GDT: 6/11/10 - DET (30-29) VS PIT (23-37) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tigers welcome Bucs as Interleague resumes

By Samuel Zuba / MLB.com

The Tigers will look to stop their offensive skid as they welcome Pittsburgh to kick off a three-game series of Interleague Play.

Coming off two consecutive losses to the White Sox, Detroit will look to avoid its first three-game losing streak since May 29 as it begins a nine-game homestand at Comerica Park.

Detroit combined for just three hits in its latest 3-0 loss to the White Sox, as starting pitcher John Danks was untouchable, allowing just one hit through seven innings of work.

The Tigers will send their ace Justin Verlander to the mound in the first game against the Pirates. Verlander was lights out in his last start against the Royals as he pitched seven-plus innings and allowed only five hits and two earned runs in a 4-2 victory.

Verlander is no stranger to Interleague Play. The right-hander is 9-1 in 13 career starts with a 2.90 ERA. In those 13 starts, Verlander has fanned 89.

Tigers: Ordonez sits another one out
Magglio Ordonez missed Thursday's game against the White Sox with continued left oblique soreness. He has only played in one of the Tigers' past five games. There is no indication as to when he will be back in the lineup, but the Tigers could sure use Ordonez's to break out of their current offensive slump. Ordonez is batting .312 with eight homers and 41 RBIs this season.

Pirates: Ohlendorf looking for first win
Ross Ohlendorf (0-3) is still eyeing that elusive first win of the 2010 season. He was solid in his last outing, going six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, but the Pirates lost, 6-5, in 10 innings to the Giants. Ohlendorf has faced the Tigers twice, with one start, and is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA. Over 9 1/3 innings facing the Tigers, he has surrendered just one run, while striking out seven and walking just three.

Worth noting
Tigers manager Jim Leyland made a push for Miguel Cabrera in the 2010 All-Star Game voting, saying, "If he's not on the All-Star team, there's something wrong with the whole system."

... The Pirates bolstered the pitching staffs of their farm system by taking 32 pitchers in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

... The Pirates' Jose Tabata singled in his first-career at-bat Wednesday against the Nationals.



Pitching matchup

DET: Justin Verlander (6-4, 3.65 ERA)
Verlander will welcome the Pirates for Game 1 of a three-game series that kicks off a nine-game homestand of Interleague Play for the Tigers. Verlander is fresh off his sixth victory of the season, in which he pitched seven-plus innings and allowed only five hits and two earned runs as the Tigers beat the Royals, 4-2. Interleague Play has been kind to Verlander. In 13 career starts, he is 9-1 with a 2.90 ERA to go along with 89 strikeouts.


Pirates: RHP Ross Ohlendorf (0-3, 4.30 ERA)
Another stellar outing once again did not result in a win for Ohlendorf, who was aided by tremendous fielding in his last outing, a 6-5, 10-inning home loss to the Giants on Sunday. Ohlendorf went six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking three. He added a single off Tim Lincecum in the fifth. In two career appearances (one start) against the Tigers, Ohlendorf is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA, having surrendered just one run on three hits in 9 1/3 innings. The right-hander has stuck out seven and walked just three.


From MLB Tigers Game Notes

RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 3-0 loss to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field yesterday afternoon. Max Scherzer (2-6) fanned seven batters as he allowed three runs in 7.1 innings of work to take the loss for Detroit. Carlos Guillen, Brandon Inge and Gerald Laird all finished with a single for the Tigers. The Tigers begin a nine-game homestand with the first game of a three-game series versus Pittsburgh this evening. Following an off day on Monday, the homestand continues with a visit from both Washington and Arizona.

INTERLEAGUE HAPPENINGS: Tonight’s contest against the Pirates is Detroit’s fourth game of interleague play in 2010. Since interleague play started in 1997, the Tigers have compiled a 124-108 record. The Tigers are 57-33 in interleague games at Comerica Park. Detroit is 1-2 in interleague games during the 2010 season.

AMONG THE BEST SINCE 2006: The Tigers have compiled a 53-22 record, a .707 winning percentage, during interleague play since the start of the 2006 season. The .707 winning percentage during interleague action is second-best among major league clubs during that stretch. The Minnesota Twins are 55-20, a .733 winning percentage, during interleague action over that stretch.

TIGERS PILE UP THE WINS IN INTERLEAGUE PLAY AT HOME: The Tigers have posted a 29-6 record, an .829 winning percentage, during interleague action over the club’s last 35 games at Comerica Park dating back to May 20, 2006.

MAGGLIO MASHES DURING INTERLEAGUE ACTION: Magglio Ordonez enters tonight’s game versus Pittsburgh hitting .333 (209x628) with 40 doubles, three triples, 34 home runs and 140 RBI in 170 games during interleague action in his career. He is fourth among all active major league players with a .333 batting average during interleague action, while he is seventh with a .568 slugging percentage.

PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 23 outings for the Tigers, tossing 23.1 scoreless innings. He is tops among all American League relievers with a 0.37 ERA and .115 batting average against, while he is tied for eighth with 12 saves.

ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE: Magglio Ordonez is batting .373 (28x75) with 16 runs scored, two doubles, a triple, four home runs and 18 RBI over his last 20 games dating back to May 13. He is fourth among all American League players with a .442 on-base percentage during that stretch, while he is fifth with a .373 batting average.

CABRERA PLAYING LONGBALL: Miguel Cabrera has connected for 10 home runs over his last 17 games dating back to May 20. During the 17-game stretch, he is hitting .348 (23x66) with 15 runs scored, three doubles and 17 RBI. Cabrera is tops among all American League players with 10 home runs and an .848 slugging percentage during that stretch, while he is tied for ninth with 17 RBI and is 10th with a .348 batting average.

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 36 runs scored and 75 hits, while he is second with a .313 batting average. Boesch is tops among all league rookies with a .338 batting average, seven home runs and 29 RBI, while he is second with 47 hits.

BOESCH’S EXTRA-BASE HIT TOTAL AMONG BEST SINCE AT LEAST 1952: Brennan Boesch has collected 23 extra-base hits in the first 38 games of his major league career with the Tigers. His 23 extra-base hits are tied for the second-most in a player’s first 38 career games since at least 1952, along with Alvin Davis (1984), Adam Dunn (2001), Albert Pujols (2001) and Jeff Francoeur (2005). Ryan Braun collected 25 extra-base base hits in his first 38 career games in 2007.

BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled a 13-6 record and 2.99 ERA (180.2IP/60ER) through the club’s first 59 games this season. Tigers relievers lead the American League with 13 victories, while the club is second with a 2.99 ERA and fourth with 180.2 innings pitched.

HOME IS WHERE THE MOUND IS: Tigers pitchers have compiled a 3.51 ERA (246.0IP/96ER) through the club’s first 27 games at home, while they have limited opponents to a .244 batting average (227x931). The Tigers are fourth in the American League with a 3.51 ERA at home this season, while the club is fifth with a .244 batting average against.

EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 54 of the club’s 59 games this season. Detroit is sixth among all American League clubs with 188 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, Detroit is third in the league with 126 doubles.

INJURY UPDATE:
RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 15-day DL on March 26),
RHP Ryan Perry (right shoulder bicipital tendinitis, 15-day DL on June 7),
LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26).



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Saturday, June 12
Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.40 ERA)) VS Pirates (LHP Paul Maholm (4-4, 3.80 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Sunday, June 13
Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (2-1, 2.77 ERA)) VS Pirates (RHP Jeff Karstens (1-2, 4.81 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Andrew McCutchen grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Neil Walker called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ryan Doumit flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Neil Walker to first baseman Ryan Doumit.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Johnny Damon swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Don Kelly grounds out, second baseman Akinori Iwamura to first baseman Ryan Doumit.

0-0 after 1 inning

Like Rickimouse wrote on Facebook:
Dear Tigers, please stop sucking. Thank you~

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Garrett Jones lines out sharply to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Church pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Lastings Milledge pops out to second baseman Carlos Guillen.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Garrett Jones.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, third baseman Neil Walker to first baseman Ryan Doumit.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen pops out to shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Akinori Iwamura walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ronny Cedeno out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Justin Verlander to second baseman Carlos Guillen. Akinori Iwamura to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Jaramillo grounds out sharply, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Akinori Iwamura to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Andrew McCutchen doubles (14) on a line drive to left fielder Don Kelly. Akinori Iwamura scores.

PIT 1, DET 0



B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Neil Walker flies out to left fielder Don Kelly in foul territory.


PIT 1, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Garrett Jones. Brandon Inge to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, passed ball by Jason Jaramillo, Alex Avila to 2nd.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Austin Jackson swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Johnny Damon swinging.

PIT 1, DET 0 after 3 innings

laprimamirala wrote:

Like Rickimouse wrote on Facebook:
Dear Tigers, please stop sucking. Thank you~

she is so right!

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Doumit flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Garrett Jones singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Church lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Lastings Milledge batting, Garrett Jones steals (5) 2nd base.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Lastings Milledge walks.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Akinori Iwamura flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

PIT 1, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Don Kelly grounds out, first baseman Ryan Doumit to pitcher Ross Ohlendorf.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch homers (8) on a line drive to right field.

PIT 1, DET 1


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen doubles (10) on a line drive to right fielder Garrett Jones.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge doubles (16) on a ground ball to left fielder Lastings Milledge. Carlos Guillen scores.

DET 2, PIT 1



B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andrew McCutchen. Brandon Inge scores.

DET 3, PIT 1




B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Akinori Iwamura to first baseman Ryan Doumit.

DET 3, PIT 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Ronny Cedeno swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Jason Jaramillo walks.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Andrew McCutchen grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jason Jaramillo to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Neil Walker grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 3, PIT 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Austin Jackson bunt grounds out to first baseman Ryan Doumit.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Johnny Damon doubles (17) on a line drive to right fielder Garrett Jones.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Don Kelly called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Ronny Cedeno to first baseman Ryan Doumit.

DET 3, PIT 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Doumit grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Garrett Jones pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Church flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET 3, PIT 1 after 5.5 innings

what a relief they are coming alive again!

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Garrett Jones.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
With Alex Avila batting, Brennan Boesch steals (2) 2nd base.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Garrett Jones. Brennan Boesch scores.

DET 4, PIT 1

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, Alex Avila steals (2) 2nd base.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Alex Avila scores.

DET 6, PIT 1


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

DET 6, PIT 1 after 6 innings

laprimamirala wrote:

what a relief they are coming alive again!

great hitting by the bottom of the order.

Inning 7
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Lastings Milledge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Akinori Iwamura lines out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Ronny Cedeno flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson. (great catch by Jackson!)


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Jaramillo swinging.

DET 6, PIT 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Dana Eveland replaces Ross Ohlendorf.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Johnny Damon singles on a ground ball to second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Don Kelly pops out to third baseman Neil Walker in foul territory.


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


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, shortstop Ronny Cedeno to first baseman Ryan Doumit.

DET 6, PIT 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Andrew McCutchen doubles (15) on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Neil Walker walks.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Justin Verlander.

B:2 S:1 O:2 - Ryan Doumit grounds into double play, shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Andrew McCutchen to 3rd. Neil Walker out at 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Garrett Jones singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Andrew McCutchen scores.

DET 6, PIT 2


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Church swinging.

DET 6, PIT 2 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to right fielder Garrett Jones.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Avila walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Lastings Milledge.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Austin Jackson lines out to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

DET 6, PIT 2 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Phil Coke.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Lastings Milledge swinging.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Akinori Iwamura walks.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Ronny Cedeno grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Akinori Iwamura to 2nd.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Jaramillo swinging, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


DET 6, PIT 2 FINAL BOX SCORE >> CLICK HERE <<

Nice to see the bottom half of the lineup hitting.

... Jackson and Miggy in a temp hitting slump.