GDT: 6/16/10 - DET (34-29) VS WAS (31-34) - 7:05 p.m. ET
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Detroit Tigers VS Washington NationalsWednesday, June 16, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT
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Nats aim to cool Interleague-dominant Tigers By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
With Justin Verlander on the mound for the Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, the Nationals will certainly have their work cut out for them.
At 57-22 since 2006, the Tigers own the best record among all Major League clubs in Interleague Play. During that same stretch, the Tigers have gone 33-6 at home in Interleague Play.
Offensively, Magglio Ordonez is among the best active big league players in Interleague Play. Ordonez owns a .336 average with 42 doubles, three triples, 34 home runs and 141 RBIs in 171 games.
But most impressive is Verlander's mark in Interleague Play. In 14 starts against National League clubs, the Tigers' ace is 10-1 with a 2.88 ERA. Verlander has 92 strikeouts to just 38 walks while giving up just six homers in 90 2/3 innings in Interleague Play.
Opposite Verlander for the Nationals will be Livan Hernandez, who has been a pleasant surprise for the club this season.
Last time out, Hernandez picked up his 10th quality start of the season, tossing six innings while giving up two runs on five hits. As the Nationals defeated the Pirates, 4-2, Hernandez picked up his first win since May 4 against the Braves.
"We have a real veteran pitcher pitching against us tomorrow that pitched for me in the World Series in Florida. I know how good he can be," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Hernandez. "He doesn't have the overpowering fastball, but he's one of the smartest pitchers I've ever managed. He's going to be tough to beat. Of course we have Verlander going and you always feel good when you have him going."
Unlike the Tigers, the Nationals have not fared so well in Interleague Play, especially on the road. All-time, the Nationals are 46-51 in Interleague contests, with a 19-30 record in American League ballparks.
Nationals: Rodriguez sees similarities between Nats, TigersMaking his second return to Detroit since being traded away by the Tigers in 2008, catcher Ivan Rodriguez made an observation about his current club and the Tigers' clubs of 2004-05: there are many similarities between the two. With a good combination of young, talented players and veterans, Rodriguez was able to draw a strong comparison. "It reminds me of those teams before we got to the World Series," Rodriguez said.
Tigers: Cabrera continues success against NationalsAfter a 1-for-3 night against the Nationals on Tuesday, first baseman Miguel Cabrera owns a .361 batting average with 17 doubles, a triple, 21 homers and 75 RBIs in 83 career games against the club.
Worth notingSince May 12, the key for the Nationals has been scoring five or more runs. The club is 10-2 when doing so, but just 3-17 when tallying four runs or fewer in 31 games over that stretch.
... Overall, the Tigers are 128-108 in Interleague Play since it began in 1997. At Comerica Park, they own a 61-33 mark.
... Ordonez is batting .400 with 17 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, four home runs and 19 RBIs over his last 21 games dating back to May 13.
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Pitching matchupDET: RHP Justin Verlander (7-4, 3.56 ERA)Considering at least half of Verlander's four losses have come in part from low run support, he was due for a game in which offense and defense helped him out. Verlander called his fastball "horrible" in his previous outing. And while he ended up with more walks (four) than strikeouts (three), he still managed seven-plus innings of two-run ball against the Pirates for another Interleague victory. He's 10-1 with a 2.88 ERA lifetime against the National League, and he'll have at least three more meetings with the Senior Circuit before the Tigers close out Interleague Play.
Nationals: RHP Livan Hernandez (5-3, 2.28 ERA) Hernandez was solid on the mound as the Nationals defeated the Pirates, 4-2, and swept the three-game series. Hernandez pitched six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. It was his first win since May 4 against the Braves. He also picked up his 10th quality start of the season.
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From MLB Tigers Game Notes
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Nationals 7-4 last night at Comerica Park, the club’s fourth straight win. Max Scherzer (3-6) fanned nine batters while allowing four runs (three earned) in six innings of work for the win, while Jose Valverde closed out the game for his 14th save. Magglio Ordonez led the Tigers with four hits, while Ryan Raburn belted a home run and drove in four runs. Gerald Laird added three hits for the Tigers. The Tigers continue a nine-game homestand with the second game of a three-game series versus Washington this evening. The homestand concludes with a three-game series against Arizona beginning on Friday night.
INTERLEAGUE HAPPENINGS: Tonight’s contest against the Nationals is Detroit’s eighth game of interleague play in 2010. Since interleague play started in 1997, the Tigers have compiled a 128-108 record. The Tigers are 61-33 in interleague games at Comerica Park. Detroit is 5-2 in interleague games during the 2010 season.
AMONG THE BEST SINCE 2006: The Tigers have compiled a 57-22 record, a .722 winning percentage, during interleague play since the start of the 2006 season. The .722 winning percentage during interleague action is tied for the best among major league clubs during that stretch. The Minnesota Twins are 57-22, a .722 winning percentage, during interleague action over that stretch as well.
TIGERS PILE UP THE WINS IN INTERLEAGUE PLAY AT HOME: The Tigers have posted a 33-6 record, an .846 winning percentage, during interleague action over the club’s last 39 games at Comerica Park dating back to May 20, 2006.
ON THE OFFENSIVE OVER SIX-GAME WIN STREAK AT HOME: The Tigers enter tonight’s game against Washington having won each of the club’s last six games at Comerica Park dating back to June 2. During the six-game stretch, the club is hitting .335 (70x209) with 36 runs scored, 13 doubles, two triples and nine home runs.
MAGGLIO MASHES DURING INTERLEAGUE ACTION: Magglio Ordonez enters tonight’s game versus Washington hitting .336 (213x633) with 42 doubles, three triples, 34 home runs and 141 RBI in 171 games during interleague action in his career. He is third among all active major league players with a .336 batting average during interleague action, while he is seventh with a .573 slugging percentage.
MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE NATIONALS: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game versus Washington hitting .362 (110x304) with 17 doubles, a triple, 21 home runs and 75 RBI in 83 games during his career against the club. He is third among all active major league players with a .362 batting average against the Nationals, while he is fifth with a .632 slugging percentage.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE: Magglio Ordonez is batting .400 (32x80) with 17 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, four home runs and 19 RBI over his last 21 games dating back to May 13. He is tops among all American League players with a .400 batting average during that stretch, while he is second with a .462 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 36 runs scored and 77 hits, while he is second with a .308 batting average. Boesch is tops among all league rookies with a .333 batting average, eight home runs and 30 RBI, while he is second with 52 hits.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 15-6 record and 2.94 ERA (190.0IP/62ER) through the club’s first 63 games this season. Tigers relievers lead the American League with 15 victories, while the club is second with a 2.94 ERA and tied for fifth with 190.0 innings pitched.
HOME IS WHERE THE MOUND IS: Tigers pitchers have compiled a 3.40 ERA (283.0IP/107ER) through the club’s first 31 games at home, while they have limited opponents to a .240 batting average (255x1064). The Tigers are third in the American League with a 3.40 ERA at home this season, while the club is fourth with a .240 batting average against.
QUALITY WORK: Max Scherzer recorded a quality start for the Tigers last night versus Washington, marking the fifth straight game the club’s starting pitcher has posted a quality start. Detroit’s starting pitchers have registered a quality start in 11 of the team’s last 18 games dating back to May 26.
POSTING A DOUBLE-DIGIT HIT TOTAL: The Tigers finished with 12 hits last night against the Nationals, marking the 26th time during the 2010 season the club has finished with 10-or-more hits in a game. Detroit has compiled a 20-6 record in the 26 games in which the club has posted a double-digit hit total.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 58 of the club’s 63 games this season. Detroit is sixth among all American League clubs with 201 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, Detroit is fourth in the league with 133 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).
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Thursday, June 17Tigers (RHP
Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.21 ERA))
VS Nationals (RHP
Luis Atilano (5-3, 4.34 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)
Wed Jun 16, 2010 5:55 pm
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