GDT: 7/26/10 - DET (51-46) AT TB (59-38) - 7:10 p.m. ET

Tigers aren't going to find sympathy from Rays

By Bailey Stephens / MLB.com

The injury-laden Tigers don't have much time to recoup after a series with the Blue Jays left them bruised.

After losing Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez to the disabled list, Detroit can only look ahead as it treks to Tampa Bay for a four-game series beginning on Monday. The Tigers lost Ordonez to a fractured right ankle on Saturday, and then lost Guillen to a strained right calf just two innings later. Detroit's injury woes were intensified by the concurrent loss of third baseman Brandon Inge, who broke a bone in his hand and went on the disabled list on July 19.

"My heart is broken for Magglio and Carlos, but I have to move on," manager Jim Leyland said. "If I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself, then the team is going to do the same thing. I'm going to go out and try to pump them up and give them a chance to play."

The Tigers purchased the contracts of corner infielder Jeff Larish and middle infielder Will Rhymes from Triple-A Toledo. Rhymes made his Major League debut -- striking out swinging -- when he pinch-hit in the ninth inning of the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.

The suddenly much-younger Tigers will have enough of a challenge in facing Matt Garza, one of the Rays' front-line starters. Garza had a very rare subpar start last time out against Orioles that saw him allow seven runs over 6 1/3 innings. He knows how vital it is to remain on track for the Rays as they chase the Yanks in the American League East.

"I've got to rebound from my last start," Garza said. "Get going in the right direction again. I've had a weird season and I'm trying to close out these last two months on a high note. I've got to get back in the zone and do what I did in April and May."

Detroit, though, has handled Garza in the past. Tampa Bay's young right-hander is 0-4 with a 5.85 ERA in six career starts against the Tigers. But Garza is plenty rested and geared up for Detroit this time.

"I know I feel good and [know] what I'm capable of doing," he said. "I know what I want to do against the Tigers, so I'm going in prepared and confident, saying, 'Let's go, let's get 'em.'"

Tigers: Road win would be milestone for Scherzer
Detroit starter Max Scherzer will be trying to do something he hasn't done in some time -- win away from Comerica Park. The right-hander -- who was in the Minors from May 16-July 14 -- hasn't won a game on the road since April 18, when he beat the Mariners. But in his past three starts, Scherzer is 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 18 strikeouts. In his last start, he tossed a seven-inning shutout at the Rangers to get the win. "He's using his other pitches to go along with that excellent fastball," Leyland said. "The velocity is better. The offspeed pitches are better. The slider is better and the changeup is very good, and he's using them all." With his secondary pitches improved, Scherzer's next goal is to secure that elusive road victory.

Rays: Garza not afraid to walk Cabrera
Miguel Cabrera may have less protection around him in the Tigers' lineup at the moment, but he's been putting up colossal numbers at the plate all season. The Rays definitely have their eyes set on Cabrera, especially Garza. "He's vying for that Triple Crown, and I'm going to try and put up a road block, that's all I can say. Don't try to get him out all the time, just contain him. With Mags [Ordonez] going down, there's less protection there for him. So it's like ... he might be taking that base [walking]. He's a real dangerous hitter, so obviously you have to be cautious. But you can't be too cautious."

Worth noting
Austin Jackson stayed hot in both games of the doubleheader, hitting a triple in each game.

... The Rays are 16-8 against teams from the American League Central this season.

... Detroit released Billy Buckner and designated Casey Fien for assignment.

... B.J. Upton didn't start for the Rays Sunday, but he entered the game as a defensive replacement.

... Tampa Bay closer Rafael Soriano recorded save No. 26 of the season in a 4-2 win over the Indians

... The Rays had lost 18 straight games at Cleveland before Sunday's series finale. Tampa Bay is 33-18 on the road, the best record in the Majors.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (7-7, 4.43 ERA)
Scherzer has won all six of his home starts since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo in May, but he's 0-3 in four road starts in that same span. In fact, he hasn't won away from Comerica Park since beating the Mariners on April 18 at Safeco Field.

RAYS: RHP Matt Garza (10-5, 4.36 ERA)
Garza got a no-decision in his last outing Tuesday at Baltimore after allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. Garza is 0-4 with a 5.85 ERA in six career starts against the Tigers; he is 17-10 with a 3.31 ERA in 42 career appearances at Tropicana Field.


From MLB Tigers Game Notes


INJURY UPDATE:
• 2B Carlos Guillen (right calf strain, 15-day DL on July 25),
• 3B Brandon Inge (non-displaced fracture of fifth metacarpal in left hand, 15-day DL on July 20), (OUT FOR 4-6 WEEKS)
• RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25), (OUT FOR 6-8 WEEKS)
• 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)


• Tuesday, July 27
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (12-5, 3.76 ERA)) AT Rays (RHP James Shields (8-9, 4.90 ERA)), 7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Wednesday, July 28
TIGERS (RHP Eddie Bonine (4-0, 2.72 ERA)) AT Rays (RHP Jeff Niemann (8-3, 2.95 ERA)), 7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Thursday, July 29,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (4-8, 5.55 ERA)) AT Rays (LHP David Price (13-5, 2.90 ERA)), 12:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .318
Rhymes, 2B .000
Damon, DH .282
Cabrera, M, 1B .350
Boesch, RF .312
Raburn, LF .208
Kelly, 3B .211
Laird, C .185
Worth, SS .255
Totals .272

Tampa Bay AVG
Zobrist, RF .273
Crawford, LF .311
Longoria, 3B .296
Pena, C, 1B .207
Joyce, DH .226
Bartlett, SS .241
Brignac, R, 2B .282
Upton, B, CF .228
Shoppach, C .203
Totals .256

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Will Rhymes flies out to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Johnny Damon lines out to shortstop Jason Bartlett.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Ben Zobrist grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Carl Crawford lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Evan Longoria flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch walks.


B:1 S:1 O:3 - Ryan Raburn grounds into double play,
third baseman Evan Longoria to second baseman Reid Brignac to first
baseman Carlos Pena. Brennan Boesch out at 2nd.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Pena out on foul tip.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Matt Joyce grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Bartlett out on foul tip.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Carl Crawford.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird out swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Danny Worth lines out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.

0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Reid Brignac flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
B. J. Upton walks.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
With Kelly Shoppach batting, B. J. Upton steals (27) 2nd base. (he was tagged out but called safe... grrrr)



B:2 S:1 O:1 -
On-field Delay.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland ejected by 2B umpire Marty Foster.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Kelly Shoppach called out on .


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Ben Zobrist batting, wild pitch by Max Scherzer, B. J. Upton to 3rd.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ben Zobrist pops out to catcher Gerald Laird in foul territory.


0-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, first baseman Carlos Pena to pitcher Matt Garza.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Johnny Damon grounds out, second baseman Reid Brignac to first baseman Carlos Pena.

0-0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carl Crawford flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Evan Longoria out on foul tip.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Carlos Pena grounds out, shortstop Danny Worth to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch pops out to shortstop Jason Bartlett.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.

0-0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Matt Joyce out on foul tip.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Bartlett walks.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
With Reid Brignac batting, Jason Bartlett steals (8) 2nd base.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Reid Brignac lines out softly to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
With B. J. Upton batting, Jason Bartlett steals (9) 3rd base.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
B. J. Upton called out on .

0-0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Don Kelly grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Danny Worth flies out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.

0-0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach out swinging.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ben Zobrist walks.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Carl Crawford reaches on catcher interference by Gerald Laird. Ben Zobrist to 2nd. Carl Crawford to 1st.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Evan Longoria walks. Ben Zobrist to 3rd. Carl Crawford to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Pena out swinging.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Matt Joyce hits a grand slam (3) to right field. Ben Zobrist scores. Carl Crawford scores. Evan Longoria scores.

TB 4, DET 0





B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bartlett singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Brad Thomas replaces Max Scherzer.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Reid Brignac out swinging.

TB 4, DET 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder B. Upton.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, second baseman Reid Brignac to first baseman Carlos Pena.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Johnny Damon flies out to center fielder B. Upton.

TB 4, DET 0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Enrique Gonzalez replaces Brad Thomas.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
B. J. Upton called out on .


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Kelly Shoppach out swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ben Zobrist grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

TB 4, DET 0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera lines out to left fielder Carl Crawford.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch called out on .


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

TB 4, DET 0 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Carl Crawford homers (12) on a fly ball to center field.

TB 5, DET 0



B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Evan Longoria grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Pena grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Enrique Gonzalez.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Matt Joyce called out on .

TB 5, DET 0 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Don Kelly grounds out, second baseman Reid Brignac to first baseman Carlos Pena.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird called out on .


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago replaces Danny Worth.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.

TB 5, DET 0 final NO HITTER BOX SCORE > CLICK HERE <

1ST NO HITTER IN RAYS, AND GARZA'S, HISTORY.