Nats aim to rebound against streaking Tigers By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com
The Tigers are fighting for the top spot in the American League Central. The Nationals are fighting for respectability.
On Thursday, the two clubs will square off in the series finale, with Detroit looking to complete the three-game sweep.
Jeremy Bonderman will take the hill for the Tigers. The Nationals will counter with Luis Atilano.
Here's why the final game matters: The Tigers, who trail the Twins by 2 1/2 games in the AL Central, are riding a five-game winning streak and have won seven of 10. The Nationals, who have lost six of 10, are looking to get back into the win column.
Something has to give.
In his previous start, Atilano pitched five-plus innings against the Indians, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits. The first three runs were scored in the first on a three-run homer by slugger Austin Kearns to give the Indians a 3-1 lead.
"I wasn't commanding my sinker to the righties. I was more outside -- middle in a little bit," Atilano said after the start.
As for Bonderman, he has four quality starts in his past five outings, the latest being seven innings of two-run ball Saturday against the Pirates in the 4-3 win. His fastball has been gaining velocity and, especially lately, he has been able to keep up the fastball later in games.
"I didn't throw the ball extremely well," Bonderman said after that outing. "But we won, and I was able to keep us in the game. The other game, I just didn't do any of that. I'm just trying to go out there and give us quality innings, and hopefully we will find a way to win at the end."
Nationals: Seeking more at-bats for MorseThe Nats are 5-16 away from home since May 13.
... The club is 3-5 against the AL this season and 46-52 all-time.
... Manager Jim Riggleman said that he would like to get Michael Morse more at-bats, but he also wants to maintain some consistency in the lineup. "Right now, I don't have a place to put him on a regular basis," Riggleman said. "But I am trying to find at-bats for everyone. Yet I also want to put the same seven or eight guys out there on a regular basis in the lineup, so they can get hot together [offensively]." Morse hit a home run and had two hits in his first three at-bats Tuesday.
Tigers: Leyland's son close to signingDetroit announced Wednesday that it has signed 16 of its 2010 First-Year Player Draft selections. When Patrick Leyland (8th round, No. 253), the manager's son of manager Jim Leyland, passes his physical, his signing will also become official.
... Magglio Ordonez was out of the lineup for six straight games with soreness in his right oblique and went 4-for-5 on Tuesday with two doubles and an RBI. His four hits on the night matched a career high, a feat he has accomplished 21 previous times. He went 1-for-3 on Wednesday.
Worth notingLeyland on Stephen Strasburg: "When they have that horse pitching out there, they're as good as any team in baseball on that day."
... The Nationals have played 49 games in AL ballparks since the start of 2005. During that time, their designated hitters are batting just .233 with four homers and 16 RBIs.
... Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson was out of the lineup for the second straight game Wednesday because of back spasms.
... Strasburg mentioned going out to a local mall and was asked if anyone recognized him. "I was there with Pudge [Rodriguez], so that kind of gave it away. I think people put two and two together," he said.
______________________________________
Pitching matchupDET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.21 ERA)Bonderman owns four quality starts in his last five outings, the latest being seven innings of two-run ball last Saturday against the Pirates in just 91 pitches. His fastball has been gaining velocity and, especially lately, he has been able to keep up the fastball later in games. At times, manager Jim Leyland says, he looks as good as at any point Leyland has been here, which dates back to 2006. All in all, the ingredients are there for a big summer if he can get just a little more run support, which he hopes he can find against the Nationals.
Nationals: RHP Luis Atilano (5-3, 4.34 ERA) Atilano started for Washington and lasted five-plus innings, allowing six runs -- three earned -- on seven hits against the Indians. The first three runs were scored in the first inning. With one out and Carlos Santana on first, Russell Branyan hit a perfect double-play ball to second baseman Adam Kennedy, who booted the ball for an error. Austin Kearns was the next hitter and hit a three-run homer to give Cleveland a 3-1 lead.
______________________________________
From MLB Tigers Game NotesRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers posted an 8-3 win over the Nationals last night at Comerica Park, the club’s fifth straight win. Justin Verlander (8-4) fanned a season-high 11 batters as he allowed three runs in eight innings of work to earn the win for Detroit. Brennan Boesch finished with three hits, including a home run, and four RBI for the Tigers, while Gerald Laird added a single and two RBI. The Tigers continue a nine-game homestand with the final game of a three-game series versus Washington this afternoon. The homestand concludes with a three-game series against Arizona beginning tomorrow night.
INTERLEAGUE HAPPENINGS: Today’s contest against the Nationals is Detroit’s ninth game of interleague play in 2010. Since interleague play started in 1997, the Tigers have compiled a 129-108 record. The Tigers are 62-33 in interleague games at Comerica Park. Detroit is 6-2 in interleague games during the 2010 season.
AMONG THE BEST SINCE 2006: The Tigers have compiled a 58-22 record, a .725 winning percentage, during interleague play since the start of the 2006 season. The .725 winning percentage during interleague action is tied for the best among major league clubs during that stretch. The Minnesota Twins are 58-22, a .725 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 34-6 record, an .850 winning percentage, during interleague action over the club’s last 40 games at Comerica Park dating back to May 20, 2006.
ON THE OFFENSIVE OVER SEVEN-GAME WIN STREAK AT HOME: The Tigers enter today’s game against Washington having won each of the club’s last seven games at Comerica Park dating back to June 2. During the seven-game stretch, the club is hitting .322 (77x239) with 44 runs scored, 14 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs.
MAGGLIO MASHES DURING INTERLEAGUE ACTION: Magglio Ordonez enters today’s game versus Washington hitting .336 (214x636) with 42 doubles, three triples, 34 home runs and 141 RBI in 172 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 sixth with a .572 slugging percentage.
MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE NATIONALS: Miguel Cabrera enters today’s game versus Washington hitting .362 (111x307) with 17 doubles, a triple, 21 home runs and 75 RBI in 84 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 .629 slugging percentage.
VERLANDER RECORDS 12TH CAREER DOUBLE-DIGIT STRIKEOUT GAME: Justin Verlander fanned a season-high 11 batters last night versus Washington, marking the 12th time in his career he has reached a double-digit strikeout total in a start. Additionally, he did not issue a walk last night to mark the third time in his career he has fanned 10-or-more batters in an outing without allowing a walk. Verlander pulled off that feat twice in 2009 (July 7 versus Kansas City and July 29 at Texas), when he became the first Tigers pitcher to do so since Jeff Robinson accomplished the feat twice in 1988.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE: Magglio Ordonez is batting .398 (33x83) with 19 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, four home runs and 19 RBI over his last 22 games dating back to May 13. He is second among all American League players with a .398 batting average during that stretch, while he is third with a .463 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 .344 batting average, nine home runs and 34 RBI, while he is second with 55 hits.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 15-6 record and 2.92 ERA (191.0IP/62ER) through the club’s first 64 games this season. Tigers relievers lead the American League with 15 victories, while the club is second with a 2.92 ERA.
HOME IS WHERE THE MOUND IS: Tigers pitchers have compiled a 3.39 ERA (292.0IP/110ER) through the club’s first 32 games at home, while they have limited opponents to a .239 batting average (262x1096). The Tigers are third in the American League with a 3.39 ERA at home this season, while the club is fourth with a .239 batting average against.
QUALITY WORK: Justin Verlander recorded a quality start for the Tigers last night versus Washington, marking the sixth straight game the club’s starting pitcher has posted a quality start. Detroit’s starting pitchers have registered a quality start in 12 of the team’s last 19 games dating back to May 26.
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)• Friday, June 18Tigers (RHP
Armando Galarraga (2-1, 2.67 ERA))
VS Diamondbacks ( LHP
Dontrell Willis (2-2, 4.39 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Saturday, June 19Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (4-6, 6.09 ERA))
VS Diamondbacks (RHP
Edwin Jackson (3-6, 5.18 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Sunday, June 20Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (3-6, 6.14 ERA))
VS Diamondbacks (RHP
Ian Kennedy (3-4, 3.57 ERA),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1) 
Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:43 am
--- VS --- 
. 
