GDT: 7/19/11 - DET (50-45) VS OAK (42-54) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tigers' task only gets tougher with A's staff

By Tom Singer / MLB.com | 7/17/2011 7:30 PM ET

Three games after the Tigers resumed action following the All-Star Game, their bats largely remain on a break. Held to six runs by the White Sox during a series in which they avoided being swept with Sunday's 4-3 comeback win, Detroit now must cope with an Oakland staff whose pitchers are hardly paramedics for sick hitters.

Manager Jim Leyland could use all his bullets against the Athletics' American League-leading hurlers (3.13 ERA and .240 opponents' average entering Sunday's play) but still won't have a full chamber.

With Carlos Guillen's weekend return from a long absence with his left-knee injury, the Tigers do not have a position player on the disabled list for the first time this season. But that doesn't mean they don't have a disabled player, with center fielder Austin Jackson having had only two at-bats since aggravating a sore left wrist on July 6.

Desperate to regain Jackson's speed atop their lineup, the Tigers have been reluctant to formally shelve him, but he figures to be either on the field or on the DL when this brief two-game series kicks off on Tuesday night.

Rick Porcello is set to duel young Oakland right-hander Guillermo Moscoso in the series opener, but the Tigers anticipate having to add a pitcher for Wednesday's start -- and having the newcomer take Jackson's spot might be the most convenient roster move.

One that Leyland still hoped to avoid.

"Obviously, we want to get him back in there as soon as possible," Leyland said of his center fielder, the runner-up to Texas reliever Neftali Perez for the 2010 AL Rookie of the Year Award. "[But] you can't rush that type of thing. You just have to wait and see. He talked to somebody [on Saturday], another hand specialist or wrist specialist, to try a different type of treatment or add to the treatment that they're doing, just to see if that helps any."

Jackson's setback came on one of those daffy baseball days, in the July 6 game in Anaheim against the Angels. In that game, he saw 27 pitches and swung at only four of them, as he drew a career-high four walks. Yet, on one of those swings, he incurred the injury that still has him idle.

"You just have to roll with that punch," Leyland said. "You can't do anything about it. Obviously, he's kind of our catalyst, so he's an important guy for us. We want to make sure it's right. But I think the biggest issue with that is to make sure he's fine. You don't want to get him back there where he's playing with it hurt, where he can't swing and then you're just not getting the results."

Athletics: It was Hammer Time
• On the A's '80s throwback day, the honor of delivering the ceremonial first pitch on Sunday went to entertainer MC Hammer -- an Oakland native who as a youngster served a stint as a bat boy during legendary owner Charlie O. Finley's tenure.

• Snapshot of the problems posed by Oakland's deep staff: In the four-game series against the Angels, A's pitchers allowed the grand total of 25 hits and notched 41 strikeouts.

Tigers: Guillen's comeback knock helps rally
Guillen singled to drive in the tie-breaking run in the sixth inning of Sunday's game, his first RBI since last Aug. 15, when he had a pair against the White Sox. His last RBI against a team other than Chicago? Exactly one year ago, on July 17, 2010, in Cleveland.

Worth noting
The Tigers have had three second-place finishes the last five years, and even made it all the way to the World Series in 2006, but have not had a winning record after the All-Star break since 2000, when Detroit went 41-37 in the second half. Last season, the Tigers were 48-38 before and 33-43 after the break.


Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (8-6, 4.78 ERA)

Porcello will pitch with 10 days' rest since allowing one earned run in 5 1/3 innings against Kansas City. Porcello has been solid in his last two starts, allowing four runs total, after losing three of the previous four.


Athletics: RHP Guillermo Moscoso (3-4, 2.16 ERA)

Last time out for the A's, Moscoso blanked the Mariners over seven innings and held them to two hits before being optioned to Sacramento to stay loose through the break. In his last start for the River Cats, he fanned nine and gave up two home runs.


Game Information

RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers rallied from a three-run deficit to post a 4-3 win over the White Sox on Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park. Brad Penny (7-6) earned the win for Detroit, while Jose Valverde recorded his 25th save of the season. Brennan Boesch belted a solo home run for the Tigers, while Victor Martinez added a two-run single and Carlos Guillen recorded a run-scoring single. The Tigers continue a five-game homestand tonight with the first game of a two-game series against the Athletics. Following tomorrow night’s game, the club hits the road for a seven-game trip to Minnesota and Chicago.

WINNING WAYS: Detroit has won 38 of the club’s last 66 games dating back to May 3, a .576 winning percentage. The Tigers are fourth among all American League clubs with a .576 winning percentage during that stretch.

MIGGY MASHES AGAINST OAKLAND: Miguel Cabrera enters this evening’s game against Oakland hitting .333 (34x102) with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 28 games versus the club since joining the Tigers in 2008. He is tops among all major league players with a .706 slugging percentage versus Oakland since the start of the 2008 season, while he is tied for the lead with 10 home runs, tied for seventh with a .333 batting average and tied for eighth with 27 RBI.

BOESCH IS BASHING: Brennan Boesch enters this evening’s game against the Athletics hitting .354 (52x147) with 10 doubles, nine home runs and 20 RBI over his last 37 games dating back to June 3. He is fourth in the American League with a .354 batting average during that stretch, while he is fifth with a .605 slugging percentage, sixth with 52 hits, tied for eighth with nine home runs and tied for 10th with 10 doubles.

VALVERDE’S CONVERTING SAVES: Jose Valverde converted his 25th consecutive save to begin the season on Sunday versus Chicago. His 25 straight saves converted is the third-longest such streak during a single season in Tigers history. Guillermo Hernandez converted 32 straight save opportunities for the Tigers April 6-September 23, 1984, while Todd Jones converted 26 straight save chances for the club April 25-July 30, 2000.

BENOIT ON THE BALL: Joaquin Benoit enters tonight’s game against the Athletics with a 1-0 record, 1.33 ERA (20.1IP/3ER), two saves and 22 strikeouts over his last 24 outings for the Tigers dating back to May 20. He has limited opponents to a .222 batting average (16x72) during the stretch.

VICTOR AT THE BAT: Victor Martinez is hitting .333 (56x168) with 11 doubles, two home runs and 27 RBI over his last 45 games dating back to May 27. He is tied for fifth among all American League players with a .333 batting average during that stretch.

CABRERA CLOSES IN ON 600TH EXTRA-BASE HIT: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game against the Athletics with 599 extra-base hits during his major league career, one shy of reaching 600 extra-base hits. Since the start of the 2003 season, he is fourth among all major league players with 599 extra-base hits.

ALL IS WELL WITH ALBURQUERQUE: Al Alburquerque enters tonight’s game against the Athletics tops among all American League relievers with a .144 batting average, 14.26 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.55 hits per nine innings, while he is tied for the lead with five wins and is sixth with 47 strikeouts.

BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 3.29 ERA (27.1IP/10ER) and 22 strikeouts over the club’s last 11 games dating back to July 3. During the 11-game stretch, club relievers have limited opponents to a .240 batting average (24x100).

HAPPY AT HOME: The Tigers have compiled a 131-80 record at Comerica Park since the start of the 2009 season, a .621 winning percentage. Detroit is third among all American League clubs with a .621 winning percentage at home during that stretch, trailing a .659 winning percentage by the Yankees and a .628 winning percentage by the Red Sox.

NOTES ON THE SKIPPER: Jim Leyland is in his sixth season as the manager of the Tigers, compiling a 474-434 record (.522).
- 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 1,543 wins.
- Tonight’s game marks the 3,109th game Leyland has managed during his career, 48 games shy of tying Ralph Houk for 15th place all-time in major league history.
- With 474 wins as Detroit’s manager, he enters tonight’s game 26 wins shy of becoming the fifth manager in Tigers history to register 500 victories with the club.

TIGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH SIXTH ROUND SELECTION: The Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms with outfielder Tyler Collins, the team’s sixth round selection in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Howard College in Texas. Collins was selected the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Player of the Year after hitting .488 (105x215) with 34 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs, 82 RBI and 16 stolen bases as a sophomore at Howard College. The Tigers now have agreed to terms with 26 of the club’s selections from this year’s draft.

RESCHEDULED 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 Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).


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• Wednesday, July 20:
Tigers (LHP Duane Below (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) VS
Athletics (RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-5, 3.64 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Thursday, July 21:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (12-5, 2.29 ERA)) AT
Twins (RHP Carl Pavano (6-6, 4.08 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD, MLBN / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Friday, July 22:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (10-5, 4.53 ERA)) AT
Twins (LHP Brian Duensing (7-7, 4.14 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

ATHLETICS

Jemile Weeks, 2B
Ryan Sweeney, LF
Coco Crisp, CF
Hideki Matsui, DH
Scott Sizemore, 3B
David DeJesus, RF
Conor Jackson, 1B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Cliff Pennington, SS

P: Guillermo Moscoso


TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Brennan Boesch, LF
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Carlos Guillen, 2B
Alex Avila, C
Brandon Inge, 3B

P: Rick Porcello

OAK - Top 1st
B:1 S:1 O:0
Jemile Weeks reaches on fielding error by first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

With Ryan Sweeney batting, Jemile Weeks caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alex Avila to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Ryan Sweeney out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Coco Crisp flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET - Bot 1st
B:0 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

OAK - Top 2nd
B:3 S:1 O:1
Hideki Matsui pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Scott Sizemore called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2
David DeJesus hit by pitch.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Conor Jackson grounds into a force out, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Carlos Guillen. David DeJesus out at 2nd.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta flies out to left fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to right fielder David DeJesus.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila walks. Carlos Guillen to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Brandon Inge out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

OAK - Top 3rd
B:2 S:1 O:1
Kurt Suzuki lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Cliff Pennington singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jemile Weeks flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Ryan Sweeney called out on .

DET - Bot 3rd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder David DeJesus.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch grounds out, third baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, pitcher Guillermo Moscoso to first baseman Conor Jackson.

0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

OAK - Top 4th
B:3 S:2 O:0
Coco Crisp singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Hideki Matsui singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Coco Crisp to 2nd.

Injury Delay.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Scott Sizemore hit by pitch. Coco Crisp to 3rd. Hideki Matsui to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Eric Sogard replaces Scott Sizemore.

On-field Delay.

B:1 S:2 O:1
David DeJesus grounds into a force out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to catcher Alex Avila. Coco Crisp out at home. Hideki Matsui to 3rd. Eric Sogard to 2nd. David DeJesus to 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Conor Jackson grounds into double play, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. David DeJesus out at 2nd.

DET - Bot 4th
Eric Sogard remains in the game as the third baseman.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Carlos Guillen reaches on fielding error by first baseman Conor Jackson. Victor Martinez scores. Carlos Guillen to 3rd.
1 - 0

B:1 S:1 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Ryan Sweeney.

1 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

OAK - Top 5th
B:3 S:1 O:0
Kurt Suzuki doubles (14) on a fly ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Cliff Pennington grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Jemile Weeks flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Ryan Sweeney singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Kurt Suzuki scores.
TIED 1 - 1

B:3 S:2 O:2
Coco Crisp doubles (19) on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Ryan Sweeney to 3rd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Hideki Matsui singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Ryan Sweeney scores. Coco Crisp scores. Hideki Matsui to 2nd on the throw.
OAK 3 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:3
Eric Sogard grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 5th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch doubles (23) on a line drive to right fielder David DeJesus. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Magglio Ordonez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Coco Crisp. Austin Jackson scores.
OAK 3 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera homers (20) on a fly ball to left field. Brennan Boesch scores.
4 - 3

B:1 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez doubles (23) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to center fielder Coco Crisp. Victor Martinez scores.
5 - 3

B:2 S:0 O:2
Play reviewed and stands as called: Carlos Guillen homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Jhonny Peralta scores.
7 - 3

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Craig Breslow replaces Guillermo Moscoso.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Alex Avila lines out to right fielder David DeJesus.

7 - 3 AFTER 5 INNINGS

OAK - Top 6th
B:1 S:2 O:0
David DeJesus singles on a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Conor Jackson grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. David DeJesus out at 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 6th
Oakland Athletics second baseman Scott Sizemore left the game due to an injured head.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Brandon Inge pops out to catcher Kurt Suzuki in foul territory.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Brennan Boesch doubles (24) on a line drive to right fielder David DeJesus. Austin Jackson scores.
8 - 3

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Fautino De Los Santos replaces Craig Breslow.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Magglio Ordonez lines out to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

8 - 3 AFTER 6 INNINGS

OAK - Top 7th
Defensive Substitution: Casper Wells replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 3rd, playing right field.

Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Rick Porcello.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Cliff Pennington singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Jemile Weeks lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Ryan Sweeney flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Coco Crisp reaches on fielding error by third baseman Brandon Inge. Cliff Pennington to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Hideki Matsui grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 7th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Carlos Guillen walks.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Alex Avila out swinging.

8 - 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

OAK - Top 8th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Eric Sogard grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:1
David DeJesus singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Al Alburquerque replaces Phil Coke.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Conor Jackson grounds out, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. David DeJesus to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Kurt Suzuki pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

DET - Bot 8th
Pitcher Change: Brian Fuentes replaces Fautino De Los Santos.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Brandon Inge pops out to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Austin Jackson flies out to left fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Brennan Boesch singles on a ground ball to first baseman Conor Jackson.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Casper Wells flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

8 - 3 AFTER 8 INNINGS

OAK - Top 9th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 2nd, playing left field.

B:3 S:2 O:0
Cliff Pennington singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Jemile Weeks out swinging.

With Ryan Sweeney batting, Cliff Pennington advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Ryan Sweeney out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Coco Crisp out swinging, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.