GDT: 5/17/10 - DET (22-16) vs CWS (15-22) - 7:05 p.m. ET

GDT: 5/17/10 - DET (22-16) vs CWS (15-22) - 7:05 p.m. ET




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Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox
Monday, May 17, 2010
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT


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Tigers, White Sox meet for first time in '10

By Bailey Stephens / MLB.com

You can't blame the Tigers if they enter Monday's two-game set with the division rival White Sox with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.

The two teams last faced off in the final series of the 2009 regular season, as the White Sox swept the Tigers, forcing a one-game playoff between Detroit and Minnesota, which of course ended their season.

The White Sox don't need to give the Tigers any extra incentive in this series as Chicago could stand to pick up a road win. The White Sox currently sit in fourth place in the American League Central.

Their task could be tough, however, as the Tigers are rolling through a nine-game homestand that was seen as a roadblock on their schedule. They welcomed New York and Boston to town before the White Sox. Detroit has handled their challenge, going 5-2 on the homestand so far.

And while they will be facing Detroit for the first time this season, the White Sox could use this opportunity to turn around their results against their division opponents. The White Sox are 6-11 against the AL Central this season, most recently dropping two of three to Kansas City.

The White Sox will need a strong pitching performance from starter Freddy Garcia to contain the Tigers' latest secret weapon: Brennan Boesch. Although after his performance on this homestand, the secret is out on the outfielder. Boesch, whose 19 RBIs lead all American League rookies, has gone 10-for-20 on the Tigers' homestand, including a 4-for-6 night to lead the way in Saturday night's comeback victory against Boston.

The 25-year-old outfielder has been on a tear since being called up to fill the shoes of the injured Carlos Guillen and has forced the rest of the AL to take notice. He added a 1-for-4 effort on Sunday and enters the series with Chicago hitting .380. "He's an awful dangerous hitter, and he's swinging the bat extremely well, obviously, right now," manager Jim Leyland said of his young slugger. "So he's pretty big for us."

White Sox: Garcia goes for back-to-back wins
The White Sox will throw one of their best hurlers this season at the Tigers in Freddy Garcia. Garcia has been more than solid for Chicago this season and continued that success in his last outing, in which he allowed just two runs in seven innings against the Twins' high-powered offense.

"When I struck out [Orlando] Hudson and [Joe] Mauer, that was big for me," said Garcia, who fanned Hudson in the at-bat before Mauer's. "You know Mauer, man, I think he's the best hitter in baseball."

Garcia has been especially tough on the Tigers in his career. He carries a 16-6 career record against Detroit with a 3.76 ERA and has a 7-3 lifetime mark at Comerica Park.

Tigers: Porcello looks to repeat
Sophomore hurler Rick Porcello will get the ball on Monday as he aims to continue the success he found last week against the Yankees. The right-hander has struggled a bit this season as he hasn't been able to get his sinker working the way he wants, but he put it all together last time out, inducing 13 groundouts en route to seven scoreless innings to pick up the victory.

"It felt a lot better," Porcello said. "It felt more comfortable. It felt like I was getting good extension [on his delivery] and I was able to keep the ball down, even in the 'pen. I knew I felt good. It was a matter of going out there and performing and making the pitches that I need to make."

Worth noting
Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 17 outings for Detroit, tossing 16 2/3 scoreless innings over that span.

... The White Sox, among the league leaders in stolen bases, attempted two more Sunday, but both Mark Teahen and Alexei Ramirez were both thrown out.

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From MLB Tigers Press Pass


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Red Sox 5-1 yesterday afternoon at Comerica Park. Armando Galarraga (1-0) picked up the win for Detroit in his first start of the season, allowing one run in 5.2 innings of work. Ramon Santiago belted a two-run home run for the Tigers, while Johnny Damon added two hits and an RBI. The Tigers continue a nine-game homestand with the first game of a two-game series against the White Sox this evening. The club begins a seven-game road trip to Oakland, Los Angeles and Seattle on Wednesday night.

FOUR STRAIGHT SERIES WINS AT HOME: The Tigers have won each of their last four series at Comerica Park, taking a series from the Twins, Angels, Yankees and Red Sox. Since Major League Baseball went to four teams representing each league in the playoffs in 1995, the Tigers are the first team to win four consecutive home series against opponents that reached the playoffs the previous season. (Source: STATS LLC)

TIGERS TAME YANKEES, THEN RED SOX: The Tigers posted a 5-1 win over the Red Sox yesterday afternoon to take the series over Boston, after the club had taken three-of-four games from the Yankees to begin the homestand. Detroit is the first team to win back-toback series against those teams since the Blue Jays did so in August of 2008. No team had won consecutive series against the Yankees and Red Sox with at least one of those series being more than three games since the Orioles did so in September of 2001. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)

WORTH IS FIFTH PLAYER TO MAKE MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT FOR THE TIGERS: The Tigers have had five position players make their major league debut in the team's first 38 games this season (Brennan Boesch, Austin Jackson, Scott Sizemore, Casper Wells, Danny Worth), marking the most position players making their debut in the team's first 38-orfewer games since 1922 when Danny Clark, Bob Fothergill, Fred Haney, John Mohardt and Topper Rigney all made their debut in the season's first five games.

MAGGLIO MASHES AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: Magglio Ordonez enters tonight’s game against the White Sox hitting .337 (100x297) with 19 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 42 RBI in 77 games versus the club. He is fifth among all active major league players with a .337 batting average against the White Sox.

PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 17 outings for the Tigers, tossing 16.2 scoreless innings. He is second among all American League relievers with a 0.51 ERA and .123 batting average against, while he is tied for second with 10 saves.

DRIVING THEM IN: Brennan Boesch has collected at least one RBI in 12 of his first 19 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 19 career games.

MORE ON BOESCH: Brennan Boesch is hitting .407 (24x59) with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 18 RBI over his last 16 games dating back to April 28. He is second among all American League players with a .407 batting average during that stretch, while he is tied for second with 18 RBI and 12 extra-base hits and is third with a .746 slugging percentage.

BOESCH PROVIDES EXTRA-BASE POP: Brennan Boesch has collected 13 extra-base hits in his first 19 games with the Tigers. He has collected at least one extra-base hit in 10 of the 19 games, becoming the first Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one extra-base hit in 10 of his first 19 career games.

EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 36 of the club’s 39 games this season. Detroit is third among all American League clubs with 125 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, the Tigers are second in the league with 89 doubles.

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 .380 batting average and 19 RBI, while he is second with 27 hits and three home runs.

BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Through the club’s first 38 games this season, Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-4 record and 2.45 ERA (132.0IP/36ER). Tigers relievers lead the American League with 11 victories, a 2.45 ERA and 132.0 innings pitched.

SEAY TRANSFERRED TO 60-DAY DL: The Tigers today transferred lefthanded pitcher Bobby Seay from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

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