Game Information ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Detroit Tigers Media Relations Department w Comerica Park w Phone (313) 471-2000 w Fax (313) 471-2138 w Detroit, MI 48201 w www.tigers.com Twitter - @DetroitTigersPR, @tigers, @TigresdeDetroit Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, July 3, 2014 Comerica Park, Detroit, MI Game Time - 7:08 p.m. EDT RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Athletics with a 9-3 TIGERS AT A GLANCE win on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park. Torii Hunter and Austin Jackson each had three hits to lead the Detroit offense. Hunter added three RBI in the win, while Jackson Record: 47-34 / Streak: W3 drove in one run. Rajai Davis was 2x4 with two RBI and Ian Kinsler went 2x5 with a RBI. Justin Verlander started on the mound for the Tigers and earned the win after giving up Game #82 / Home #42 two runs on nine hits and striking out four in 6.0 innings. The Tigers continue their nine- Home: 22-19 / Road: 25-15 game homestand tonight as they begin a four-game series vs. the Rays. Following this weekend’s series, the Tigers wrap up their final homestand of the first half of the season Tonight’s Scheduled Starters with a two-game series vs. the Dodgers, which begins on Tuesday. REACHING THE MIDWAY POINT: The Tigers officially reached the halfway point of the RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP Erik Bedard season on Wednesday afternoon as they played their 81st game. At 47-34, the Tigers have (9-3, 3.64) (4-5, 4.21) posted their best 81-game record since the 2007 team also had a 47-34 record through 81 games. The Tigers have had a winning record at the season’s midway point in eight of the TV/Radio last nine seasons. FSD/1270 AM & 97.1 FM EXTRA, EXTRA: Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run double in the sixth inning of yesterday’s game, marking his 504th extra base hit as a member of the Tigers. Cabrera’s 504 extra TIGERS VS. RAYS base hits are tied with Willie Horton for the 12th most in franchise history. NO FREE PASSES FROM TIGERS STARTERS: The three Tigers starting pitchers did not 2014 Record: 0-0 allow a single walk during the three-game series vs. Oakland. It marked the first time Tigers starters did not give up a walk in three straight games since April 30-May 2, 2010 2014 at Home: 0-0 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 2014 at Tampa Bay: 0-0 PLAYING FOR THE BIG INNING: The Tigers scored six runs in the sixth inning of All-Time Record: 60-56 yesterday’s game, marking the seventh time this season Detroit has scored at least six All-Time at Home: 31-26 runs in an inning, which is the highest total for any major league team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Tigers had only eight 6-run innings during the entire 2013 All-Time at Comerica Park: 28-21 season. All-Time at Tampa Bay: 29-30 MARTINEZ MASHES AGAINST THE RAYS: Victor Martinez enters tonight’s game batting .364 (98x269) with 17 doubles, nine home runs and 47 RBI in 68 career games against 2014 Game Log the Rays. He is second among all active players with a .364 batting average, third with a Date Site Result Winner/Loser/Save .412 on-base percentage and eighth with a .528 slugging percentage against the Rays. 7/3 DET TORII ON TARGET VS. BEDARD: Torii Hunter has posted good numbers in his career against tonight’s Rays starter, Erik Bedard. Hunter is hitting .321 (9x28) with two doubles, 7/4 DET two home runs and six RBI against Bedard. Among all active players with at least 20 at 7/5 DET bats vs. Bedard, Hunter’s .321 batting average ranks sixth and his .607 slugging 7/6 DET percentage is fourth. 8/19 TB WINNING WAYS VS. THE RAYS: The Tigers enter tonight’s game having won 15 of the club’s last 21 games over Tampa Bay dating back to August 11, 2010. During the stretch, 8/20 TB Tigers pitchers have compiled a 2.42 ERA (189.1IP/51ER) against the Rays. 8/21 TB START ME UP: The Tigers starting rotation enters tonight’s game having recorded a quality start in 12 of the last 14 games dating back to June 18. Over the last 14 contests, STREAKS Detroit’s starting pitchers have compiled a 2.28 ERA (90.2IP/23ER) with 85 hits allowed, 14 walks and 71 strikeouts. The Tigers 2.28 starting rotation ERA is the lowest in the Last five games: 4-1 American League in that time span. Last 10 games: 8-2 TIGERS AT THE TOP IN HITTING: The Tigers currently lead the American League with a Last 15 games: 11-4 .276 team batting average. Individually, Victor Martinez ranks tied for third in the American Last 20 games: 14-6 League with a .323 (96x297) batting average, Miguel Cabrera is tied for sixth with a .311 (97x312) batting average and Ian Kinsler is eighth with a .308 (104x338) batting average. REPLAY RUNDOWN: The Tigers have been involved in 52 instant replay challenges so far this season. Detroit has challenged 21 plays with 12 plays being overturned, five plays TIGERS ALL-TIME EXTRA BASE HITS LIST confirmed and four plays standing as called. Opponents have made 26 challenges with 19 Rank XBH Player Years plays being overturned, two plays confirmed and five plays standing as called. There have been five crew chief initiated reviews with two plays being confirmed, one play standing as 9. 652 Alan Trammell 1977-96 called and two plays overturned. 10. 540 Bobby Veach 1912-23 INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR ROSTER ANNOUNCED: The International League 11. 517 Rudy York 1934-45 All-Star roster was announced yesterday for the Triple A All-Star Game. Third baseman 12. 504 Miguel Cabrera 2008-14 Mike Hessman and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera of the Toledo Mud Hens were selected to represent the International League in the game, which will be played at Durham Bulls 12. 504 Willie Horton 1963-77 Athletic Park in Durham, N.C., on Wednesday, July 16. GERBER NAMED NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Michael Gerber, an outfielder for the Connecticut Tigers, was named the New York-Penn League Player of THIS DATE IN TIGERS HISTORY the Week. In seven games last week, Gerber hit .586 (17x29) with 12 runs scored, eight 1973 - Brothers Gaylord Perry (Indians) and doubles, three triples, three home runs and 15 RBI. He posted a .625 on base percentage and a 1.379 slugging percentage. Jim Perry (Tigers) pitch against each other for NOTES ON THE SKIPPER: Brad Ausmus is in his first season at the helm for the Tigers the only time in their careers. Neither finishes after being named the 37th manager in Tigers history on November 3, 2013. the game, but Gaylord is charged with the 5-4 - According to Stats, LLC, became the first manager since Clint Hurdle of Colorado and loss as Norm Cash hits two home runs for the Jerry Royster of Milwaukee in 2002 to begin his career with four straight wins. - Becomes just the 14th manager in Tigers history to have also played at the major league Tigers. level for Detroit, joining Alan Trammell, Dick Tracewski, Billy Martin, Bob Swift, Billy Hitchcock, Fred Hutchinson, Mickey Cochrane, Del Baker, Bucky Harris, George Moriarty, Ty 1993 - Detroit’s Cecil Fielder becomes the third Cobb, Hughie Jennings and Bobby Lowe. - Spent 18 seasons as a catcher at the major league level with the Padres (1993-96), player in history to homer onto the left field roof Tigers (1996, 1999-2000), Astros (1997-1998, 2001-07) and Dodgers (2009-10)...made at Tiger Stadium. Harmon Killebrew and Frank eight postseason appearances as a player, including two trips to the American League Howard are the only other players to accomplish Championship Series and one to the World Series. the feat. INJURY UPDATE: RHP Joel Hanrahan (right elbow surgery, 15-day DL on May 2), LHP Ian Krol (left shoulder inflammation, 15-day DL on June 21), RHP Luke Putkonen (right elbow inflammation, 60-day DL on April 19), RHP Bruce Rondon (right elbow surgery/UCL reconstruction, 60-day DL on March 29), INF Jose Iglesias (bilateral tibial stress fractures, 60-day DL on March 29), OF Andy Dirks (lower back surgery/microdis- cectomy, 60-day DL on March 29). TIGERS UPCOMING GAME DETAILS TIGERS OPPONENTS DATE OPPONENT GAME TIME PROBABLE PITCHER PROBABLE PITCHER TV/RADIO Friday Tampa Bay 7:08 p.m. LHP Drew Smyly RHP Alex Cobb FSD/ESPN/1270 & 97.1 (4-7, 3.57) (3-6, 4.20) Saturday Tampa Bay 4:08 p.m. RHP Anibal Sanchez RHP Chris Archer FSD/1270 & 97.1 (5-2, 2.63) (4-5, 3.24) Sunday Tampa Bay 8:07 p.m. RHP Rick Porcello LHP David Price ESPN/1270 & 97.1 (11-4, 3.12) (7-7, 3.50) All times Eastern. Radio coverage on AM 1270 and 97.1 FM The Ticket, unless otherwise noted. Local TV coverage provided by FOX Sports Detroit (FSD) and FOX Sports Detroit Plus (FSD PLUS). TIGERS AT A GLANCE IN 2014 vs. AL East: 10-5 Scoring five-or-more runs: 33-4 Lead after 6th/7th/8th inning: 38-4/40-3/41-3 vs. AL Central: 19-15 Scoring four-or-less runs: 14-30 Trail after 6th/7th/8th inning: 4-24/2-28/3-29 vs.