GDT: 6/1/10 - DET (26-24) VS CLE (18-31) - 7:05 p.m. ET
We must win Tonight! Me Mad!
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Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland IndiansTuesday, June 1, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT
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Indians' sojourn heads into Motor CityBy Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
Stop No. 2 on the Indians' strange three-city road trip from New York to Detroit to Chicago takes them to a place that will conjure up some bad memories: Comerica Park.
During their second series of the season, the Tigers swept Cleveland at their place, marking the only time the Tribe has been swept on the road this season. Detroit has won four of five against Cleveland this season and got the sweep in an April 9-11 series when all games were decided by three runs or less.
The series-opening matchup will pin Jake Westbrook against Jeremy Bonderman.
Westbrook, who gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Tigers on April 11, has given up nine runs in his past 12 innings and is 4-8 with a 5.99 ERA in 21 career games (18 starts) against Detroit. After his previous time on the hill -- when Westbrook surrendered five runs in seven innings against the White Sox -- the 32-year-old right-hander said: "I didn't make any big pitches when I needed to."
Bonderman, meanwhile, has made plenty of big pitches lately. He just hasn't been rewarded yet.
The 27-year-old right-hander has managed only two wins this season despite putting up four consecutive quality starts, and put up a 1.33 ERA in five May games (four starts). His previous time on the mound, Bonderman yielded just one run in seven innings against the Mariners on Wednesday, but his club lost after the bullpen gave up four runs in the eighth inning.
"I'm just building off every start, starting to get more consistent and stay down in the zone," said Bonderman, who's given up just one run in his past 13 innings. "When I stay down, I'm pretty good. But like anybody else, I'm going to have games when you're not as sharp as you should be, and you've got to find a way through that."
Tigers: Relief corps stepping upTigers manager Jim Leyland sure will hope for five equally productive months from a bullpen that has been spectacular through the first two months of the 2010 season. Heading into Memorial Day, Detroit's bullpen ERA -- now at 2.88 after Monday's 4-1 loss to the Athletics -- was the lowest in the American League.
Leyland's closer, Jose Valverde, is 11-for-12 in saves and has a 0.44 ERA. Meanwhile, Joel Zumaya (1.84 ERA), Eddie Bonine (1.88) and Fu-Te Ni (2.21) all sport sub-3.00 ERAs.
Indians: Acta still confident in SippDespite serving up a grand slam to Robinson Cano on Friday, then a three-run blast to Mark Teixeira on Sunday, Indians manager Manny Acta expressed Monday that he isn't the slightest bit concerned about reliever Tony Sipp.
"It was dramatic, but it wasn't against Joe Blow," Acta said regarding Sipp, who has a 4.12 ERA in 23 games this season. "It was against Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano. ... He has the perfect demeanor for the job. He's really got some ice-cold veins. He's a cool cat."
Fresh in Acta's mind is probably the 15 1/3 innings without an earned run the 26-year-old left-hander put up in his previous 15 appearances.
Worth notingThe Tigers finished May 12-14, while the Indians went 9-18.
... Indians left-hander David Huff threw a bullpen session on Monday, two days after being struck in the head by an Alex Rodriguez line drive that sent him to the hospital. All signs point to Huff making his next scheduled start on Thursday, though the team wants to make sure he isn't showing concussion symptoms.
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Pitching matchupDET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 3.78 ERA)Yes, Bonderman owns only one win out of his last eight starts, but with the way he pitched in May, it's hard to blame him for it. He owns quality starts in each of his last four official starts, not counting the rough night he had in a rained-out performance in Cleveland. He allowed just four earned runs on 23 hits over 27 innings in May, walking seven and striking out 26. That includes seven innings without an earned run last Wednesday in Seattle. Now, he'll begin June with a rematch against the Tribe, whose damage against him at Progressive Field consisted almost entirely of one inning.
Indians: RHP Jake Westbrook (2-3, 4.78 ERA) Westbrook was not at his sharpest in a loss to the White Sox on May 26, as he allowed five runs on six hits over seven innings. But Westbrook did keep his team in the ballgame, and the endurance and pain-free outings he's turned in this season are signs that he's made it all the way back from Tommy John surgery in 2008. Now, he just needs to find the consistent command that made him a consistent winner before injuries derailed his career. This will be Westbrook's first start against the Tigers this season.
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From MLB Tigers Game Notes
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 4-1 loss to Oakland yesterday afternoon at Comerica Park. Justin Verlander (5-4) took the loss for Detroit after allowing three runs in seven innings of work. Austin Jackson singled and drove in Detroit’s lone run, while Brandon Inge and Alex Avila both finished with two hits. The Tigers continue a sevengame homestand with the first game of three-game series this evening against Cleveland. Following Thursday afternoon’s game, the club hits the road for a six-game trip to Kansas City and Chicago.
RACKING UP THE WINS OVER CLEVELAND AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers have won 10 of the club’s last 11 games over the Indians at Comerica Park dating back to May 2, 2009, including each of the last seven contests.
RECENT SUCCESS VERSUS THE INDIANS: Since the start of the 2009 season, the Tigers have compiled an 18-5 record against the Cleveland Indians. Detroit is third among all major league clubs with a 3.35 ERA (212.0IP/79ER) versus the Indians since the start of the 2009 season.
MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE TRIBE: Since joining the Tigers in 2008, Miguel Cabrera is hitting .331 (55x166) with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 41 games against the Cleveland Indians. He is tops among all active major league players with 38 RBI versus the Indians during that stretch, while he is tied for the lead with 11 home runs.
MAGGLIO MASHES VERSUS WESTBROOK: Magglio Ordonez enters tonight’s game against Cleveland hitting .324 (12x37) with two doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI during his career against Jake Westbrook. He is tops among all active major league players with 12 RBI versus Westbrook, while he is tied for the lead with three home runs.
CABRERA’S CASE FOR PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Miguel Cabrera hit .344 (31x90) with 17 runs scored, five doubles, nine home runs and 23 RBI in 24 games during May for the Tigers. He finished fourth in the American League with nine home runs during the month, while he tied for fifth with 63 total bases and a .700 slugging percentage, tied for eighth with 23 RBI, tied for ninth with a .344 batting average and finished 10th with a .410 onbase percentage.
VERLANDER RACKS UP EIGHT-OR-MORE STRIKEOUTS AGAIN: Justin Verlander fanned eight batters in his start yesterday afternoon versus Oakland, marking the 34th time in his first 143 starts with the Tigers he has posted eight-or-more strikeouts. Dating back to 1952, Verlander’s 34 such outings mark the most by a Tigers pitcher in his first 143 appearances.
PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 20 outings for the Tigers, tossing 19.2 scoreless innings. He is tops among all American League relievers with a 0.44 ERA, while he is second with a .134 batting average against and tied for seventh with 11 saves.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE: Magglio Ordonez is batting .407 (22x54) with 13 runs scored, a double, three home runs and 11 RBI over his last 15 games dating back to May 13. He is second among all American League players with a .407 batting average during that stretch, while he is third with a .484 on-base percentage.
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 a .330 batting average, 33 runs scored and 66 hits. Boesch is leading all league rookies with 22 RBI, while he is tied for the lead with four home runs and is second with a .327 batting average and 35 hits.
FOR STARTERS: Tigers starting pitchers have compiled a 3.48 ERA (111.1IP/43ER) over the club’s last 18 games, while limiting opponents to a .240 batting average (100x416). Club starting pitchers have posted nine quality starts during the stretch.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-6 record and 2.88 ERA (159.1IP/50ER) through the club’s first 50 games this season. Tigers relievers lead the American League a 2.88 ERA, while the club is second with 11 victories and third with 159.1 innings pitched.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 46 of the club’s 50 games this season. Detroit is sixth among all American League clubs with 161 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, Detroit is third in the league with 111 doubles.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Wednesday, June 2Tigers (RHP
Armando Galarraga (1-1, 4.50 ERA))
VS Indians (RHP
Fausto Carmona (4-3, 3.69 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Thursday, June 3Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (4-5, 5.27 ERA))
VS Indians (LHP
David Huff (2-6, 5.54 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Friday, June 4Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (2-4, 6.42 ERA))
at Royals (LHP
Bruce Chen (1-0, 2.70 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Saturday, June 5Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (5-4, 3.75 ERA))
at Royals (RHP
Luke Hochevar (5-3, 5.10 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)
Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:36 pm
swinging. 