GDT: 6/12/10 - DET (31-29) VS PIT (23-38) - 7:05 p.m. ET
VS 
16TH ANNUAL
NEGRO LEAGUES TRIBUTE GAMETigers representing the
Detroit Stars and
the
Pirates representing the
Pittsburgh Crawfords
---
VS ---
Detroit Tigers VS Pittsburgh PiratesSaturday, June 12, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT
______________________________________
Maholm tries to make Tigers exit stage leftBy Kyle Maistri / MLB.com
After dropping the series opener to the Tigers, 6-2, on Friday night, the Pirates can sleep a little easier knowing they have a lefty to trot out against Detroit in the second of the three-game set.
Pirates southpaw Paul Maholm will be charged with the task of evening up the series against the Tigers on Saturday, facing an offense that has hit .261 off lefties compared to .269 off righties.
For a predominantly right-handed Tigers lineup, it's surprising that the one player who is crushing left-handers is rookie Brennan Boesch, who is 14-for-26 against them this season.
Where the Tigers are hurting the most is at the top of the order, where rookie leadoff man Austin Jackson, a righty, is 12-for-63 (.190) in what are supposed to be favorable matchups.
"This is Major League baseball, and it's not easy," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "It doesn't go perfect every day. This is not a surprise to me. [Jackson is] going to be fine. He's a good player. Rookies have ups and downs, so do the rest of us. But I think you notice it more with the rookies because everybody gets excited and the red flag goes up a little bit when a young guy struggles a little bit. But he's fine."
Maholm has been incredibly stingy over his career against left-handed hitters, who have posted a .202 batting average and .561 OPS against him. If he can shut down Boesch, it could be a long day for the Tigers' offense.
The Tigers will counter on the mound with Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.40 ERA). He allowed seven runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings last time out at Kansas City.
Pirates: Ace set to startMaholm is the only Pittsburgh starter to record a win since May 18. His 3.80 ERA is the lowest among Pittsburgh starters. ... Outfielder Jose Tabata is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday after getting the night off against Justin Verlander on Friday. He made his Major League debut on Wednesday, so Saturday would mark his third start. Tabata is the team's leadoff hitter for now.
Tigers: Suh makes appearanceDetroit Lions first-round draft pick Ndamukong Suh threw out the first pitch at Friday's game.
...
The Tigers will play the 16th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute game on Saturday.
Worth notingDetroit's Don Kelly and Pittsburgh's Neil Walker are brother-in-laws and played against each other on a Major League field for the first time on Friday. Kelly is married to Walker's older sister, Carrie.
______________________________________
Pitching matchupDET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.40 ERA)Bonderman is coming off a rough outing against the Royals in which he picked up his fourth loss of the season. Coming into his last start, Bonderman had only given up four runs in his last 21 innings, but that all changed against the Royals. Bonderman was hit hard for five runs in the first two innings and ended up giving up seven on the day. He lasted 5 2/3 innings, while giving up 11 hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Bonderman will look to rebound against the Pirates in game two of a three-game series. Bonderman is 7-7 in 21 starts in Interleague Play with a 5.38 ERA.
Pirates: LHP Paul Maholm (4-4, 3.80 ERA) Make it three quality starts in a row for Maholm, who continues to be the Pirates' steadiest rotation presence. The left-hander picked up his team-leading fourth win on Saturday with a strong 6 1/3-inning performance in which he kept the Giants to six hits and two runs. Maholm seems to have found better efficiency as of late, too, evidenced by the mere 86 pitches he needed in his last start. Maholm has pitched at least six innings in 10 of his 12 starts this year as well.
______________________________________
From MLB Tigers Game NotesRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers posted a 6-2 win over the Pirates last night at Comerica Park. Justin Verlander (7-4) limited the Pirates to two runs over seven innings of work to earn the win for Detroit. Brennan Boesch singled and belted a solo home run for the Tigers, while Ramon Santiago belted a two-run home run. Alex Avila added three hits and two RBI for Detroit. The Tigers continue a nine-game homestand with the second game of a three-game series versus Pittsburgh this evening. Following an off day on Monday, the homestand continues with a visit from both Washington and Arizona.
INTERLEAGUE HAPPENINGS: Tonight’s contest against the Pirates is Detroit’s fifth game of interleague play in 2010. Since interleague play started in 1997, the Tigers have compiled a 125-108 record. The Tigers are 58-33 in interleague games at Comerica Park. Detroit is 2-2 in interleague games during the 2010 season.
AMONG THE BEST SINCE 2006: The Tigers have compiled a 54-22 record, a .711 winning percentage, during interleague play since the start of the 2006 season. The .711 winning percentage during interleague action is second-best among major league clubs during that stretch. The Minnesota Twins are 56-20, a .737 winning percentage, during interleague action over that stretch.
TIGERS PILE UP THE WINS IN INTERLEAGUE PLAY AT HOME: The Tigers have posted a 30-6 record, an .833 winning percentage, during interleague action over the club’s last 36 games at Comerica Park dating back to May 20, 2006.
MAGGLIO MASHES DURING INTERLEAGUE ACTION: Magglio Ordonez enters tonight’s game versus Pittsburgh hitting .333 (209x628) with 40 doubles, three triples, 34 home runs and 140 RBI in 170 games during interleague action in his career. He is fourth among all active major league players with a .333 batting average during interleague action, while he is seventh with a .568 slugging percentage.
PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 24 outings for the Tigers, tossing 24.1 scoreless innings. He is tops among all American League relievers with a 0.36 ERA and .111 batting average against, while he is tied for eighth with 12 saves.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE: Magglio Ordonez is batting .373 (28x75) with 16 runs scored, two doubles, a triple, four home runs and 18 RBI over his last 20 games dating back to May 13. He is third among all American League players with a .373 batting average and .442 on-base percentage during that stretch.
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 36 runs scored and 75 hits, while he is second with a .306 batting average. Boesch is tops among all league rookies with a .343 batting average, eight home runs and 30 RBI, while he is second with 49 hits.
BOESCH’S EXTRA-BASE HIT TOTAL AMONG BEST SINCE AT LEAST 1952: Brennan Boesch has collected 24 extra-base hits in the first 39 games of his major league career with the Tigers. His 24 extra-base hits are tied for the second-most in a player’s first 39 career games since at least 1952, along with Adam Dunn (2001) and Jeff Francoeur (2005). Ryan Braun collected 26 extra-base base hits in his first 39 career games in 2007.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 13-6 record and 2.96 ERA (182.2IP/60ER) through the club’s first 60 games this season. Tigers relievers lead the American League with 13 victories, while the club is second with a 2.96 ERA and fourth with 182.2 innings pitched.
HOME IS WHERE THE MOUND IS: Tigers pitchers have compiled a 3.46 ERA (255.0IP/98ER) through the club’s first 28 games at home, while they have limited opponents to a .241 batting average (232x961). The Tigers are third in the American League with a 3.46 ERA at home this season, while the club is fifth with a .241 batting average against.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 55 of the club’s 60 games this season. Detroit is sixth among all American League clubs with 193 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, Detroit is third in the league with 129 doubles.
INJURY UPDATE: RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 15-day DL on March 26),
RHP Ryan Perry (right shoulder bicipital tendinitis, 15-day DL on June 7),
LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26).
______________________________________
To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet 
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio•
Gameday•
Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
On radio•
,
•
XM Channel Schedule•
Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Sunday, June 13Tigers (RHP
Armando Galarraga (2-1, 2.77 ERA))
VS Pirates (RHP
Jeff Karstens (1-2, 4.81 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Monday, June 14Off Day• Tuesday, June 15Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (2-6, 6.30 ERA))
VS Nationals (LHP
John Lannan (2-3, 5.00 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Wednesday, June 16Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (7-4, 3.56 ERA))
VS Nationals (RHP
Livan Hernandez (5-3, 2.28 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Thursday, June 17Tigers (RHP
Jeremy Bonderman ( ERA))
VS Nationals (RHP
Luis Atilano ( ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)
Sat Jun 12, 2010 4:30 pm
swinging. 
