GDT: 9/9/11 - DET (81-62) VS MIN (59-84) - 7:05 p.m. ET ---
VS ---
Detroit Tigers VS Minnesota TwinsFriday, September 9, 2011
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT REMEMBERING SPARKYThe Tigers are wearing a patch on their right
sleeves this season in the shape of a home
plate emblazoned with the name SPARKY, to
honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky
Anderson who passed away on November 4,
2010. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Red-hot Tigers return home for set against TwinsBy Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 9/7/2011 4:11 PM ET
The Tigers still have plenty of time to parse the playoff matchups and figure out where they stand in the grand scheme of things. For now, they have other business to handle. Detroit has built a sturdy lead in the American League Central and will try to maintain it Friday against Minnesota.
"It's too early," utility man Don Kelly said. "You can't start looking towards the end. ... Every game is still important -- especially when you're playing the teams that are right behind you -- but no matter what, we have to take care of our business and go out and win and play good baseball. At the end, you can look back and see at the end of the season what's going on."
That deliberate mindset has served Detroit well, especially over the last few weeks. The Tigers gained sole possession of first place on July 21, and they led by as few as two games as recently as Aug. 17. Detroit has gone 16-4 in its last 20 games, though, to pad the lead.
Still, the Tigers know there's still plenty of time left in the season. Detroit boasts the best winning percentage (.656) of any AL club against its division opponents, and the Tigers will play AL Central teams in 11 of their final 19 games. Six of those games will take place at Comerica Park.
"We're in the driver's seat," Kelly said. "We just have to take care of our business, go out there and just continue to win ballgames."
The Tigers will start veteran Brad Penny -- who's battling for a spot on the postseason roster -- against Minnesota's Kevin Slowey in Friday's series opener. Penny has gone 3-4 with a 6.49 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break, and he's 4-4 with a 5.19 mark at home this season.
Slowey, who missed two months of the season due to an abdominal strain, has made just 10 appearances this year. The right-hander is 0-4 with a 5.31 ERA.
Twins: Nathan finding old grooveThe Twins have had a difficult year, but they've seen some impressive work from Joe Nathan in recent weeks. The veteran reliever has converted nine straight save opportunities since taking over closer duties, and he's held opponents to a .200 batting average in the second half.
Nathan became the team's all-time save leader last month, and he has 258 saves in seven years with Minnesota. The right-hander has a 2.49 ERA at home and a 7.94 mark on the road this year.
Tigers: V-Mart motoring toward postseasonVictor Martinez went into Wednesday's game as the only big league player with at least 80 RBIs and fewer than 10 home runs, but he doesn't hold that distinction any more. V-Mart, in his first year with the Tigers, delivered a grand slam as part of Detroit's victory over his old team, the Indians.
Martinez, who now has 10 homers and 89 RBIs, has only played in the postseason twice in his career. The four-time All-Star was productive in the playoffs for Cleveland in 2007, but he batted .182 in three games for the Red Sox in 2009. Now, he's on the verge of another chance.
"As a team, we have to feel great, I'm not going to lie to you," Martinez said. "At the same time, we still have some work to do, and you just don't know what can happen. This is baseball. That's why you never take anything for granted. Keep battling 'til the end and see what happens."
Worth noting• Kelly has played every position but second base and shortstop for Detroit this year.
• The Tigers are 10-3 so far in a stretch of 19 consecutive games against division opponents.
• Detroit closer Jose Valverde, who earned the save Wednesday, is a perfect 42-for-42 in save chances this season.
Tigers: RHP Brad Penny (9-10, 5.13 ERA)Penny labored through 95-degree heat Saturday, allowing eight White Sox runs on 10 hits over five innings. He'll likely have cooler temperatures for his return to Comerica Park, looking for his first home win since July 17.
Twins: RHP Kevin Slowey (0-4, 5.31 ERA)Slowey has been impressive in each of his past two starts, allowing just four runs over his last 14 innings against the White Sox and Angels. But the right-hander has yet to pick up a win this year, as he is 0-4 in his four starts.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Indians 8-6 on Wednesday afternoon, the club’s sixth straight win. Justin Verlander (22-5) earned the win for Detroit, while Jose Valverde closed out the game for his 42nd save of the season. Victor Martinez led the Tigers with a double, home run and four RBI, while Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila both finished with two hits and an RBI. The Tigers begin a three-game series with the Twins this evening. Following Sunday afternoon’s game, the club hits the road for a nine-game trip to Chicago, Oakland and Kansas City beginning on Monday evening.
BOESCH PLACED ON DISABLED LIST: The Tigers today placed outfielder Brennan Boesch on the 15-day disabled list following right thumb surgery. He underwent surgery on September 6 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, a procedure performed by Dr. Thomas Graham at the Cleveland Clinic.
PICKING UP WINS: The Tigers enter tonight’s game versus Minnesota having won 16 of the club’s last 20 games dating back to August 19, an .800 winning percentage. Detroit is tops among all major league clubs with an .800 winning percentage during that stretch.
CENTRAL FOCUS: Tonight’s game versus Minnesota marks the 14th game in a stretch in which the Tigers play 19 straight games against opponents in the American League Central Division. Of Detroit’s final 19 games of the season, 11 are versus teams in the American League Central Division. The Tigers are 40-21 against clubs from the American League Central Division this season, a .656 winning percentage. Detroit is tops among all American League clubs with the .656 winning percentage against the division.
WINNING WAYS VERSUS MINNESOTA: The Tigers enter this evening’s game having won 15 of the club’s last 19 games against the Twins dating back to September 2, 2010.
RISP MANAGEMENT: Detroit is hitting .333 (85x255) with runners in scoring position dating back to August 11, second-best among American League clubs during that stretch. The Tigers are tops among all league clubs with a .284 batting average with runners in scoring position this season.
PILING UP THE HITS: The Tigers have collected 10-or-more hits in 11 of the club’s last 13 games dating back to August 26. Detroit is tops among all American League clubs with a .328 batting average (156x475) during that stretch.
REACHING BASE REGULARLY: Miguel Cabrera has reached base safely in a career-best 34 consecutive games dating back August 2, hitting .391 (52x133) with 14 doubles, four home runs and 27 RBI during the stretch. The 34-game streak is the longest by a Tigers player since Damion Easley also reached base in 34 consecutive games for the club April 21-May 30, 1998. The last Tigers player with a longer streak of reaching base safely was Chad Curtis, who reached base safely in 41 straight games June 14-July 29, 1995.
VALVERDE’S CONVERTING SAVES: Jose Valverde converted his 42nd consecutive save to begin the season on Wednesday at Cleveland. His 42 straight saves converted is the longest such streak during a single season in Tigers history. His streak surpasses Guillermo Hernandez who converted 32 straight save opportunities April 6-September 23, 1984.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 2.28 ERA (102.2IP/26ER) and 94 strikeouts over the club’s last 33 games dating back to August 4. During the 33-game stretch, club relievers have limited opponents to a .209 batting average (76x363).
PAPA GRANDE TIES CLUB SAVES RECORD: Jose Valverde recorded his 42nd save of the season on Wednesday against Cleveland, matching Todd Jones for the team’s single season record. Jones recorded 42 saves for the Tigers during the 2000 season.
JACKSON CLOSING IN ON A QUADRUPLE DOUBLE: Austin Jackson legged out his 10th and 11th triples of the season on Saturday against Chicago and he is now one home run shy of reaching double digits in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases this season. It would mark the 18th time a Tigers player has posted double-digits totals in those four categories and the first time since Curtis Granderson did so in both 2007 and 2008.
NOTES ON THE SKIPPER: Jim Leyland is in his sixth season as the manager of the Tigers, compiling a 505-449 record (.529).
- Leyland registered the 1,500th win of his major league career on April 15 at Oakland, becoming just the 19th manager in major league history to accomplish the feat. He is second among all active major league managers with 1,574 wins.
- Tonight’s game marks the 3,157th game Leyland has managed during his career, tying him with Ralph Houk for 15th place all-time in major league history.
- He registered the 500th victory of his Tigers career on September 2 versus Chicago, becoming the fifth manager in Tigers history to register 500 victories with the club.
LENNERTON EARNS FSL HONORS: Single A Lakeland first baseman Jordan Lennerton was tabbed the TOPPS Florida State League Player of the Month for August and he was selected the league’s player of the week for August 29-September 5.
INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
60-day DL on May 11)
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To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet MLB.TV Gameday Audio•
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Official Press Pass game notesOn television•
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Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) • Saturday, September 10: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (14-8, 4.33 ERA))
VS Twins (RHP
Anthony Swarzak (3-6, 3.95 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, September 11: Tigers (RHP
Doug Fister (7-13, 3.17 ERA))
VS Twins (LHP
Scott Diamond (1-3, 4.56 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)