GDT: 7/20/11 - DET (51-45) VS OAK (42-55) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tigers call up Below to face A's

By Jon Star / MLB.com | 7/19/2011 11:16 PM ET

A midseason promotion is what all rookies look forward to, but the excitement and energy gets ratcheted up when that rookie is thrown straight into a hotly contested divisional race. That is the environment with which the Tigers' Duane Below will find himself on Wednesday. Detroit called up the left-hander from Triple-A Toledo where he went 9-4 with a 3.13 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 18 starts. Below will make his debut with the opportunity to pitch the Tigers into first place in the American League Central.

Below is a local product, having grown up in Britton, Mich., roughly an hour from Detroit, and having attended Lake Michigan College in the western part of the state. Below earned his stripes in the Tigers system, making his first appearance for the Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2006 and his Triple-A debut this season.

His lengthy stay in the Minors has allowed the Tigers to get a good look at the 25-year-old southpaw, who manager Jim Leyland said has made one noticeable change throughout the season.

"His control has been really good this year," Leyland said. "It wasn't in Spring Training."

Countering Below will be Brandon McCarthy, who looks to build off his previous start -- his first victory since coming off the disabled list on July 3 and first overall since April 10. In between, McCarthy endured five losses in nine starts. Despite the injury, the right-hander has proven reliable, having lasted at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts.

One of McCarthy's best starts of the season came against the Tigers. On April 15, he blanked Detroit over 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and only one walk. His 1.43 walks per nine innings currently ranks third in the AL (minimum 70 innings).

Athletics: Weeks continues to rack up hits
Jemile Weeks made his big league debut on June 7 and since then, all he has done is hit his way on base. Weeks, who is hitting .307 (44-for-143) this season, saw his streak of four consecutive multi-hit games end with an 0-for-5 night on Tuesday, but he has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games. Since going 0-for-4 in his first game, the second baseman's average has not dipped below .287, which it did on July 10.

Tigers: Cabrera once again punishes A's
Miguel Cabrera is having a relatively quiet July, but when he hit his 20th home run of the season on Tuesday, he expanded on his recent history of pounding Oakland pitching. Cabrera, who entered Tuesday's game hitting .178 this month, hit his 11th home run and drove in his 28th and 29th runs against Oakland since joining the Tigers in 2008. In that span, Cabrera is hitting .330 (35-for-106) in 29 games. The A's have somewhat held Cabrera in check this season. The Tigers' first baseman is hitting only .176 (3-for-17) against Oakland in 2011, though two of the hits are home runs.

Worth noting:
Oakland pitching has allowed four runs or more just four times since June 14.


Tigers: LHP Duane Below (0-0, -.-- ERA)

After much speculation over who would get the fifth starter's spot out of the break, the Michigan native will get his shot. He has been the most consistent of Detroit's prospects, going 9-4 with a 3.13 ERA at Triple-A Toledo.


Athletics: RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-5, 3.64 ERA)

McCarthy may not be a fan of the win-loss stat, but the righty returned to the win column last time out for the first time since April 10. He surrendered two runs over 5 1/3 innings and fanned seven to snap a five-game losing streak.


Game Information


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off Oakland 8-3 last night. Rick Porcello (9-6) earned the win for Detroit. Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen both belted two-run home runs for the Tigers, while Brennan Boesch finished with three hits and an RBI. The Tigers conclude a five-game homestand tonight with the final game of a two-game series against the Athletics. Following tonight’s game, the club hits the road for a seven-game trip to Minnesota and Chicago.

TIGERS RECALL BELOW AND FURBUSH FROM TRIPLE A: The Tigers today recalled the contracts of lefthanded pitchers Duane Below and Charlie Furbush from Triple A Toledo. Below posted a 9-4 record and 3.13 ERA (115.0IP/40ER) in 18 starts with the Mud Hens this season. Furbush compiled a 5-3 record, 3.17 ERA (54.0IP/19ER) and 61 strikeouts in 10 outings (nine starts) with Toledo. Following last night’s game, the Tigers optioned the contracts of lefthanded pitcher Adam Wilk and outfielder Casper Wells to Toledo.

WINNING WAYS: Detroit has won 39 of the club’s last 67 games dating back to May 3, a .582 winning percentage. The Tigers are third among all American League clubs with a .582 winning percentage during that stretch.

MIGGY MASHES AGAINST OAKLAND: Miguel Cabrera is hitting .330 (35x106) with eight doubles, 11 home runs and 29 RBI in 29 games versus Oakland since joining the Tigers in 2008. He is tops among all major league players with 11 home runs and a .717 slugging percentage versus Oakland since the start of the 2008 season, while he is tied for fourth with 29 RBI and is eighth with a .330 batting average.

BOESCH IS BASHING: Brennan Boesch enters this evening’s game against the Athletics hitting .362 (55x152) with 12 doubles, nine home runs and 21 RBI over his last 38 games dating back to June 3. He is tops in the American League with a .362 batting average during that stretch, while he is tied for third with 12 doubles and a .618 slugging percentage, is fifth with 55 hits and tied for ninth with nine home runs.

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 .337 (58x172) with 12 doubles, two home runs and 27 RBI over his last 46 games dating back to May 27. He is tied for third among all American League players with a .337 batting average during that stretch.

CABRERA COLLECTS HIS 600TH EXTRA-BASE HIT: Miguel Cabrera belted a two-run home run in the fifth inning last night off Oakland’s Guillermo Moscoso for the 600th extrabase hit of his major league career. Among all the players to debut in major leagues following the conclusion of World War II, only Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols had as many extra-base hits as Cabrera at his current age. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)

ALL IS WELL WITH ALBURQUERQUE: Al Alburquerque enters tonight’s game against the Athletics tops among all American League relievers with a .145 batting average, 14.36 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.60 hits per nine innings, while he is tied for the lead with five wins and is sixth with 50 strikeouts.

BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 2.97 ERA (30.1IP/10ER) and 25 strikeouts over the club’s last 12 games dating back to July 3. During the 12-game stretch, club relievers have limited opponents to a .239 batting average (27x113).

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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• 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)

• Saturday, July 23:
Tigers (RHP Brad Penny (7-6, 4.47 ERA)) AT
Twins (?HP TBA ( ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Sunday, July 24:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (9-6, 4.76 ERA)) AT
Twins (LHP Francisco Liriano (6-7, 4.56 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

ATHLETICS

Coco Crisp, CF
Cliff Pennington, SS
Josh Willingham, LF
Hideki Matsui, DH
Conor Jackson, 3B
Kurt Suzuki, C
David DeJesus, RF
Landon Powell, 1B
Eric Sogard, 2B

P: Brandon McCarthy

TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Brennan Boesch, LF
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Carlos Guillen, 2B
Alex Avila, C
Don Kelly, 3B
Ramon Santiago, SS

P: Duane Below

OAK - Top 1st
B:2 S:2 O:1
Coco Crisp grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

B:0 S:1 O:3
Josh Willingham grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, pitcher Brandon McCarthy to first baseman Landon Powell.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

OAK - Top 2nd
B:0 S:2 O:1
Hideki Matsui flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Conor Jackson flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Conor Jackson to first baseman Landon Powell.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez walks.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Carlos Guillen lines out to third baseman Conor Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Alex Avila lines out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

OAK - Top 3rd
B:1 S:2 O:0
David DeJesus reaches on fielding error by second baseman Carlos Guillen.

B:2 S:1 O:0
Landon Powell singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. David DeJesus to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Eric Sogard grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. David DeJesus scores. Landon Powell to 2nd.
OAK 1 - 0

B:3 S:2 O:1
Coco Crisp singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Landon Powell to 3rd.

With Cliff Pennington batting, wild pitch by Duane Below, Coco Crisp to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Cliff Pennington walks.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Josh Willingham called out on .

B:2 S:1 O:2
Hideki Matsui singles on a ground ball to pitcher Duane Below. Landon Powell scores. Coco Crisp to 3rd. Cliff Pennington to 2nd.
OAK 2 - 0

Injury Delay.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Conor Jackson pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:0
Don Kelly triples (2) on a line drive to right fielder David DeJesus.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Landon Powell. Don Kelly scores.
OAK 2 - 1

B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to right fielder David DeJesus.

With Brennan Boesch batting, Austin Jackson steals (16) 2nd base.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Brennan Boesch grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Landon Powell. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Coco Crisp. Austin Jackson scores.
TIED 2 - 2

B:3 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Landon Powell.

TIED 2 - 2 AFTER 3 INNINGS

OAK - Top 4th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Kurt Suzuki pops out to second baseman Carlos Guillen.

B:3 S:1 O:1
David DeJesus singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson, deflected by shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Landon Powell grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. David DeJesus to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Eric Sogard grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 4th
B:3 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, first baseman Landon Powell to pitcher Brandon McCarthy.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Carlos Guillen grounds out, first baseman Landon Powell to second baseman Eric Sogard to pitcher Brandon McCarthy.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Alex Avila out swinging.

TIED 2 - 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

OAK - Top 5th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Coco Crisp flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Cliff Pennington grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Josh Willingham out swinging.

DET - Bot 5th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Don Kelly called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:1
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Willingham.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Conor Jackson to first baseman Landon Powell. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Brennan Boesch flies out to left fielder Josh Willingham.

TIED 2 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

OAK - Top 6th
B:1 S:0 O:0
Hideki Matsui homers (7) on a fly ball to right field.
OAK 3 - 2

Pitcher Change: Lester Oliveros replaces Duane Below.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Conor Jackson out swinging.

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

B:1 S:3 O:3
David DeJesus called out on .

DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Coco Crisp.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Willingham. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Joey Devine replaces Brandon McCarthy.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Victor Martinez doubles (24) on a line drive to right fielder David DeJesus. Magglio Ordonez scores. Miguel Cabrera scores.
4 - 3

B:0 S:0 O:0
Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball to right fielder David DeJesus, deflected by second baseman Eric Sogard. Victor Martinez to 3rd.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Alex Avila walks. Carlos Guillen to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Don Kelly out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Coco Crisp. Victor Martinez scores.
5 - 3

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Josh Willingham.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Austin Jackson flies out to left fielder Josh Willingham.

5 - 3 AFTER 6 INNINGS

OAK - Top 7th
Pitcher Change: David Purcey replaces Lester Oliveros.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Landon Powell walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:0 O:0
Eric Sogard walks. Landon Powell to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Coco Crisp walks. Landon Powell to 3rd. Eric Sogard to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces David Purcey.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:2 O:0
Cliff Pennington singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Landon Powell scores. Eric Sogard to 3rd. Coco Crisp to 2nd.
5 - 4

B:0 S:0 O:1
Josh Willingham out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Eric Sogard scores.
TIED 5 - 5

B:2 S:2 O:1
Hideki Matsui singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Coco Crisp scores. Cliff Pennington to 3rd.
OAK 6 - 5

B:2 S:1 O:1
Conor Jackson singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Cliff Pennington scores. Hideki Matsui to 2nd.
OAK 7 - 5

B:1 S:1 O:3
Kurt Suzuki grounds into double play, third baseman Don Kelly to second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Conor Jackson out at 2nd.

DET - Bot 7th
Pitcher Change: Brad Ziegler replaces Joey Devine.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Brennan Boesch grounds out, second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Landon Powell.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Coco Crisp. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Craig Breslow replaces Brad Ziegler.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds into double play, shortstop Cliff Pennington to second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Landon Powell. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

OAK 7 - 5 AFTER 7 INNINGS

OAK - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Charlie Furbush replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:2 S:1 O:1
David DeJesus grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Landon Powell called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:3
Eric Sogard out swinging.

DET - Bot 8th
Pitcher Change: Grant Balfour replaces Craig Breslow.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball to left fielder Josh Willingham.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila lines out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Josh Willingham.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jhonny Peralta replaces Ramon Santiago.

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

OAK 7 - 5 AFTER 8 INNINGS

OAK - Top 9th
Jhonny Peralta remains in the game as the shortstop.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Coco Crisp grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

With Josh Willingham batting, Cliff Pennington picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Charlie Furbush to first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Josh Willingham flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET - Bot 9th
Defensive switch from third base to first base for Conor Jackson.

Defensive Substitution: Scott Sizemore replaces first baseman Landon Powell, batting 8th, playing third base.

Pitcher Change: Andrew Bailey replaces Grant Balfour.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch walks.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, pitcher Andrew Bailey to first baseman Conor Jackson. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.