GDT: 8/6/09 - DET (56-50) VS BAL (45-62) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Tigers vice president Al Avila doesn't look at his son's games as a fan, he says. The scout in him still is on as he watches Alex, from Little League to high school to college to the Minor Leagues.

Up until now, those games haven't been in the Majors. That's about to change.

"It's an exciting time," Al Avila said.

As recognizable as the Avila name is in baseball circles, from Ralph Avila and his legendary work for Latin American player development to Al and his front-office success in Florida and Detroit, those contributions were mainly off the field. But when Alex takes his spot behind the plate for starter Rick Porcello in Thursday afternoon's series finale against the Orioles, they'll have a big league player in the family.

The front-office man in Al Avila has to see a young catcher finally blossoming in the Tigers' farm system, going from a fifth-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft to the Major Leagues in just over a year. The parent, of course, sees his son and beams.

The son sees that, too.

"A lot of joy on his part," Alex Avila said, "and obviously on my part. He's really proud of me. This is something that I've wanted to do, really, putting my mind to it and making it a goal of mine since high school. I've been trying my best to achieve it. Actually achieving it, I know he's extremely proud."

The Tigers called up Avila from Double-A Erie after Tuesday's game, essentially replacing fellow young backstop Dusty Ryan with the idea of mixing in Avila with starter Gerald Laird. Usually, Detroit manager Jim Leyland likes to start young players as soon as they arrive, but he gave his new catcher a day to settle in and get ready for his assignment.

The irony is that it's a ballpark that was a second home to young Avila for several years, in a city that actually was a home for him for a time. When he stopped by the family house in suburban Detroit on Wednesday afternoon, having just arrived from Erie, his mom made him lunch.

Avila was 15 years old when his dad came to Detroit as an assistant under longtime colleague Dave Dombrowski. He spent parts of his summer around the ballpark, though he was away at times as part of traveling teams and then in wooden-bat summer leagues. Before that he was a regular around the Marlins.

Once Brandon Inge saw him again, this time in a Tigers uniform as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training this year, he recognized the impact that had made.

"You have to have the God-given ability," Inge said, "but you see how everything is done and you're relaxed, instead of jumpy. He's been able to understand. He's very relaxed in everything he does. It shows he's been around a big league clubhouse. He doesn't get intimidated by big league players. He's been around them his whole life."

That experience arguably helped him adjust to Minor League ball so quickly out of college. What was expected to be a major transition for him to catch in the pros actually came naturally, even though he converted to the position in college.

On the other hand, he also had the challenge of the recognizable name.

"My whole family's been in baseball," Avila said. "Any time I was on a Little League team, everybody knew who my dad was or my grandfather was. There's always that pressure, really at any level. I kind of felt that pressure. That comes with the territory."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (9-7, 4.36 ERA)
Porcello didn't get a win from his eight innings of four-hit, one-run ball Saturday at Cleveland, but he got an infusion of confidence. So did the Tigers, who had watched him go six straight outings without a quality start. He induced just six swings and misses out of his 91 pitches, but he drove his sinker into Indians bats for 16 ground balls, nearly twice the number of fly balls he got. It's an outing that looks huge in a Detroit rotation that now has three workhorse arms ahead of him. He'll face the Orioles for the first time in his career.

BAL: RHP David Hernandez (3-3, 3.28 ERA)
Facing the Red Sox lineup for the second time in one week, Hernandez struggled with command in his previous start on Saturday. The rookie lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits, but he issued four walks and gave up two home runs over the 23 batters he faced.

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Tidbits

... Avila will wear No. 13, a pretty strong catching number in Tigers lore, after Lance Parrish donned it. It was available once Detroit dealt Josh Anderson to Kansas City last week.
... Carlos Guillen said Wednesday he's throwing before games and remains on track to be ready for outfield play this weekend. However, he isn't making progress batting right-handed, which limits the switch-hitter to batting from the left side for the foreseeable future.
... Guillen is a .351 (51-for-145) career hitter against the Orioles over 43 games.
... Curtis Granderson's next stolen base will earn him his second 20-homer, 20-steal season in the past three years.
... Magglio Ordonez is batting .324 (11-for-34) over his past nine games with three doubles, a home run and two RBIs.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Friday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-10, 5.22 ERA) vs. Twins (Anthony Swarzak, 3-4, 4.25 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (TBD) vs. Twins (Glen Perkins, 6-7, 5.95 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 2.93 ERA) vs. Twins (TBD), 1:05 p.m. ET

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brian Roberts flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Nolan Reimold pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Nick Markakis grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Nolan Reimold.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Robert Andino to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to first baseman Aubrey Huff in foul territory.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Ty Wigginton strikes out swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Luke Scott walks.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Matt Wieters flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

0-0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half
B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to right fielder Nick Markakis.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to left fielder Nolan Reimold.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge homers (22) on a line drive to left field. Magglio Ordonez scores.
DET 2, BAL 0

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Alex Avila called out on strikes.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago triples (2) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Markakis.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (12) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Markakis. Ramon Santiago scores.
DET 3, BAL 0

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball
to shortstop Robert Andino. Curtis Granderson scores. Placido Polanco
to 2nd on the throw.
DET 4, BAL 0

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Felix Pie.

DET 4, BAL 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Felix Pie grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Robert Andino grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Brian Roberts flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 4, BAL 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out to first baseman Aubrey Huff.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Ty Wigginton to first baseman Aubrey Huff.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Felix Pie.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Markakis. Brandon Inge scores.
DET 5, BAL 0


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Nick Markakis.

DET 5, BAL 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Nolan Reimold grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Nick Markakis flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Aubrey Huff pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

DET 5, BAL 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Bass replaces David Hernandez.


B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to right fielder Nick Markakis. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.


B:1 S:2 O:1 - Clete Thomas grounds into a force out,
third baseman Ty Wigginton to second baseman Brian Roberts. Curtis
Granderson scores. Placido Polanco out at 2nd. Clete Thomas to 1st.
DET 6, BAL 0




B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera strikes out on foul tip.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to left fielder Nolan Reimold. Clete Thomas to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

DET 6, BAL 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Ty Wigginton singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Luke Scott grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Ty Wigginton to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Matt Wieters grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Ty Wigginton to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Felix Pie singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Ty Wigginton scores.
DET 6, BAL 1

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Robert Andino walks. Felix Pie to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:3 - Brian Roberts grounds into a force out,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. Robert
Andino out at 2nd.

DET 6, BAL 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Robert Andino to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to center fielder Felix Pie.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, wild pitch by Brian Bass, Alex Avila to 2nd.



B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Brian Roberts to first baseman Aubrey Huff. Alex Avila to 3rd.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to second baseman Brian Roberts. Alex Avila scores.
DET 7, BAL 1

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Robert Andino to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

DET 7, BAL 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Nolan Reimold singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas.


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Nick Markakis walks. Nolan Reimold to 2nd.


B:3 S:1 O:2 - Aubrey Huff grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Ramon Santiago to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Nolan Reimold to 3rd. Nick Markakis out at 2nd.



B:1 S:1 O:2 - Ty Wigginton doubles (14) on a fly ball
to center fielder Curtis Granderson, deflected by left fielder Clete
Thomas. Nolan Reimold scores.
DET 7, BAL 2




B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Rick Porcello.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Luke Scott pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

DET 7, BAL 2 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, second baseman Brian Roberts to first baseman Aubrey Huff.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to center fielder Felix Pie. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Felix Pie.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge strikes out swinging.

DET 7, BAL 2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 6th, playing left field.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Matt Wieters flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Felix Pie grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Robert Andino grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 7, BAL 2 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Danys Baez replaces Brian Bass.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Brian Roberts to first baseman Aubrey Huff.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Nick Markakis.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco lines out to right fielder Nick Markakis.

DET 7, BAL 2 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Fu-Te Ni.


B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Brian Roberts singles on a fly ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Nolan Reimold walks. Brian Roberts to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Nick Markakis pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Brian Roberts scores. Nolan Reimold to 3rd.
DET 7, BAL 3




B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Bobby Seay.



B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Ty Wigginton strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Luke Scott flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 7, BAL 3 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jim Johnson replaces Danys Baez.

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Clete Thomas doubles (9) on a fly ball to left fielder Nolan Reimold.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out, shortstop Robert Andino to first baseman Aubrey Huff. Clete Thomas to 3rd.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Felix Pie.

DET 7, BAL 3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Matt Wieters doubles (7) on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Felix Pie flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Robert Andino strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brian Roberts grounds out, pitcher Brandon Lyon to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Tigers win 7-3 and
take series 3 games to 1

August 6, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0		3	7	0
Detroit	0	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	X		7	13	0

Baltimore AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Roberts, B, 2B 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 .283 Reimold, N, LF 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .274 Markakis, RF 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .298 Huff, A, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 .256 Wigginton, 3B 4 1 2 1 0 2 2 .267 Scott, DH 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 .270 Wieters, C 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .268 Pie, CF 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .240 Andino, SS 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .220 Totals 33 3 7 3 4 3 17 BATTING 2B: Wigginton (14, Porcello), Wieters (7, Lyon). TB: Roberts, B; Reimold, N; Huff, A; Wigginton 3; Wieters 2; Pie. RBI: Pie (11), Wigginton (31), Huff, A (66). 2-out RBI: Pie; Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Roberts, B 2; Scott 2. GIDP: Huff, A. Team RISP: 3-for-13. Team LOB: 7.		Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG Granderson, CF 3 2 2 2 2 0 0 .257 Polanco, 2B 5 0 2 1 0 0 2 .264 Thomas, C, LF-RF 3 0 1 1 2 0 1 .270 Cabrera, M, 1B 4 0 0 0 1 2 5 .330 Guillen, C, DH 5 0 2 0 0 0 1 .226 Ordonez, RF 4 1 1 0 0 0 4 .264 --Raburn, LF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262 Inge, 3B 4 2 2 2 0 1 2 .255 Avila, C 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .500 Santiago, SS 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .252 Totals 37 7 13 7 5 4 18 BATTING 2B: Granderson (12, Hernandez, D), Avila (1, Hernandez, D), Thomas, C (9, Johnson, Ji). 3B: Santiago (2, Hernandez, D). HR: Inge (22, 2nd inning off Hernandez, D, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson 3; Polanco 2; Thomas, C 2; Guillen, C 2; Ordonez; Inge 5; Avila 3; Santiago 3. RBI: Inge 2 (61), Granderson 2 (52), Polanco (50), Avila (1), Thomas, C (30). 2-out RBI: Granderson 2; Polanco; Avila. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, M; Santiago; Ordonez; Inge; Raburn. Team RISP: 3-for-13. Team LOB: 11. FIELDING DP: (Polanco-Santiago-Cabrera, M).
Baltimore -IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR -ERA- Hernandez, D (L, 3-4) 3.0 7 5 5 2 1 1 3.96 Bass 3.0 5 2 2 2 2 0 4.62 Baez 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.27 Johnson, Ji 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.22		Detroit -IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Porcello (W, 10-7) 5.2 4 2 2 3 1 0 4.30 Ni 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.25 Seay 0.1 2 1 1 1 0 0 3.44 Lyon (S, 1) 1.2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.12
WP: Bass. Pitches-strikes: Hernandez, D 81-48, Bass 62-35, Baez 16-9, Johnson, Ji 17-10, Porcello 85-48, Ni 10-7, Seay 21-13, Lyon 15-12. Groundouts-flyouts: Hernandez, D 3-5, Bass 5-2, Baez 1-2, Johnson, Ji 1-1, Porcello 10-6, Ni 2-2, Seay 0-1, Lyon 1-2. Batters faced: Hernandez, D 18, Bass 16, Baez 4, Johnson, Ji 4, Porcello 23, Ni 4, Seay 4, Lyon 6. Inherited runners-scored: Ni 1-0, Lyon 2-0. Umpires: HP: Scott Barry. 1B: CB Bucknor. 2B: Mike Everitt. 3B: Brian Gorman. Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, R to L. T: 2:42. Att: 31,165. August 6, 2009