of the 21 games, becoming the first Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one extra-base hit in 11 of his first 21 career games.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 37 of the club’s 40 games this season. Detroit is third among all American League clubs with 130 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, the Tigers are second in the league with 92 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 29 runs scored and 55 hits, while he is second with a .331 batting average. Boesch is leading all league rookies with a .372 batting average and 19 RBI, while he is second with 29 hits and three home runs.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Through the club’s first 40 games this season, Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-4 record and 2.49 ERA (134.0IP/37ER). Tigers relievers lead the American League a 2.49 ERA, while the club is tied for the lead with 11 victories and is second with 134.0 innings pitched.
CABRERA IN A GROOVE WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION: Miguel Cabrera enters today’s game versus the Athletics hitting .435 (20x46) with runners in scoring position. He is third among all American League players with a .435 batting average with runners in scoring position this season.
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Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Friday, May 21: Tigers (LHP
Dontrelle Willis (1-1, 4.68 ERA))
at Dodgers (RHP
Chad Billingsley (4-2, 4.03 ERA)),
10:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)
• Saturday, May 22: Tigers (RHP
Armando Galarraga (1-0, 1.59 ERA))
at Dodgers (RHP
John Ely (2-1, 3.51 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FOX / 1270 & 97.1)
• Sunday, May 23: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (3-4, 5.93 ERA))
at Dodgers (RHP
Hiroki Kuroda (5-1, 2.87 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)
Thu May 20, 2010 4:36 pm
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