GDT: 5/16/10 - DET (21-16) vs BOS (19-18) - 1:05 p.m. ET

GDT: 5/16/10 - DET (21-16) vs BOS (19-18) - 1:05 p.m. ET




--- vs ---

Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 1:05 p.m. EDT


______________________________________

Red Sox-Tigers finale offers intriguing matchup

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

The Red Sox are looking to continue their string of strong starting pitching with one of their aces, while the Tigers hope their new rotation mate can not only keep them in the game, but also spare a tired bullpen.

In the rubber game of a three-game series at Comerica Park on Sunday, John Lackey will take the hill for Boston, which has reaped the benefit of a 3.80 ERA and four quality starts in its past six games.

"When we get deeper into games, it really helps us to set up our bullpen," pitching coach John Farrell said.

Opposing him will be Armando Galarraga, who has hurled 322 1/3 innings for Detroit the past two years, but is making his 2010 debut.

Going in, Galarraga appeared to just be making a spot start, since the Tigers were forced to play a day-night doubleheader against the Yankees on Wednesday and manager Jim Leyland doesn't want anybody going on short rest.

But after posting a 13.50 ERA in his past four starts, Max Scherzer was optioned to Triple-A after Saturday's game, meaning his rotation spot is now Galarraga's.

Galarraga posted a 6-10 record with a 5.64 ERA last year and walked 4.2 batters per nine innings. With Triple-A Toledo, however, he went 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA and walked 13, while striking out 38 in 41 1/3 innings. All but one of those came in his past four outings.

"He's done a pretty good job down there [in the Minor Leagues]," Leyland said. "He hasn't been wild, but you don't know sometimes if they're swinging a little bit out of the strike zone. I don't know the answer to that part. But he seems to have found the strike zone pretty good. And that's the only chance you've got. You can't get hitters out on balls very often, not with any type of consistency."

Red Sox: Drew and Ortiz on a roll
Boston is getting some nice production from two of its left-handed hitters. Outfielder J.D. Drew has an eight-game hitting streak that has him batting .393 (11-for-28). David Ortiz, meanwhile, is hitting .359 (14-for-39) with five homers and 13 RBIs this month.

Manager Terry Francona opted to start both of them against left-hander Dontrelle Willis on Saturday, and he was rewarded. Ortiz went 3-for-6 with two RBIs, and Drew added a two-run double and two walks.

Tigers: Bullpen puts in work
Detroit ended up winning Saturday's game, 7-6, in 12 innings. But not without giving the club a thin bullpen heading into the series finale. After Willis went just 3 1/3 innings, five relievers had to account for the remaining 8 2/3 frames.

Eddie Bonine (three innings), Ryan Perry (1 1/3 innings), Phil Coke (one inning), Joel Zumaya (2 1/3 innings) and Jose Valverde (one inning) all threw. The only relievers who didn't get into the game were Brad Thomas and Fu-Te Ni.

Worth noting
Lackey has pitched at least six innings in six of his seven starts this year.

... Red Sox starter Josh Beckett (back) is on track to start against the Yankees on Tuesday, while center fielder Mike Cameron (abdominal) could be activated Monday or Tuesday.

... Tigers reliever Zach Miner has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and has to decide between season-ending surgery or restarting his rehab.

... Detroit ace Justin Verlander was moved up a day in the rotation and will now start Tuesday, with Jeremy Bonderman going Wednesday.



______________________________________

______________________________________

From MLB Tigers Press Pass


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Red Sox 7-6 in 12 innings last night. Jose Valverde (1-1) picked up the win for Detroit with a scoreless inning of relief. Brennan Boesch led the Tigers with four hits, while Magglio Ordonez added three hits. Detroit continues a nine-game homestand with the final game of a three-game series against the Red Sox this afternoon. The club concludes the homestand with a two-game series against the White Sox beginning tomorrow night.

TIGERS ANNOUNCE ROSTER MOVES: Following the game last night, the Tigers optioned the contracts of righthanded pitcher Max Scherzer and second baseman Scott Sizemore to Triple A Toledo. The club today recalled the contract of righthanded pitcher Armando Galarraga from Toledo and purchased the contract of infielder Danny Worth from Toledo. Galarraga made seven starts with the Mud Hens, compiling a 4-2 record and 3.92 ERA (41.1IP/18ER). Worth hit .274 (37x135) with 15 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI in 36 games.

WELLS IS FOURTH PLAYER TO MAKE MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT FOR THE TIGERS: The Tigers have had four position players make their major league debut in the team's first 37 games this season (Brennan Boesch, Austin Jackson, Scott Sizemore, Casper Wells), marking the most position players making their debut in the team's first 37-or-fewer games since 1995 when Bobby Higginson, Rudy Pemberton, Shannon Penn and Todd Steverson all made their debut in the season's first three games.

OVERCOMING ANOTHER FIVE-RUN DEFICIT: The Tigers rallied from a five-run deficit for a 7-6 win over the Red Sox in 12 innings last night, marking the fourth time this season the club has won a game in which it trailed by at least five runs. No other major league team has done this more than once this season (Mets, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays all have one such win). The Tigers won three such games during the 2009 season, while the club has not won more than four such games since winning five during the 1941 season. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)

ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE RED SOX: Magglio Ordonez enters today’s game versus the Red Sox hitting .352 (117x332) with 28 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 60 RBI in 89 games during his career against the club. He is second among all active major league players with a .352 batting average against the Red Sox, while he is third with a .417 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage.

MIGGY’S THE MAN AT THE PLATE: Miguel Cabrera is hitting .420 (21x50) with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI over his last 14 games dating back to April 30. He is third among all American League players with a .420 batting average during that stretch, while he is ninth with a .680 slugging percentage.

LOOKING AT THE ROOKIE LEADERS: Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch have both enjoyed success during their rookie campaigns. Jackson is tops among all American League rookies with 28 runs scored and 52 hits, while he is second with a .331 batting average. Boesch is leading all league rookies with a .388 batting average and 19 RBI, while he is second with 26 hits and three home runs.

PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 16 outings for the Tigers, tossing 15.2 scoreless innings. He is tied for the lead among all American League relievers with 10 saves, while he is second with a 0.54 ERA and .120 batting average against.

DRIVING THEM IN: Brennan Boesch has collected at least one RBI in 12 of his first 18 career games with the Tigers. He is the first Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one RBI in 12 of his first 18 career games.

MORE ON BOESCH: Brennan Boesch is hitting .418 (23x55) with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 18 RBI over his last 15 games dating back to April 28. He is tied for the lead among all American League players with 12 extra-base hits during that stretch, while he is second with a .782 slugging percentage, tied for second with 18 RBI and is third with a .488 batting average.

BOESCH PROVIDES EXTRA-BASE POP: Brennan Boesch has collected 13 extra-base hits in his first 18 games with the Tigers. He has collected at least one extra-base hit in 10 of the 18 games, becoming the first Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one extra-base hit in 10 of his first 18 career games.

AUSTIN ADDING UP THE HITS: Austin Jackson has hit safely in 30 of his first 36 major league games. He is just the second Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one hit in at least 30 of his first 36 career games. Dale Alexander hit safely in 31 of his first 36 career games in 1929.

BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Through the club’s first 37 games this season, Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-4 record and 2.52 ERA (128.2IP/36ER). Tigers relievers lead the American League with 11 victories, a 2.52 ERA and 128.2 innings pitched.

______________________________________

______________________________________