GDT8: 4/10/13 - DET (4-3) VS TOR (2-5) - 1:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (0-1, 5.06 ERA)

The curveball that Porcello used to dominate hitters in Spring Training deserted him in Wednesday in Minnesota, where two home runs doomed him in defeat. He's hoping warmer temperatures lead to a better grip and better command.



Blue Jays: LHP Mark Buehrle (0-0, 10.13 ERA)

Buehrle struggled during his Blue Jays debut by surrendering six runs in 5 1/3 innings vs the Indians. He walked just one batter but hit two more in the inconsistent outing. He is 18-10 with a 3.36 ERA in his career against the Tigers.








Buehrle hoping to help Blue Jays' staff turn around

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 4/9/2013 5:38 PM ET

The Blue Jays are looking for a few good starts.

Toronto's rotation has been hit hard the past few days, and Wednesday will provide another stern test. Mark Buehrle will have to face off against Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers, who raced out to a 7-3 victory in the series opener. The Blue Jays' starters have worked to a 6.08 ERA in the first seven games, and Buehrle was hit hard in his lone outing.

Toronto ace R.A. Dickey was tagged for eight runs in a 13-0 defeat against Boston on Sunday, and Brandon Morrow was knocked out in the fourth inning en route to the loss in Tuesday's series opener. Buehrle, making his second start for the Blue Jays, has an 18-10 record and a 3.36 ERA in 48 career games against the Tigers.

The Tigers have won three of their last four games, and they'll have Rick Porcello on the mound Wednesday. Cabrera, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player Award winner, hit his first home run of the year on Tuesday. Detroit (4-3) has scored at least seven runs in each of its past three victories, but it has scored two runs or less in each of its three losses.

Detroit won on Opening Day but then lost two straight to division-rival Minnesota, and it won two straight against the Yankees before being shut out in Sunday's series finale. Porcello worked into the sixth inning and allowed three earned runs against the Twins in his season debut, but the Tigers couldn't get much going in an 8-2 series-finale defeat.

Toronto lost its first two series of the season, and it will need to keep Jose Bautista healthy and in the lineup. Bautista returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing three games due to a twisted right ankle. Bautista hit third and went 0-for-4, but Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera -- the top two hitters in the lineup -- combined for five hits.

Detroit got three hits from Torii Hunter in the opener, but Miguel Cabrera stole the show. Cabrera scored three times and drove in four runs for the Tigers, with three of them coming on his home run off Morrow in the fourth inning. Detroit won despite the absence of designated hitter Victor Martinez, who is day to day due to a cut on the top of his right thumb

Toronto, which is on its first road trip of the season, dropped its first two home series for the first time since 2004. The Blue Jays will head to Kansas City for a three-game series following the conclusion of their three-game set in Detroit.

Blue Jays: Power on display

Colby Rasmus drove a solo home run to provide a late run for the Blue Jays on Tuesday, extending one of the team's bright spots on the young season. Toronto has hit 12 home runs so far, which is tied for second in the AL. Catcher J.P. Arencibia has led the charge for the Blue Jays with three home runs in his first six games this season.

Arencibia, batting .296 so far, is tied with Matt Wieters (44) for the most home runs by a big league catcher since the start of the 2011 season. Arencibia batted fifth on Tuesday, and first baseman Edwin Encarnacion batted cleanup.

Tigers: Hunter hot from the start

Hunter may be aging, but he isn't showing it between the lines. Hunter, 37 years old, doubled and singled twice on Tuesday, netting a career milestone -- hit No. 2,000 -- in the process. The nine-time Gold Glove Award winner is batting .424 and settling in as a right-field counterbalance to the Tigers' fleet-footed center fielder Austin Jackson.

Hunter, a first-round selection in the 1993 First-Year Player Draft, is coming off a productive five-year spell with the Angels. Hunter batted .286 with 105 home runs in 713 games for the Halos over the past five seasons.

Worth noting

• The Blue Jays lost four of their six games to the Tigers last season, but they still outscored them, 21-19, for the season series.

• Melky Cabrera passed the 1,000-hit mark for his career on Tuesday.

• University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson threw out the first pitch at Tuesday's game.

• Catcher Alex Avila homered in Detroit's win on Tuesday.

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.








INJURY UPDATE:

• RF Avisail Garcia (Right heel contusion, 15-day DL retroactive to March 22, 2013).








To track MLB play-by-play: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• SCOREBOARD
• Official Press Pass game notes


On television

•
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


On radio

• AND/OR
• XM Channel Schedule









• THU, April 11:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (1-0, 5.40 ERA)) VS
BLUE JAYS: (RHP Josh Johnson (0-0, 4.50 ERA))
1:08 p.m. ET (FS-D / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)


• FRI, April 12:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (1-0, 7.20 ERA)) AT
ATHLETICS: (?HP ? (0-0, -.-- ERA))
10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)


• SAT, April 13:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (1-1, 2.19 ERA)) AT
ATHLETICS: (?HP ? (0-0, -.-- ERA))
4:05 p.m. ET (FS-D / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:


TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF (8-for-18 off Buehrle)
Torii Hunter, RF (21-for-88, 3 HR, 15 RBIs, 16 K’s off Buehrle)
Miguel Cabrera, 3B (6-for-26, 4 walks off Buehrle)
Prince Fielder, 1B (1-for-3 off Buehrle)
Victor Martinez, DH (27-for-74, 4 HR, 15 RBIs off Buehrle)
Matt Tuiasosopo, LF
Jhonny Peralta, SS (24-for-82, six doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBIs off Buehrle)
Alex Avila, C (4-for-11 off Buehrle)
Omar Infante, 2B (0-for-15 off Buehrle)

P: Rick Porcello


BLUE JAYS

Jose Reyes, SS (3-for-3, triple against Porcello)
Melky Cabrera, LF (7-for-14, RBI against Porcello)
Jose Bautista, RF (5-for-10 against Porcello)
Edwin Encarnacion, DH (3-for-9, 2 doubles against Porcello)
Adam Lind, 1B (2-for-10 against Porcello)
J.P. Arencibia, C
Colby Rasmus, CF (2-for-6 against Porcello)
Maicer Izturis, 3B (8-for-13, double, triple, HR against Porcello)
Emilio Bonifacio, 2B

P: Mark Buehrle

TOR - Top 1st
B:3 S:2 O:1
Jose Reyes grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Melky Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Jose Bautista flies out to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo.


DET - Bot 1st
B:2 S:0 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Torii Hunter called out on strikes.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Melky Cabrera. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Prince Fielder grounds into a force out, shortstop Jose Reyes to second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. Austin Jackson scores. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd. Prince Fielder to 1st.
1 - 0

B:3 S:1 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds out, pitcher Mark Buehrle to first baseman Adam Lind.

1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

TOR - Top 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Edwin Encarnacion grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Adam Lind flies out to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo.

B:1 S:0 O:2
J. P. Arencibia singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Colby Rasmus grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:0 O:0
Matt Tuiasosopo reaches on a fielding error by second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to left fielder Melky Cabrera. Matt Tuiasosopo to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Alex Avila grounds into a double play, second baseman Emilio Bonifacio to shortstop Jose Reyes to first baseman Adam Lind. Matt Tuiasosopo to 3rd. Jhonny Peralta out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Omar Infante singles on a ground ball to left fielder Melky Cabrera. Matt Tuiasosopo scores.
2 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:3
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Jose Bautista.

2 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

LIGHT RAIN FALLING

TOR - Top 3rd
B:3 S:2 O:0
Maicer Izturis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Emilio Bonifacio grounds into a double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder. Maicer Izturis out at 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Jose Reyes strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 3rd
B:1 S:0 O:1
Torii Hunter pops out to second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera flies out to left fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder walks.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

2 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

TOR - Top 4th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Melky Cabrera grounds out to pitcher Rick Porcello.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Jose Bautista grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Edwin Encarnacion doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Adam Lind flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


DET - Bot 4th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Matt Tuiasosopo flies out to left fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Emilio Bonifacio to first baseman Adam Lind.

2 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

TOR - Top 5th
B:3 S:2 O:1
J. P. Arencibia pops out to catcher Alex Avila in foul territory.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Colby Rasmus singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Maicer Izturis grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder. Colby Rasmus to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Emilio Bonifacio doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo. Colby Rasmus scores.
2 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jose Reyes grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 5th
B:3 S:1 O:0
Omar Infante singles on a ground ball to left fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, catcher J. P. Arencibia to first baseman Adam Lind. Omar Infante to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Torii Hunter singles on a line drive to center fielder Colby Rasmus. Omar Infante scores.
3 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Jose Bautista. Torii Hunter to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Mark Buehrle intentionally walks Prince Fielder.

Pitching Change: Steve Delabar replaces Mark Buehrle.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez walks. Torii Hunter scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Prince Fielder to 2nd.
4 - 1

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Andy Dirks replaces Matt Tuiasosopo.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks walks. Miguel Cabrera scores. Prince Fielder to 3rd. Victor Martinez to 2nd.
5 - 1

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Jhonny Peralta singles on a fly ball to center fielder Colby Rasmus.Prince Fielder scores. Victor Martinez to 3rd. Andy Dirks to 2nd.
6 - 1

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

B:0 S:1 O:3
Omar Infante pops out to catcher J. P. Arencibia in foul territory.

6 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

TOR - Top 6th
Andy Dirks remains in the game as the left fielder.

B:3 S:2 O:0
Melky Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Jose Bautista singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Melky Cabrera to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Edwin Encarnacion doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Melky Cabrera scores. Jose Bautista to 3rd.
6 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: Darin Downs replaces Rick Porcello.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Mark DeRosa replaces Adam Lind.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Mark DeRosa doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Jose Bautista scores. Edwin Encarnacion scores.
6 - 4

B:2 S:2 O:1
J. P. Arencibia flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson. Mark DeRosa to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Colby Rasmus strikes out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Maicer Izturis walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Emilio Bonifacio strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 6th
Mark DeRosa remains in the game as the first baseman.

Pitching Change: Aaron Loup replaces Steve Delabar.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Torii Hunter flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder singles on a ground ball to second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez flies out to left fielder Melky Cabrera.

6 - 4 AFTER 6 INNINGS

TOR - Top 7th
B:3 S:2 O:1
Jose Reyes lines out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

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

Pitching Change: Brayan Villarreal replaces Darin Downs.

Coaching visit to mound.

With Jose Bautista batting, wild pitch by Brayan Villarreal, Melky Cabrera to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Jose Bautista walks.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Edwin Encarnacion walks. Melky Cabrera to 3rd. Jose Bautista to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Mark DeRosa walks. Melky Cabrera scores. Jose Bautista to 3rd. Edwin Encarnacion to 2nd.
6 - 5

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: Octavio Dotel replaces Brayan Villarreal.

B:0 S:1 O:1
J. P. Arencibia doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Jose Bautista scores. Edwin Encarnacion scores. Mark DeRosa scores.
TOR 8 - 6

B:1 S:3 O:2
Colby Rasmus called out on strikes.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Maicer Izturis grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 7th
Pitching Change: Brett Cecil replaces Aaron Loup.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks grounds out to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to left fielder Melky Cabrera.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila flies out to right fielder Jose Bautista.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Omar Infante grounds into a force out, shortstop Jose Reyes to second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. Jhonny Peralta out at 2nd.

TOR 8 - 6 AFTER 7 INNINGS

TOR - Top 8th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Emilio Bonifacio grounds out, pitcher Octavio Dotel to first baseman Prince Fielder.

Injury Delay.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Jose Reyes singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Melky Cabrera walks. Jose Reyes to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Jose Bautista strikes out swinging. Jose Reyes steals (4) 3rd base. Melky Cabrera steals (1) 2nd base.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Edwin Encarnacion called out on strikes.


DET - Bot 8th
Pitching Change: Darren Oliver replaces Brett Cecil.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, pitcher Darren Oliver to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

Injury Delay.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Torii Hunter flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

TOR 8 - 6 AFTER 8 INNINGS

TOR - Top 9th
Pitching Change: Phil Coke replaces Octavio Dotel.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Mark DeRosa pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta in foul territory.

B:1 S:3 O:2
J. P. Arencibia called out on strikes.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Colby Rasmus strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 9th
Pitching Change: Casey Janssen replaces Darren Oliver.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Prince Fielder called out on strikes.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Victor Martinez called out on strikes.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks lines out to third baseman Maicer Izturis.


TIGERS LOSE 6-8

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Loup
L: Villarreal
S: Janssen (2)


Game Info

Porcello pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.
Villarreal pitched to 3 batters in the 7th.

WP: Villarreal.
IBB: Fielder (by Buehrle).
Pitches-strikes: Buehrle 96-52, Delabar 19-8, Loup 26-14, Cecil 16-7, Oliver 10-7, Janssen 11-8, Porcello 92-57, Downs 30-19, Villarreal 19-7, Dotel 31-21, Coke 10-9.
Groundouts-flyouts: Buehrle 6-4, Delabar 0-0, Loup 0-3, Cecil 2-1, Oliver 2-1, Janssen 0-0, Porcello 9-3, Downs 0-1, Villarreal 0-0, Dotel 2-0, Coke 0-0.
Batters faced: Buehrle 22, Delabar 5, Loup 5, Cecil 4, Oliver 3, Janssen 3, Porcello 22, Downs 7, Villarreal 3, Dotel 8, Coke 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Delabar 3-3, Downs 2-2, Villarreal 1-1, Dotel 3-3.
Umpires: HP: Dana DeMuth. 1B: Angel Hernandez. 2B: Doug Eddings. 3B: John Tumpane.
Weather: 42 degrees, drizzle.
Wind: 7 mph, In from CF.
T: 3:36 (2:29 delay).
Att: 29,631.

Game 8: What to do with Brayan Villarreal
BECK'S BLOG
Posted on April 10, 2013 at 11:45 pm

Here’s the good news for the Tigers: In a league where a lot of teams scour to find a high-strikeout specialist they can call on whenever they need a big out with runner on base, the Tigers have two of them.

Here’s the bad news: In a league where teams can make pitchers pay dearly for walking guys, the Tigers have two relievers who can walk their share.
“I think he rears back and flings it, and flings it pretty good,” manager Jim Leyland said of Brayan Villarreal, “and sometimes it’s in the strike zone and sometimes it’s not.”

Between injuries and issues, they’ve spent most of the last couple years with only one. By the time Al Alburquerque returned last September from elbow surgery, Villarreal’s late-season struggles had already started to limit his usefulness. Now, with no closer and Leyland playing matchups with his relievers for 2-3 innings a game, you can make the case he needs both of them if he’s going to make it work, just to have one of them available on any given night.

Alburquerque finished out the eighth inning in Tuesday’s win over the Jays. Wednesday was Villarreal’s turn once Toronto put a runner on base on Darin Downs in the seventh to bring the potential tying run to the plate. What followed was 19 pitches, seven strikes, 18 fastballs, one slider, one swing and miss, two foul balls, and no other swings.

And before you ask why he was in there, keep this in mind: Villarreal got ahead on 1-2 counts to both of his final two hitters, Edwin Encarnacion and Mark DeRosa. Both times, he followed with three consecutive pitches out of the strike zone.

There’s a difference between getting ahead of a hitter and losing him, and just completely losing the strike zone.

“it’s amazing really,” Leyland said, “because for the most part the first pitch to every one of those hitters, Villarreal threw a nasty pitch for strike one and couldn’t throw another strike after that, throwing the ball in the dirt. He just had problems.”

So why keep him in after the second walk to Encarnacion to face DeRosa? Well, the aforementioned fact that he was getting ahead of hitters was one reason. The other, ironically, was that they needed a strikeout or a double play in that situation. He had worked himself into such a jam that they needed somebody like him to get out of it, though Leyland said before the game that Alburquerque was available.

“You know he throws strike one nasty,” Leyland said. “If he does get the ball around the plate, he’s got a chance to strike the guy out or has a chance to get a double play.”

He was a pitch away from the strikeout and couldn’t get it, though he threw all fastballs to DeRosa.

Leyland did not regret putting Villarreal in that situation.

“I thought you have a guy that throws 95, 96, 97 mph with a good slider, and you’ve got four right-handed hitters coming up,” Leyland said. “I don’t want to sound like I’m defending my decision, because I’m not. I would make the same decision again. He’s got to pitch. We’ve got to see if he can do it. It’s that simple.”

So far, Villarreal has given up eight runs on four hits with more walks (five) against outs (four). He believes he has a mechanical issue with his shoulder that he needs to watch on video and fix. The question is whether the Tigers can afford to take him out of action for two or three days to work out his issues.

On the one hand, Triple-A is sometimes the best place to work on issues. On the other hand, who can fill his spot well other than Bruce Rondon, and can the Tigers afford to take Rondon out of development duty.