GDT: 7/7/10 - DET (45-37) VS BAL (25-58) - 7:05 p.m. ET
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Detroit Tigers VS Baltimore OriolesWednesday, July 7, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT
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The hits keep on coming in O's-Tigers seriesBy Alex DiFilippo / MLB.com
Hits, hits and more hits.
That's been the story of the series between the Tigers and the Orioles so far. In the first two games, the teams have combined for a whopping 61 hits and have produced 33 runs. The hitting has been contagious.
Monday's game was downright ugly, with both starting pitchers exiting before the third inning. Tuesday's bout had just about as many hits as Monday, but they didn't result in as many runs. The Tigers took both games and will try for the series sweep on Wednesday.
The abundance of offense has caused both teams to go deep into their respective bullpens. Granted, Tuesday's game took 11 innings to be resolved, but the Tigers used six pitchers, while the Orioles used five. Couple that with the seven-plus innings required by both team's bullpens on Monday, and it's no secret the pitching staffs are running on fumes.
The Tigers are even sending down Tuesday's starter, Armando Galarraga, and calling up Robbie Weinhardt from Triple-A Toledo to get a fresh arm in the bullpen.
"It's a little shaky right now," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of the bullpen. "We are obviously going to get some help tomorrow."
The offensive firepower can be attributed to shaky starting pitching. Wednesday's starters will try and change the tone of the series.
Taking the hill for Detroit will be Max Scherzer, who has won his last four starts at Comerica Park. Since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo, Scherzer has gone 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 56 strikeouts in seven starts for the Tigers.
While Scherzer has been solid at home, Orioles starter Brad Bergesen has struggled on the road. In five road starts, Bergesen is 1-3 with a 7.03 ERA. But in his last outing, he surrendered only three earned runs in 7 2/3 innings against Boston.
Regardless of the splits, the Orioles are ready to get back on the field and prevent the sweep after Tuesday's heartbreaking walk-off loss.
"Every loss is tough, obviously we have lost 50-something games," said Orioles pitcher David Hernandez, who surrendered Tuesday's walk-off blast. "It's definitely not fun. It's a good thing we play tomorrow."
Tigers: Damon hits milestone and more...Outfielder Johnny Damon recorded his 2,500th hit off Orioles starter Jake Arrieta in the third inning of Tuesday's victory. He became only the 92nd Major League player to reach the milestone. But that wasn't enough for Damon. He bombed a walk-off homer in the 11th inning -- his 2,501st hit -- to help propel the Tigers to victory. Damon's numbers through the first half of the season haven't been fantastic since joining the Tigers this offseason. He's hitting .271 with 76 hits and five home runs. But the standing ovation he received from the Detroit fans at Comerica Park meant a lot to him, especially with his struggles early this season. "It meant the world to me," Damon said. "I know I'm having an OK year here. Obviously, I would like to hit better with guys in scoring position. But for them to react the way they did for me, it's special. The fans showed me a lot."
Orioles: Bring 'em homeThe Orioles had plenty of chances to win Tuesday's game. They left a season-high 17 runners on base. Monday wasn't much better, as the club left nine runners stranded. Catcher Matt Wieters was one of several Orioles who didn't have a problem getting on base Tuesday. But, like his teammates, he struggled to drive in runs. "I think we're starting to swing the bats well, and hits with runners in scoring position, I feel like they are going to come, because we are getting more opportunities," said Wieters, who went 2-for-5 with a double and a triple in the loss. "And the more opportunities you get, the more chances you are going to have to get hits. I think we are going to be fine."
Worth notingTuesday's game was the second straight contest played in 90-degree heat, and it was also the second successive game to nearly reach the four-hour mark.
...Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera will participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game.
... Baltimore didn't commit an error in Tuesday's game after committing 15 errors in the last 14 games.
... Orioles outfielder Felix Pie returned to the lineup on Tuesday after being on the disabled list. Pie recorded two singles.
... For the second straight month, Tigers outfielder Brennan Boesch was voted the winner of the American League Rookie of the Month Award.
... The Tigers are 29-12 at home, compared to 16-25 on the road.
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Pitching matchup 
TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (5-6, 4.88 ERA)Scherzer has gone unbeaten in his past four starts and has pitched some solid baseball doing it. He fell an out shy in one outing of having five straight quality starts, allowing eight earned runs on 22 hits in 34 innings while striking out 39 in that stretch.
ORIOLES: RHP Brad Bergesen (3-5, 6.44 ERA) Bergesen had one of his best outings Friday at Fenway Park, limiting the Red Sox to three earned runs -- two of which were solo shots by J.D. Drew -- over 7 2/3 innings. He fanned a season-high seven and didn't issue a walk.
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From MLB Tigers Game NotesRECENT RESULTS: Johnny Damon belted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to lead the Tigers to a 7-5 win over the Orioles last night. Ryan Perry (2-4) picked up the win in relief for Detroit. Miguel Cabrera singled, tripled, homered and drove in two runs for the Tigers, while Brennan Boesch, Brandon Inge and Alex Avila all drove in a run. The Tigers continue a nine-game homestand with the final game of a three-game series versus Baltimore this evening. Following an off day tomorrow, the homestand concludes with a three-game series against Minnesota beginning on Friday night.
GALARRAGA OPTIONED TO TOLEDO, WEINHARDT’S CONTRACT PURCHASED: The Tigers optioned the contract of righthanded pitcher Armando Galarraga to Triple A Toledo following last night’s game. The club today has purchased the contract of righthanded pitcher Robbie Weinhardt from Toledo. Weinhardt is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA (27.1IP/6ER) in 19 apppearances with the Mud Hens.
CABRERA, VALVERDE NAMED TO ALL-STAR SQUAD: Major League Baseball announced on Sunday that both Miguel Cabrera and Jose Valverde have been selected to the American League’s all-star squad. It marks the fifth time Cabrera has been named to an all-star team, while it is the second time Valverde has been selected to an all-star team.
CABRERA TO PARTICIPATE IN HOME RUN DERBY: Major League Baseball announced yesterday that Miguel Cabrera will participate in the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 12 in Anaheim. It will mark the second time that Cabrera will participate in the event, having done so in 2006 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
WINNING WAYS AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers enter tonight’s game versus the Orioles having won 14 of the club’s last 16 games at home dating back to June 2. For the season, Detroit has compiled a 29-12 record at Comerica Park and is tops among all American League clubs with a .707 winning percentage at home in 2010.
RECENT SUCCESS AGAINST ORIOLES AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers enter this evening’s game versus Baltimore having won 11 of the club’s last 15 games over the Orioles at Comerica Park dating back to the start of the 2006 season.
DAMON CONNECTS FOR SECOND WALK-OFF HOME RUN OF SEASON: Johnny Damon belted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning last night versus the Orioles, his second walk-off home run of the season. He and Houston’s Carlos Lee (also has two walk-off home runs) are the only two players in the major leagues with more than walk-off home run this season. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)
BOESCH TABBED AL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE: Brennan Boesch was named the American League Rookie of the Month for June, marking the second straight month he has won the award. Atlanta’s Jason Heyward was named the National League Rookie of the Month in both April and May, and along with Boesch are the first rookies to win the award in consecutive months since Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun did so in 2007 (June and July). Boesch hit .337 (35x104) with 17 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 23 RBI in 27 games during the month.
PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has converted each of his last 18 save opportunities for the Tigers, the eighth-longest such single-season streak in franchise history. Additionally, he has held opponents scoreless in 34 of his 37 outings this season. Valverde is second among all American League relievers with a 0.97 ERA and a .124 batting average against, while he is tied for seventh with 18 saves.
DAMON COLLECTS HIS 2,500TH HIT: Johnny Damon singled in the third inning last night off Baltimore’s Jake Arrieta for the 2,500th hit of his major league career. He became the 92nd player in major league history to collect 2,500 hits during his career.
CABRERA RIDING 15-GAME HITTING STREAK: Miguel Cabrera finished with three hits and two RBI last night versus the Orioles to extend his season-best hitting streak to 15 games. Over the course of the 15-game hitting streak, he is batting .397 (23x58) with 15 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, two home runs and 14 RBI.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled an 18-7 record and 3.29 ERA (249.0IP/91ER) through the club’s first 82 games this season. Tigers relievers are second in the American League with 18 victories, while the club is fourth with a 3.29 ERA.
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 49 runs scored and 92 hits, while he is second with a .307 batting average. Boesch is tops among all league rookies with a .341 batting average, 12 home runs and 47 RBI, while he is second with 78 hits.
INJURY UPDATE: RHP Zach Miner(right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Thursday, July 8Off Day• Friday, July 9TIGERS (RHP
Justin Verlander (10-5, 3.85 ERA))
VS TWINS (LHP
Francisco Liriano (6-6, 3.32 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Saturday, July 10TIGERS (RHP
Jeremy Bonderman (4-6, 4.81 ERA))
VS TWINS (RHP
Nick Blackburn (7-6, 6.00 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Sunday, July 11TIGERS (LHP
Andy Oliver (0-2, 5.93 ERA))
VS TWINS (RHP
Carl Pavano (9-6, 3.58 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)
Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:53 pm
swinging. 
