GDT: 9/21/10 - DET (76-74) VS KC (61-88) - 7:05 p.m. ET ---
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Detroit Tigers VS Kansas City RoyalsTuesday, September 21, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDTThis season dedicated to the late, great Ernie Harwell.
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Galarraga, Chen to face off at ComericaBy Jesse Sanchez / MLB.comThe season is not lost in Detroit.
The Tigers are using their present to evaluate their future.
"That's one nice thing about having young players at this time of the year," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "They're trying to earn their keep. They're trying to show you something. They're trying to make an impression for the future."
So far, so good. The Tigers have received 480 hits from rookies this season, the most in 56 years. The 1929 team set the record with 590 hits from its rookies.
And the hits keep coming.
Rookie infielder Will Rhymes and catcher Alex Avila each hit a home run in Monday's 7-5 victory against the Royals. Avila is 7-for-13 over the past week, and rookie Brennan Boesch is 5-for-10 in last four games. The club is also taking a look at rookie infielder Scott Sizemore.
"That's a good thing," Leyland said. "That, for certain, can keep a club going."
It will be up to Kansas City starter Bruce Chen to keep the young Tigers in check. In his last start, Chen picked up his 10th victory after giving up three runs in five innings against the A's. He's 1-1 with a no-decision in four starts against the Tigers this season.
Detroit's Armando Galarraga is looking to bounce back. He was originally supposed to be skipped for a turn to rest his elbow, but made a spot start for Rick Porcello last week at Texas. The results were not pretty. Galarraga gave up seven earned runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.
"He just didn't have it," Leyland said.
Royals: Getz timetable pushed backChris Getz, who suffered a concussion on Sept. 12 when he was hit in the head by the ball while sliding into second base, felt fine during a clubhouse workout but felt dizziness in a workout on the field. The timetable for his return has been pushed back.
... Kanekoa Texeira (strained right elbow) threw a simulated game at Comerica Park on Monday afternoon and could rejoin the Royals' bullpen after the three-game series against the Tigers.
... Joakim Soria has not allowed a run in 20 innings and is 2 1/3 scoreless innings away from setting the club record. He has a save in 39 of the club's 61 victories.
Tigers: Valverde has MRIMiguel Cabrera was in the lineup on Monday after a 1-for-15, six-strikeout performance over three games against the White Sox. He went 1-for-4.
... Closer Jose Valverde had a MRI on his elbow on Monday. It's unclear if he will pitch again this season.
... The Tigers have won four games in a row and are 17-6 against the division in their last 23 games.
... The pitchers have registered a quality start in 19 of their last 29 games since Aug. 20. They are 14-3 during that stretch.
Worth notingThe Tigers have won 48 games at home this season, three victories shy of the record set last season.
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Detroit rookie Austin Jackson has scored 28 runs over his last 30 games and leads all AL rookies with 98 runs scored. He is on track to be the sixth Tigers rookie and the first since Barney McCoskey (1939) to score at least 100 runs. ______________________________________
Pitching matchupTIGERS: RHP Armando Galarraga (4-6, 4.27 ERA)Galarraga was originally supposed to be skipped for a turn to rest his elbow, but had to make a spot start for Rick Porcello last week at Texas. He gave up seven earned runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings, ending a dominant month-long stretch.
ROYALS: LHP Bruce Chen (10-7, 4.70 ERA)Chen got his 10th victory in his 20th start as Gil Meche's replacement. Chen went five innings against the A's and gave up three runs. This will be his fourth start this year against Detroit; so far he's 1-1 with a no-decision.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Royals 7-5 last night, the club’s fourth straight win. Brad Thomas (6-2) earned the win for Detroit, while Phil Coke closed out the game for his second save. Alex Avila led the Tigers with three hits, including a home run, and three RBI, while Will Rhymes belted a home run and drove in two runs. The Tigers continue their final homestand of the season with the second game of a three-game series against Kansas City this evening. Following an off day on Thursday, Detroit concludes the homestand with a three-game series versus Minnesota beginning on Friday night.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Tigers continue a six-game homestand this evening against the Royals at Comerica Park, where the club has posted an 11-4 record in the club’s last 15 games. The Tigers are batting .307 (160x522) with 89 runs scored, 32 doubles, three triples and 10 home runs during the 15-game stretch. Detroit pitchers have compiled a 2.40 ERA (139.0IP/37ER) during the stretch.
CENTRAL FOCUS: The Tigers continue a 12-game stretch this evening versus Kansas City in which all of the club’s games are against opponents from the American League’s Central Division. Detroit has posted a 17-6 record in the last 23 games against the division after the club compiled a 17-24 record in the first 41 games against the division this season.
LOOKING FOR A RECORD: The Tigers have won 48 games at home this season, three wins shy of matching the Comerica Park record of 51 wins, established in 2009.
STARTING WELL: Tigers starting pitchers have registered a quality start in 19 of the club’s last 29 games dating back to August 20. During the 29-game stretch, Detroit’s starting pitchers have compiled a 14-3 record and 3.10 ERA (197.2IP/68ER).
GETTING A GOOD START AT HOME: Tigers starting pitchers have recorded a quality start in 13 of the club’s last 16 games at Comerica Park dating back to August 10. Club starters have compiled a 10-2 record and 2.43 ERA (111.0IP/30ER) during the stretch.
OFFENSE ON THE UPTICK: Tigers hitters are batting .283 (313x1107) with 179 runs scored, 60 doubles, nine triples and 31 home runs over the club’s last 30 games dating back to August 19. Detroit leads all American League clubs with 179 runs scored, 313 hits and 60 doubles during that stretch, while the club is second with a .283 batting average.
RHYMES GOES YARD FOR THE TIGERS: Will Rhymes connected for his first major league home run last night versus Kansas City, a two-run shot in the sixth inning off Zack Greinke. He became the seventh Tigers rookie to hit a home run for the club this season, making Detroit the only major league club with home runs from as many rookies in 2010. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)MIGGY’S THE MAN AGAINST CHEN: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game versus Kansas City hitting .583 (7x12) with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI during his career against tonight’s starter Bruce Chen. Cabrera is second among active major league players with at least 15 plate appearances against Chen with a .513 batting average.
JACKSON CLOSING IN ON RARE ROOKIE TERRITORY: With two more runs scored, Austin Jackson would become just the ninth player in major league history since 1901 to collect at least 100 runs scored, 170 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples and 20 stolen bases as a rookie. Jackson would join Joe Jackson (1911), Roy Johnson (1929), Evar Swanson (1929), Barney McCosky (1939), Minnie Minoso (1951), Juan Samuel (1984), Nomar Garciaparra (1997) and Hanley Ramirez (2006) in accomplishing the feat.
RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters tonight’s game versus the Royals hitting .338 (52x154) with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 33 RBI over his last 40 games dating back to August 5. He is tops among all American League players with 25 extra-base hits during the stretch, while he is tied for the lead with 14 doubles, is second with a .643 slugging percentage, tied for second with 33 RBI, tied for third with 11 home runs, tied for fifth with 52 hits and is seventh with a .338 batting average.
ROOKIE HIT PARADE: Tigers rookie hitters collected six hits last night against the Royals, raising the season total to 481 hits by Tigers rookies. The 481 hits by rookies are the most by Tigers rookies since the rookies on the 1929 club established the franchise record with 590 hits. (Source: STATS LLC)
CABRERA APPROACHES AL RECORD FOR INTENTIONAL WALKS: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game versus Kansas City with 30 intentional walks to lead the American League. With four more intentional walks, Cabrera would match Ted Williams’ American League record of 34 intentional walks during the 1957 season. Intentional walks first became a recognized statistic in Major League Baseball during the 1955 season.
JACKSON PILING UP THE RUNS: Austin Jackson has scored 29 runs over his last 29 games and he leads all American League rookies with 98 runs scored this season. With two more runs scored, Jackson will become just the sixth rookie in Tigers history to score at least 100 runs and the first since Barney McCosky scored 120 runs in 1939.INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Zach Miner (Partial tear in right elbow,
60-day DL on March 26, Had successful Tommy John surgery May 28,
Out for Season),
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LHP Bobby Seay (Torn rotator cuff,
60-day DL on March 26, surgery on September 15,
Out for Season),
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OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture,
15-day DL on July 25, Had surgery surgery Aug. 25,
Out for Season),
•
INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel,
15-day DL on August 4,
Out for Season),
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RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon,
60-day DL on June 29, Underwent elbow surgery July 12,
Out for Season).
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Carlos Guillen (Bruised left knee,
15-day DL on August 23,
Out for Season)
Out for Season
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Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Wednesday, September 22, TIGERS (RHP
Max Scherzer (11-10, 3.54 ERA))
VS ROYALS (RHP
Kyle Davies (8-10, 5.08 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Friday, September 23, OFF DAY• Friday, September 24, TIGERS (RHP
Justin Verlander (17-8, 3.46 ERA))
VS TWINS (LHP
Francisco Liriano (14-8, 3.44 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Saturday, September 25, TIGERS (RHP
Jeremy Bonderman (8-9, 4.92 ERA))
VS TWINS (RHP
Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.60 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)