GDT: 7/20/10 - DET (48-43) VS TEX (54-39) - 7:05 p.m. ET
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Detroit Tigers VS Texas RangersTuesday, July 20, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT
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Rookies on display in Rangers-Tigers seriesBy Doug Miller / MLB.com
It's easy to point to veterans such as Josh Hamilton and Miguel Cabrera as to why the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers are pennant contenders in 2010.
But a closer look at the rosters of those two clubs, who meet for the second game of their series at Comerica Park on Tuesday night, reveals that rookies are having a huge say in the teams' recent success.
For Texas, the visiting club that will start Tommy Hunter on Tuesday, the performance of first-year closer Neftali Feliz has silenced bats and wowed fans.
Feliz, who took over closing duties for Frank Francisco in the second week of the season and hasn't looked back, nailed down his 25th save on Monday, which ranks near the top of the American League.
Feliz's 25 saves are already 13 more than the previous rookie franchise record, and made him the sixth rookie over the last 10 seasons to reach 25 in a single season. He joined Oakland's Andrew Bailey (26 last year) as the only two rookies over the last four seasons to reach the 25-save threshold.
"I'm very happy with that right now," Feliz said recently. "I just want to continue to do the job and just save as many as I can."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the diamond, two rookie outfielders are helping power the Tigers, who will give the ball to right-hander Armando Galarraga on Tuesday night.
Austin Jackson is tops among all AL rookies with 54 runs scored and 101 hits, while ranking second with a .304 batting average. And teammate Brennan Boesch is tops among all league rookies with a .325 batting average, 12 homers and 50 RBIs, while ranking second to his buddy Jackson with 86 hits.
"I think he's the same guy he was when he got here," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Boesch. "They throw it [in the strike zone]. He swings. He hits it, he hits it hard. I don't want to change anything."
Rangers: Hunter on cruise controlHunter is the first Texas starter to begin a season 6-0 since Esteban Loaiza in 1999. He has held opponents to two earned runs or fewer in seven of his eight outings, registering quality starts in seven of those (the lone exception was an injury-shortened start June 14 at Florida). He's 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA on the road and beat the Tigers with seven innings of one-run, five-hit ball last July 27 in Arlington -- the only time he's faced Detroit. He started opposite Galarraga in that game, too.
... Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler has a 12-game hit streak, tied with Toronto's Adam Lind for the longest active such streak in the AL.
Tigers: Galarraga back and readyThe Tigers optioned Galarraga to Triple-A Toledo 1 1/2 weeks ago with the intent of getting him some pitching time before rejoining the rotation. Galarraga pitched three scoreless innings of relief on Friday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He has made six starts since almost pitching a perfect game on June 3, and his last outing, which came on July 6, was a quality start.
... Tigers catcher Alex Avila enters Tuesday's game vs. Texas having thrown out 37.5 percent of baserunners attempting to steal (12-for-32) this season, tops among all AL catchers.
Worth notingRangers reliever Darren O'Day extended his scoreless-innings streak to 18 innings on Monday, the longest for Texas this season.
... Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge started Monday's game, which gave him 842 games played at third base during his Tigers career, tying Mike Higgins for fourth place in franchise history. But a broken bone in his hand suffered in the game will keep him tied with Higgins for four to six weeks, the estimated length of time he'll be out.
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Pitching matchup 
TIGERS: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-2, 4.45 ERA)Detroit plans to recall Galarraga after a one-start stint with Triple-A Toledo. The 28-year-old righty worked 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball against the O's on July 6, his first quality start since June 13. He's 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in six appearances at Comerica in '10.
RANGERS: RHP Tommy Hunter (6-0, 2.39 ERA) Hunter is the first Rangers pitcher since Esteban Loaiza to win his first six decisions in a season. This is only his third start on the road this season and he is 4-4 with a 5.90 ERA in 12 road starts in his career.
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From MLB Tigers Game NotesRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered an 8-6 loss to the Rangers in 14 innings last night at Comerica Park, the club’s sixth straight loss. Enrique Gonzalez (0-1) allowed two runs in two innings of relief to take the loss for Detroit. Miguel Cabrera homered twice and drove in three runs for the Tigers, while Magglio Ordonez belted a solo home run. Detroit begins a seven-game homestand with the first game of a three-game series versus Texas this evening. The homestand concludes with a four-game series against Toronto beginning on Thursday afternoon.
INGE PLACED ON DL; FIEN RECALLED FROM TOLEDO: The Tigers today have placed third baseman Brandon Inge on the 15-day disabled list with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his left hand. Additionally, the club today recalled the contract of righthanded pitcher Casey Fien from Triple A Toledo. Fien has appeared in 31 games with Toledo, posting a 1-1 record, 2.33 ERA (46.1IP/12ER), four saves and 31 strikeouts.
WINNING WAYS AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers enter tonight’s game versus the Rangers having won 17 of the club’s last 21 games at home dating back to June 2. For the season, Detroit has compiled a 32-14 record at Comerica Park and is tops among all American League clubs with a .696 winning percentage at home in 2010.
WINNING OVER THE WEST: The Tigers have compiled a 35-27 record against clubs from the American League’s West Division since the start of the 2009 season. Detroit’s .565 winning percentage against the American League’s West Division is second-best among league clubs since the start of the 2009 season. The Yankees have compiled a 38-22 record, a .633 winning percentage, versus the American League’s West Division.
MIGGY AT HIS BEST AGAINST THE WEST: Miguel Cabrera enters this evening’s game versus the Rangers batting .357 (148x414) with 80 runs scored, 36 doubles, a triple, 27 home runs and 105 RBI in 107 games against clubs from the American League’s West Division during his career. He is tops among all active major league players with a .357 batting average and .647 slugging percentage versus the American League’s West Division.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE VERSUS RANGERS: Magglio Ordonez enters tonight’s game versus Texas hitting .346 (117x338) with 63 runs scored, 24 doubles, 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 91 games during his career against the club. He is tied for second among all active major league players with a .346 batting average against Texas, while he is ninth with a .568 slugging percentage and 10th with a .411 on-base percentage.
PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has converted each of his last 19 save opportunities for the Tigers, tied for the seventh-longest such single-season streak in franchise history. Additionally, he has held opponents scoreless in 37 of his 41 outings this season. Valverde is second among all American League relievers with a .139 batting average against, while he is third with a 1.11 ERA and 10th with 19 saves.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled an 18-10 record and 3.41 ERA (282.2IP/107ER) through the club’s first 91 games this season. Tigers relievers are second in the American League with 18 victories, while the club is fourth with a 3.41 ERA.
AVILA SLOWS THE RUNNING GAME: Alex Avila enters tonight’s game versus Texas having thrown out 37.5 percent of baserunners attempting to steal (12x32) this season, tops among all American League catchers.
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 54 runs scored and 101 hits, while he is second with a .304 batting average. Boesch is tops among all league rookies with a .325 batting average, 12 home runs and 50 RBI, while he is second with 86 hits.
GETTING AN ASSIST FROM THE OUTFIELD: Brennan Boesch threw out Cleveland’s Trevor Crowe at second base in Saturday afternoon’s game at Progressive Field, marking the club’s 18th outfield assist this season. The Tigers are tied for second among all American League clubs with 18 outfield assists in 2010. Magglio Ordonez is tied for the lead among all league outfielders with seven outfield assists this season.
FRAZIER TABBED IL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Triple A Toledo outfielder Jeff Frazier was selected the International League Player of the Week for July 12-18. He hit .571 (8x14) with a double, three home runs and six RBI in four games during the week.
INJURY UPDATE: 3B Brandon Inge (non-displaced fracture of fifth metacarpal in left hand, 15-day DL on July 20), (out 4 to 6 weeks)
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)• Wednessday, July 21TIGERS (RHP
Max Scherzer (6-7, 4.74 ERA))
VS RANGERS (RHP
Colby Lewis (9-5, 3.42 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Thursday, July 22TIGERS (RHP
Justin Verlander (11-5, 3.86 ERA))
VS Blue Jays (LHP
Ricky Romero (7-6, 3.50 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Friday, July 23TIGERS (RHP
Rick Porcello (4-7, 5.63 ERA))
VS Blue Jays (RHP
Shaun Marcum (8-4, 3.36 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Saturday, July 24TIGERS (RHP
Jeremy Bonderman (5-6, 4.98 ERA))
VS Blue Jays (LHP
Brett Cecil (8-5, 3.99 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Sunday, July 25TIGERS (RHP
Armando Galarraga (3-2, 4.45 ERA))
VS Blue Jays (RHP
Jesse Litsch (0-4, 6.54 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)
Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:01 pm
out swinging. 
