GDT: 8/8/10 - DET (53-57) VS LAA (56-56) - 1:05 p.m. ET
Ty Cobb quote: "When I played ball, I didn't play for fun. . . . It's no pink tea, and mollycoddles had better stay out. It's a contest and everything that implies, a struggle for supremacy, a survival of the fittest."
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Detroit Tigers VS Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimAugust 8, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 1:05 p.m. EDT
This game dedicated to the late, great Ernie Harwell.
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For whom the Bell tolls? Angels eyeing sweepBy Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
The Angels have a chance to do something on Sunday that they haven't done in nearly two months.
A three-game sweep over the Tigers is in sight for the Angels, who haven't swept a club since beating the Dodgers three straight times at Dodger Stadium from June 11-13.
The Angels turn to young right-hander Trevor Bell, while the Tigers counter with a young right-hander of their own in Rick Porcello.
Both pitchers have struggled a bit this season. Bell, 23, has a 5.90 ERA, and Porcello, 21, has an almost identical 5.91 mark -- but both have started to settle in recently.
Bell, who will be making just his third start of the season, was solid in his previous outing on Tuesday against the Orioles. He allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings, but he was saddled with a no-decision. His effort, however, didn't go unnoticed by Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
"I thought Trevor was outstanding," Scioscia said. "It's not easy sometimes when you've been in the 'pen for a while and you're trying to get stretched out again, but you couldn't have asked for anything more than Trevor showed."
It was a big improvement from his previous start, when he gave up four runs on eight hits over just 3 1/3 innings against the Rangers. Bell said the key was staying ahead of hitters against the Orioles, and it will be his plan yet again on Sunday against the Tigers.
"I looked at my last start in Texas. I was throwing breaking balls in counts where I'd normally throw fastballs," Bell said. "I was a lot more aggressive. That's how I am as a pitcher."
The key for Porcello was his control in his prior outing, as he located early but missed his spots as the game went along. The White Sox made him pay with eight hits and two walks, leading to seven runs.
"The first two innings, he got ahead and he made his pitches to get quick outs," said Tigers catcher Gerald Laird. "And then after the second inning, he just kind of lost it and lost his command, and that's basically it."
Angels: Hunter serving suspensionThe Angels will be without right fielder Torii Hunter for the second consecutive game on Sunday, as he was suspended for four games for his outburst during Friday's contest.
"I wasn't shocked," Hunter said. "I threw baseballs on the field and said some crazy things. Some things were said on both sides. My actions were pretty bad, and I've got to pay the consequences."
Tigers: Leyland thrilled to return next seasonTigers manager Jim Leyland was happy to hear that he will return as the Tigers manager next season after getting a vote of confidence from owner Mike Illitch.
"I plan on being back," Leyland said. "I'm certainly thrilled that I'm going to be."
Worth notingAngels right-hander Rich Thompson was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with right shoulder inflammation and Scott Kazmir was recalled in his place. Kazmir started on Saturday and allowed just one run over five innings to pick up the victory in a 10-1 win.
... Tigers catcher Alex Avila avoided a freak injury on Friday when he fell down the staircase in the dugout at Comerica Park, getting up without any bumps or scratches.
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Pitching matchupTIGERS: RHP Rick Porcello (4-10, 5.91 ERA)Porcello has had what manager Jim Leyland called his best stuff and his worst stuff since returning to the big leagues in his last two outings. His secondary pitches, including the slider, will likely be the key to his fortunes against the Angels.
Angels: RHP Trevor Bell (1-2, 5.90 ERA)This is Bell's second straight start after a strong 5 1/3-inning effort last Tuesday against the Orioles. He found success with his fastball and pitched in the aggressive manner he needs to remain tough to hit.
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From MLB Tigers Game Notes
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 10-1 loss to the Angels last night at Comerica Park, the club’s fourth straight loss. Jeremy Bonderman (6-7) took the loss for Detroit after allowing four runs in 4.1 innings of work. Austin Jackson, Ramon Santiago, Miguel Cabrera and Jeff Frazier all finished with a hit for the Tigers, while
Ryan Raburn drove in the club’s lone run of the contest. The Tigers continue a 10-game homestand with the final game of a three-game series against the Angels this afternoon. The club concludes the homestand with a three-game series versus the Rays beginning tomorrow night.
MIGGY AT HIS BEST AGAINST THE WEST: Miguel Cabrera enters this afternoon’s game versus the Angels batting .358 (152x425) with 81 runs scored, 38 doubles, a triple, 27 home runs and 106 RBI in 111 games against clubs from the American League’s West Division during his career. He is tops among all active major league players with a .358 batting average and .642 slugging percentage versus the American League’s West Division.
PERALTA PACKS A PUNCH AGAINST THE ANGELS: Jhonny Peralta enters today’s game versus the Angels hitting .337 (59x175) with 31 runs scored, 12 doubles, nine home runs and 29 RBI in 47 games during his career against the club. He is third among all active major league players with a .337 batting average versus the Angels, while he is tied for sixth with a .560 slugging percentage.
MIGGY THE MAN AT HOME: Miguel Cabrera enters today’s game versus the Angels having hit safely in 20 of his last 23 games at Comerica Park dating back to June 19. During the 23-game stretch at home, he is hitting .397 (31x78) with 16 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 19 RBI. Cabrera is fourth among all American League players with a .343 batting average (69x201) at home this season.
CABRERA KEEPS ON HITTING: Miguel Cabrera enters today’s game versus the Angels hitting .361 (61x169) with 34 runs scored, 19 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 40 RBI over his last 49 games dating back to June 12. Cabrera is third among all American League players with a .361 batting average and 19 doubles during that stretch, while he is tied for fourth with 40 RBI.PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has converted each of his last 21 save opportunities for the Tigers, tied for the fifth-longest such single-season streak in franchise history. He is fourth among all American League relievers with a .167 batting average against this season, while he is tied for eighth with 21 saves.
COKE PROVIDES RELIEF: Phil Coke enters today’s game versus the Angels with a 3-2 record and 1.27 ERA (21.1IP/3ER) over his last 27 outings dating back to June 3. He is tied for second among all American League relievers with six wins this season.
AUSTIN ADDING UP THE HITS: Austin Jackson finished with one hit last night versus the Angels to bring his season hit total to 125. His 125 hits mark the most in a single season by a Tigers rookie since Matt Nokes collected 133 hits during the 1987 season.WINNING WAYS AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers enter today’s game versus the Angels having won 21 of the club’s last 33 games at home dating back to June 2. For the season, Detroit has compiled a 36-22 record at Comerica Park and is fifth among all American League clubs with a .621 winning percentage at home in 2010.
GLOVE WORK: Over the club’s last 15 games dating back to July 25, the Tigers have compiled a .993 fielding percentage (538TC/4E). Detroit is tops among all American League clubs with a .993 fielding percentage during that stretch.STOPPING THE RUNNING GAME: Tigers catchers have caught seven of the last 12 runners attempting to steal over the clubs’ last nine games dating back to July 30. Detroit catchers have combined to throw out 31.7 percent of runners attempting to steal (33x104) this season, second-best in the American League.
GUILLEN JOINS WEST MICHIGAN ON INJURY REHAB ASSIGNMENT: Carlos Guillen
joined Single A West Michigan to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment on Friday. In two games with the Whitecaps, he is hitting .333 (2x6) with a walk. Guillen has been sidelined with a right calf strain since July 25.
FIVE CONNECTICUT PLAYERS SELECTED TO NYPL ALL-STAR SQUAD: The following
five players with Single A Connecticut have been selected to the New York-Penn League’s mid-season all-star squad: catcher Julio Rodriguez, first baseman James Robbins, infielder Matt Perry and outfielders Ryan Enos and P.J. Polk.INJURY UPDATE: •
2B Carlos Guillen (right calf strain,
15-day DL on July 25),
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RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis,
60-day DL on March 26),
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OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture,
15-day DL on July 25),
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LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain,
60-day DL on March 26),
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INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel,
15-day DL on August 4),
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RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon,
60-day DL on June 29).
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Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Monday, August 9, TIGERS (RHP
Armando Galarraga (3-4, 4.32 ERA))
VS RAYS (LHP
David Price (14-5, 2.82 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Tuesday, August 10, TIGERS (RHP
Max Scherzer (7-8, 4.19 ERA))
VS RAYS (RHP
Wade Davis (9-9, 4.45 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Wednesday, August 11, TIGERS (RHP
Justin Verlander (12-7, 3.81 ERA))
VS RAYS (RHP
Matt Garza (11-6, 3.88 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)
Sun Aug 08, 2010 11:29 am
out swinging.