GDT: 7/6/11 - DET (45-42) AT LAA (46-41) - 3:35 p.m. ET 
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AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Los Angeles AngelsWednesday, July 6, 2011
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
Game Time - 3:35 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.
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Preview Tigers' Penny looks for strong return to SoCalBy Doug Miller / MLB.com | 7/6/2011 2:30 AM ET
Brad Penny is coming home to Southern California, but the team he's facing is doing a lot better at home.
That's the main storyline as the Tigers' veteran right-hander and former Dodgers pitcher takes the hill for Detroit against the Angels and rookie righty Tyler Chatwood on Wednesday at Angel Stadium.
The last time Penny pitched in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, he gave up two runs over six innings at Dodger Stadium and lost because Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw blanked the Tigers. That was two weeks ago, and it's part of a five-game winless streak that includes four quality starts.
It also was a night game, and when Penny was asked about the difference in how the ball carries near the Pacific Ocean between day and night games, he simply said, "I don't want to think about it."
While the Tigers are looking for some effective starting pitching beyond Justin Verlander, Penny seems to be finding his midseason form after some inconsistencies for the first two months. While he's winless since June 5, his ERA in that same stretch has dropped from 4.76 to 4.43. He has given up his share of hits, but practiced some decent damage control.
Meanwhile, the Angels have heated up, particularly on their home turf.
After a rough first few months at Angel Stadium, the team is 7-1 entering Wednesday on the current homestand, stands at 22-21 at home for the season, and has scored 32 runs over those eight games. That might not sound like a lot but the Halos entered the homestand with only 108 runs in 35 home games (3.09 per game), so the 4.00 average during these eight games is an improvement.
The Angels also have seven home runs in that span, which qualifies as a legitimate power surge, considering they entered the homestand with only 14 for the year. Additionally, the team was just 2-7 on its previous homestand and scored only 2.4 runs per game.
"This is the team [manager] Mike Scioscia pulled out of Spring Training, the team we thought we were going to be," outfielder Torii Hunter recently wrote on his MLBlog, Torii's Storiis. "The key for us now is staying healthy. If we can do that, I really believe this team is capable of going to the World Series."
Tigers: Avila earning high praiseScioscia has been somewhat familiar with Tigers catcher Alex Avila for years. Avila is the grandson of Ralph Avila, a longtime scout with the Dodgers, an organization Scioscia played for and managed for in the Minors.
"He's really come on," Scioscia said of Avila. "I've known his family for a long time. He's worked very, very hard to get to this level and have an opportunity. He just seems like he's getting better. He's definitely better now than he was last year and he's feeling very comfortable with an everyday role. He's showing not only on the offensive side but defensively, he's handling a tough staff and he's doing a great job."
• The Tigers might be without another Southern California resident on Wednesday, with outfielder
Brennan Boesch day to day. He suffered a right knee contusion Tuesday night and had to leave. Manager Jim Leyland was planning on giving Magglio Ordonez a day off Wednesday, but he might have to change his course.
• Penny is 2-2 with a 5.46 ERA lifetime at Angel Stadium, allowing just two home runs over 31 1/3 innings in five outings, many of them in the Freeway Series while he wore Dodger blue.
Angels: Chatwood struggling at homeWhile Chatwood has won two of last three starts, posting a 0.64 ERA in the two victories, he's winless in his last three home starts (0-3), registering a 7.47 ERA. In his last outing at home against the Dodgers, he was touched up for four runs on 12 hits -- 10 of which were singles -- while he lasted only five-plus innings.
"I don't think he [Chatwood] was as crisp tonight as we saw him last week," Scioscia said after the game. "He definitely was not putting guys away the way he can. He was behind in a lot of counts and it didn't look like his curveball was as sharp as it's been either."
• Since June 13, outfielder Vernon Wells has slugged eight home runs in 20 games. Wells has hit eight of the Angels' last 19 home runs.
• The Angels have won 18 consecutive games when scoring four or more runs, the longest such streak by any team this season. The Angels are 37-7 (.841) when scoring four-plus runs, second best in the American League to Tampa Bay, which is 38-7, according to STATS LLC.
Worth noting• Tigers slugger Victor Martinez is hitting .358 (49-for-137) with 10 doubles, two home runs and 21 RBIs over his last 37 games dating back to May 27.
• Six of Angels reliever Trevor Bell's last seven outings have been scoreless. Bell owns a 0.75 ERA (one earned run in 12 innings) at home, compared to a 6.10 mark on the road.
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Pitching matchup
Tigers: RHP Brad Penny (5-6, 4.43 ERA)Penny took a no-decision last time out despite seven innings of one-run ball against the Giants, extending his winless streak to five starts. He'll be pitching at home in California for the second time in his past four starts.
Angels: RHP Tyler Chatwood (5-4, 3.83 ERA)Chatwood gave up four runs on a season-high 12 hits in his last outing after giving up one run in his previous 14 innings. The 12 was also the most by an Angels starter this season, though it was also the sixth time he received zero runs of support.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
-
Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Al Alburquerque (right forearm flexor mass inflammation,
15-day disabled list on June 30),
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
15-day disabled list on May 11),
•
INF Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30),
Rehab with Toledo•
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
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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
• Gameday
• Official Press Pass game notes
On television •
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule
On radio•
,
• XM Channel Schedule
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)
• Thursday, July 7: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (9-4, 4.90 ERA))
AT Royals (LHP
Danny Duffy (1-3, 5.09 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Friday, July 8: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (7-6, 4.96 ERA))
AT Royals (RHP
Kyle Davies (1-7, 7.77 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Saturday, July 9: Tigers (LHP
Charlie Furbush (1-2, 3.08 ERA))
AT Royals (RHP
Luke Hochevar (5-8, 5.17 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, July 10: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (11-4, 2.26 ERA))
AT Royals (LHP
Jeff Francis (3-9, 4.69) ERA)),
2:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)
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Subject: GDT: 7/6/11 - DET (45-42) AT LAA (46-41) - 3:35 p.m. ET 
Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:36 am
out on foul tip.
5 - 3
