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Detroit Tigers Clips Sunday, April 15, 2012

Detroit Free Press Chicago 5, 1: Tigers' bats go cold; Starter Adam Wilk knocked out by 's foul (Windsor) Tigers swing away, but Floyd makes 'em miss (Windsor) White Sox 5, Tigers 1: Notes, quotes from Saturday's loss (Windsor) Ticker: Tigers' gets personal in Men's Journal (Schrader) 3 up, 3 down | Prince Fielder on 's power: 'He hits it to right like I it to right' (Machota) On deck this week for the Tigers: Royals, Rangers (Staff) Chicago 5, Detroit 1: Tigers' bats quiet again vs. (Windsor) 'excited' to be back with Tigers in Chicago (Windsor) claim Tigers' Clete Thomas off waivers (Windsor) Jackie Robinson's legacy includes supporting young scholars who aim to change world (Riley)

The Detroit News Tigers offense cold again in second straight loss to Sox (Gage) Tigers' Brandon Inge looking forward to possibly starting Sunday (Gage) Adam Wilk's gem ends in pain, but he won't miss start for Tigers (Gage) Tigers lose Clete Thomas to Twins in waiver claim (Gage)

MLive.com Aggressive Detroit Tigers hitters come up empty against Gavin Floyd in 5-1 loss to White Sox (Iott) Adam Wilk pitches well in first start; Detroit Tigers' bats cold again in loss to White Sox (Iott) Detroit Tigers' Adam Wilk removed from game after foul ball into dugout (Iott) Brandon Inge upon return from disabled list to Detroit Tigers: 'I can't wait to play' (Iott) Minnesota Twins claim outfielder Clete Thomas off waivers from Detroit Tigers (Iott) Detroit Tigers lineup: Adam Wilk to face Gavin Floyd in first major league start (Iott)

MLB.com Tigers offer little support in Wilk's first start (Beck) Virgil a trail blazer for Tigers (Beck) Wilk leaves after taking foul ball off shoulder (Beck) White Sox take aim at sweep of Tigers (Berry) Schlereth unable to harness command (Beck) Outfielder Thomas claimed off waivers by Twins (Beck) Inge expects to start Sunday against lefty (Beck) Fister's treatment continues, no timetable set (Beck)

Associated Press Tigers activate Inge, recall Wilk (Staff) Wilk injured in dugout, Tigers fall to White Sox (Staff)

CBSSports.com Daily Transactions

2 Chicago 5, Detroit Tigers 1: Tigers' bats go cold; Starter Adam Wilk knocked out by Prince Fielder's foul April 15, 2012 By Shawn Windsor /

CHICAGO -- For the second straight game, the Tigers couldn't get a hit when it mattered most. And for the second straight time, they lost to the White Sox -- this time 5-1. The Tigers managed only five hits Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field. The lack of hitting ---- Detroit has scored three runs in two days here -- overshadowed a solid performance by first-time starter Adam Wilk. Not only did Wilk not get any support, he had the misfortune of sitting in the wrong place at the wrong time in the dugout. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Prince Fielder hit a foul toward the dugout that hit Wilk on the left (pitching) shoulder. At that point, the Tigers were down, 2-0, and Wilk had given up only three hits. The foul ball caused a contusion, and Wilk had to leave the game. took over and promptly gave up back-to-back doubles. It was that kind of day. Twice, the Tigers loaded the bases and both times had nothing to show for it. Only an eighth-inning by Brennan Boesch prevented a shutout. Chicago's Gavin Floyd pitched six shutout innings. The White Sox are 5-2 and have a half-game lead atop the Central Division. The Tigers (5-3) have lost three of four. Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @freepspartans. More Details: EARLY LINE Even with the loss of Victor Martinez to injury, the signing of Prince Fielder led to speculation that the Tigers' offense would be much improved. Here's how it compares to the first eight games of 2011: 2011 2012 W-L 3-5 5-3 AB 273 267 H 72 74 2B 18 9 3B 0 3 HR 10 10 R 38 43 BB 25 21 SO 59 52 BA .264 .277 OBP .323 .334 SLG .440 .446 More Details: More inside The book "Summer of '68" explores the 1968 baseball season through the prism of the nation's socially combustible climate, with post-riot Detroit and its champion Tigers at the heart of the story. The book is excerpted in today's Entertainment + Travel section, which includes an interview with author Tim Wendel.

3 Tigers swing away, but Floyd makes 'em miss 5 hits not enough to beat White Sox April 15, 2012 By Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press

CHICAGO -- White Sox Gavin Floyd pitched six scoreless innings Saturday against the Tigers. Or, as Tigers put it, Floyd, "took advantage of our aggressiveness." The Tigers managed five hits in their 5-1 loss to the Central Division rivals. Detroit has scored three runs over the past two games. When they scored 23 combined runs during the second and third games of the season, Leyland cautioned everyone that the bounty wouldn't always be so plentiful. "This is why I was telling everybody don't get too excited," Leyland said. "You know, we've faced eight real good . You don't wear out good pitching. It just doesn't happen." It does for Austin Jackson, at least for the moment. The centerfielder collected three more hits -- two singles and a -- and leads the team in batting at .433. Jackson is so focused that when he rapped a laser into left- center he knew he was getting to second as soon as he left the batter's box. His confidence paid off, even though the ball didn't squirt that far into the gap, when Jackson slid into second a split-second before the ball arrived. The moxie gave the Tigers a runner at second with no outs. Floyd then struck out Brennan Boesch, induced a groundout from Miguel Cabrera, walked Prince Fielder, hit and struck out Alex Avila with the bases loaded. It was the second time Floyd escaped a bases- loaded jam. The first came in the second inning, when lofted a fly ball to centerfield to end the threat. Other than loading the bases twice with the help of a couple of walks and two hit batters -- Floyd hit Young in the second inning, too -- the Tigers couldn't get anything going. "You swing at balls, you make outs," said Leyland, "Floyd took advantage of that." Detroit didn't push across a run until Boesch took Jesse Crain deep in the eighth inning. By then the White Sox were up four runs. Perhaps the number would've been smaller had Adam Wilk not taken a foul ball on the left shoulder as he sat in the dugout during the sixth inning. Wilk didn't see Fielder's foul coming. He was on the bench, and a group of players were hanging on the dugout railing in front of him. When Fielder swung, the ball raced backward, skipped into the dirt in foul territory and hopped through the railing into Wilk. "It hurt," said Wilk, "but I feel fine. It's just gonna be a little stiff." Wilk was immediately taken back to the clubhouse for treatment on a contusion on his throwing shoulder. He said the staff didn't want to take any chances. One fluky bounce and his starting debut was done. "It was disappointing," said Wilk. He'd given up only two runs and three hits at that point and had thrown just 62 pitches -- 40 for strikes. Both runs were solo shots because of pitches he left up in the zone in the middle of the plate. Despite the mistakes, Wilk said he was pleased with his effort. So was Leyland, who said Wilk wouldn't miss his next start. That will likely be Thursday at against Texas.

4 White Sox 5, Tigers 1: Notes, quotes from Saturday's loss April 15, 2012 By Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press

At U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago WHAT HAPPENED: Gavin Floyd pitched six scoreless innings, helped by escaping two bases-loaded jams, and shut down the Tigers. The White Sox smacked three home runs -- all solo shots, and ruined Adam Wilk's first career start. Wilk pitched five innings, allowed three hits and two runs. BIG BATS COOLING: Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera have combined for one hit during the series. In 16 plate appearances, the sluggers have walked twice and struck out three times. INGE SIGHTING: Brandon Inge got a ninth-inning pinch-hit appearance that turned out to be the final out -- Inge grounded out. Inge joined the team Saturday and is expected to start today against White Sox left-hander Chris Sale. Jim Leyland also let Gerald Laird pinch-hit in the ninth inning for Alex Avila. Laird is expected to start today to give Avila a day off. FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Delmon Young was hit by pitches in his first two plate appearances. The back-to-back drillings was the first time that had happened in his career, according to baseball-reference.com . OH, THAT BULLPEN: Daniel Schlereth's struggles continued. The reliever pitched 1 1/3 innings, gave up three hits and a run, pushing his ERA to 9.00 for the season. Leyland said he wanted Schlereth to pitch Saturday -- he worked Friday, too -- because he needs to throw strikes and is struggling with his command. QUOTABLE: Collin Balester: "It's not like we're struggling or anything, we are just running into some good pitchers." THREE STARS: 1. Floyd, 2. Austin Jackson, 3. .

5 Ticker: Tigers' Justin Verlander gets personal in Men's Journal April 15, 2012 By Steve Schrader / Detroit Free Press

He has the commercials, he appeared on "Conan," and here's more evidence of Justin Verlander's rising star quality: a profile in a nonsports magazine, the May issue of Men's Journal. Here are a few thoughts Verlander shared with author Pat Jordan: • On making the big bucks: "I love the money, but I'd play for free. I know I have a lot of money, but I don't spend it. Did you see Elton John went bankrupt? He spent $10,000 a day on flowers. You make it, you gotta keep it." • On not yet marrying Emily Yuen, his girlfriend of 11 years: "She really hung in there. She's the one, but I'm not ready." • On why he doesn't watch baseball on TV: "Don't have the attention span." • On what his Plan B was if he hadn't made it in baseball: "I had no other interests but baseball because I never thought I'd not make it. No. Never. ... What can I say? I'm a confident guy." Hoops poll: U-M fifth, MSU 10th ESPN.com's Andy Katz has upgraded Michigan to No. 5 in his prepreseason hoops rankings, but dropped Michigan State to No. 10. In his original rankings, back in even earlier April, he had the Spartans seventh and the Wolverines eighth. Now Katz writes -- with Trey Burke staying in Ann Arbor -- "This team is loaded and, as long as the newcomers blend in, there's no reason to believe Michigan can't compete at the highest level in both the Big Ten and nationally." As for MSU: "If you think Michigan State is going to slide under Tom Izzo, you haven't been following the program. ... The Spartans don't ever lack for talent, and a top-10 freshmen class is on the way." Quick hits • It didn't cause waves when he was managing the White Sox, but Men's Journal points out that Ozzie Guillen also praised Fidel Castro in a 2008 interview: "He's a (bleep) dictator and everybody's against him, and he still survives, has power. Still has a country behind him. Everywhere he goes they roll out the red carpet. I don't admire his philosophy. I admire him." • Brad Dickson, Omaha World-Herald, on Nebraska planning an alternate football uniform: "This makes no sense. The Huskers just got new uniforms in 1923." • Dwight Perry, Seattle Times, on the Lingerie Football League going on hiatus this year: "Pink slips for everybody!" • Marc Sessler, NFL.com, who has Wayne Fontes on his list of coaches ripe for a comeback: "Total entertainment on the sideline. Fontes knew how to hang on to a job amid a forest of critics. (Chris Berman once labeled him 'Rasputin.') Vince Lombardi, he was not. Memorable, he was."

6 3 up, 3 down | Prince Fielder on Miguel Cabrera's power: 'He hits it to right like I hit it to right' April 15, 2012 By Jon Machota / Detroit Free Press

1) Hitting ahead of Prince Fielder helped earn NL MVP honors last year, so expectations are high for Miguel Cabrera now that Fielder is hitting behind him. The power-hitting was excited about that scenario when he signed with the Tigers in January, but Cabrera has exceeded Fielder's expectations. "In BP, the way he hits balls, it looks like he's left-handed," Fielder told FoxSports.com. "He hits it to right like I hit it to right. That's kind of crazy." 2) There's a chance Victor Martinez could return to the Tigers' lineup this season, which would increase the explosiveness of one of the league's top offenses. Martinez is recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Martinez "is very excited" and that there's "at least a glimmer of hope he might rejoin us late." 3) Brennan Boesch celebrated his 27th birthday Thursday with a 2-for-4, four-RBI outing in a 7-2 win over Tampa Bay. He is hitting .257. "He hits left-handers .319 over his career, and that's pretty good," manager Jim Leyland said. 1) has started twice this season and has no wins and a 10.38 ERA. After giving up eight hits and seven runs in 2 2/3 innings in his first start, Scherzer went six innings, striking out 11, on Friday. "The results were better. I didn't feel like I was as bad as after my first start," he said. "Unfortunately, I made a couple mistakes and I paid for it." In 33 starts in 2011, he went 15-9 with 174 and a 4.43 ERA. 2) Justin Verlander hasn't allowed a run during the first eight innings in either of his starts this year. However, he also doesn't have a victory. Jose Valverde blew his chance at an win, and Verlander unraveled in the ninth inning Wednesday, allowing Tampa Bay to rally for a 4-2 win. "It's inexcusable," Verlander said. "This loss rests solely on my shoulders today. I got away from what I'd been doing all day." 3) Verlander and Scherzer have company. None of the Tigers' starting pitchers has a victory this season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Tigers are the first team in major league history to win at least five of its first six games without a starting pitcher getting a win. OVERHEARD: "It might sound corny, but it means a lot. When the batting champion is willing to change positions so you can be part of this, it feels good." • Prince Fielder, telling FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi about receiving a text message from Miguel Cabrera in January, welcoming him

7 On deck this week for the Tigers: Royals, Rangers April 15, 2012 By Staff / Detroit Free Press

The Tigers travel to Kansas City, where they went 6-3 last season. Cleanup hitter Billy Butler, 25, is the Royals' most dangerous offensive weapon. If he remains healthy, there is no reason why he shouldn't lead the club in home runs, RBIs, even batting average. Vs. Rangers In a rematch of the Championship Series, the Tigers will be tested by and one of the top lineups in the league. After falling short in the World Series for the second straight season, Texas still boasts a lineup that has almost no holes. The starting pitching is also very good, and the bullpen is possibly the best in baseball.

8 Chicago 5, Detroit 1: Tigers' bats quiet again vs. Chicago White Sox April 15, 2012 By Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press

CHICAGO — For the second game in a row, the Tigers couldn’t get a hit when it mattered most. And for the second time in a row, Detroit lost to the White Sox — this time 5-1. The Tigers managed just one run Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field. They collected five hits. The lack of hitting – — Detroit has scored just three runs in two days here — overshadowed a solid performance from first-time starter, Adam Wilk. Not only did Wilk not get any run support, he had the misfortune of sitting in the wrong place at the wrong time in the dugout. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Prince Fielder hit a foul back toward the dugout that hit Wilk in the left shoulder. At that point the Tigers were down 2-0 and Wilk had only given up three hits. The foul ball caused a contusion and Wilk had to leave the game. Collin Balester took over and promptly gave up back-to-back doubles. It was that kind of day. Twice, Detroit loaded the bases and both times got nothing to show for it. Only an 8th-inning home run by Brennan Boesch prevented a shutout. Chicago’s Gavin Floyd threw six shutout innings. The White Sox moved 5-2 and now have a half-game lead atop the Central Division. The Tigers, now 5-3, have lost three of four.

9 Brandon Inge 'excited' to be back with Tigers in Chicago April 15, 2012 By Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press

CHICAGO — Brandon Inge rejoined the Tigers today at U.S. Cellular Field. He had been on the 15-day DL because of a strained left groin he suffered toward the end of . Manager Jim Leyland said Inge was likely to start Sunday against White Sox left-hander Chris Sale. Inge appeared in three games for the during his rehab assignment, batting 1-for-9. Leyland said Inge made a couple of nice plays at second base. Inge said his groin felt fine and that he is ready to go. “I love playing baseball,” Inge said, “If I’m in the lineup I’m excited, no matter what. I don’t care where.” Inge played at second during spring training and showed he was plenty capable defensively. The question wasn’t his glove. It was his bat. Leyland said Inge’s bat would determine whether he played or not. Inge hit .180 in 19 games during the spring. He went 9-for-50, including .133 against righties. Against lefties, Inge fared better, batting .250 by going 5-for-20. Last September, Inge hit .322, facing primarily left-handed pitchers. If he does see consistent time in the field, it will likely be as part of a platoon at second base with Ryan Raburn and Ramon Santiago. Inge said he enjoyed playing the position during the spring, calling it a “physical” spot on the field. “I love all the contact on the double plays,” he said. He also enjoyed the expansive territory there, as opposed to third. “You can cover so much more ground than you can at third. That’s the thing I like mainly about it.” He said playing second reminded him of playing , a position he manned in high school and college. “It takes you back,” he said.

10 Minnesota Twins claim Tigers' Clete Thomas off waivers April 15, 2012 By Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press

The Minnesota Twins claimed former Tigers outfielder Clete Thomas off waivers. Thomas, who appeared in three games with Detroit this season, was designated for assignment on April 11. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said today he was happy that Thomas got picked up. “I’m not surprised it (was) the Twins,” he said, “Gardy’s (Twins manager Ron Gardenhire) always loved him.” Thomas hit .210 during spring training. He didn’t make a plate appearance in his three games with the Tigers this season. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins placed starting pitcher Scott Baker on the 60-day disabled list. Baker needs surgery on his right elbow and is out for the season. Thomas is expected to join the Twins in time for Sunday’s game against Texas.

11 Jackie Robinson's legacy includes supporting young scholars who aim to change world April 15, 2012 By Rochelle Riley / Detroit Free Press

Today marks 65 years since Jackie Robinson broke 's color barrier by becoming a Brooklyn Dodger -- and the first black MLB player in the 20th Century. Baseball will salute that history across the nation when all of its players, including our Detroit Tigers playing away in Chicago, wear Robinson's retired No. 42. But Robinson has an even greater legacy, thanks to his wife, Rachel. This year marks the 39th that the Jackie Robinson Foundation has celebrated Jackie Robinson Scholars with four years of college. For the last four years, MLB or its teams have sponsored 30 scholarships. That means that, in addition to giving us grace under racist pressure and a national pastime that reflects our national diversity, Jackie Robinson helped give us Amber Spears. The league sponsors 21-year-old Amber for the Detroit Tigers, so Amber represents the Tigers. Amber represents the University of Michigan, where she is a senior civil engineering major. Amber represents her mom, retired phone company employee Antoinette Smith. And Amber represents Central CME Church as one of its most devoted members. But Amber Spears makes it very clear that, more than anything, she represents -- and wants to be a good example for -- herself. "I know that I represent people," she said, "But because I respect myself as an individual, it's easier for me to make great decisions instead of getting ready to do something, but then saying, 'Oh, I forgot about Jackie Robinson' or 'I forgot about my mom.' If I represent myself well, that will be a good reflection on everyone else I represent." Amber has helped feed families. She has raised money for Haiti. She traveled to Durban, South Africa, where she worked with a group gathering stories from apartheid survivors to give those people a voice, and to point out the tragic circumstances of families still impoverished and struggling after apartheid. Amber also works closely with her sponsoring team. "Amber's a very bright young lady who has been a tremendous support as it relates to the Jackie Robinson legacy and keeping it alive," said Sam Abrams, manager of the Tigers' player relations, youth and sports programs. "When she came in even as a freshman, she stood out for her desire to get involved in the mission and what we try to do here at the Tigers." Abrams said Amber helps judge the annual Jackie Robinson Art, Essay and Poetry competition, which the Tigers have been doing for 16 years. Amber is a force of nature. "You can call me an activist in the less aggressive sense of the term because I like to help people," she said. "I like to help organize. I like to see that things get done." When asked why, she quotes Jackie Robinson: "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." The Cass Technical High School grad recalls chatting with a friend four years ago about the award. "He brought up the Robinson scholarship. I said, 'They have a scholarship for him?' He said. 'Yes, it's merit based.' He was applying, so I said I was going to apply as well." Her friend, a fellow U-M student, didn't get the Robinson scholarship. She did. Then, as now, she works as a change agent. "If I see there's a need for something, I try my best to do it. If I don't have the time, I try to see if there's anyone else who can do it," she said. The Robinson spirit Amber epitomizes the Jackie Robinson that America came to know when he was thrust into the spotlight in 1947. Robinson was raised by a single mother. Fueled by a need to excel and a desire to take care of himself, he entered the University of California at Los Angeles and participated in nearly every sport. He was the school's first student athlete to letter in four sports: football, basketball, track and baseball. 12 When he could no longer afford college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was court-martialed for complaining about racial discrimination. He was honorably discharged and rediscovered baseball, playing for a single season with the Kansas City Monarchs, a Negro League team. When Branch Richey invited Robinson to join the Brooklyn Dodgers and become the first black player in MLB in decades, Robinson became a symbolic drum major for the civil rights movement. His success in his first season didn't hurt. He was named Rookie of the Year. Two years later, he became the 's Most Valuable Player. A legacy His wife, Rachel, has spent half her life ensuring that he has a triple legacy: in civil rights, sports and education. Della Britton Baeza, president and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, said the initiative reflects Robinson's focus during his life. "As much as his barrier-breaking presence was in sports, he set the stage for the modern civil rights movement," she said. "At that time, baseball was the American pastime. It didn't have the competition it does today with basketball, hockey, tennis and golf. It really was the major sport that Americans followed. By integrating that best, he pushed the notion that we are a society that should embrace all aspects. "In his last public appearance, which was at the All Star game in 1972, the year he died, he said, 'While I am heartened by the fact that more blacks are on the field, we absolutely have to get more blacks behind the business of baseball and more blacks in the management of baseball.' And that set the tone for the thinking that in order for us to be truly integrated, we need to get a good education." Rachel Robinson started the foundation within a year of her husband's death to ensure that "his legacy be continued through a proactive, important progression of our people," Baeza said. "In her further wisdom, she said, let's not just provide funds. It was the 1970s, and you saw a major integration of major colleges and universities. There was a brain drain from black colleges, and Rachel said that while we need to have more of our people going to college, it was important that we got them out." Year-round support In 2004, foundation officers, noting that only about 47% of black college students nationwide were graduating, began providing year-round support for scholars. Each student gets an adult mentor and attends an annual four- day mentorship and leadership conference in New York where students receive career guidance and participate in cultural events (During their college tenure, they attend a ballet, an opera, a jazz concert and a Broadway play.) Additionally, about 60% of the scholars are placed in internships. Some become international fellows and others participate in Extra Innings, which gives them up to $10,000 to attend graduate school. More than 1,400 students have been Robinson Scholars. Baeza says that in the last 10 years, the program has graduated all but three students. It's not just MLB and some of its teams that sponsor scholars. Many are sponsored by corporations, such as Ford, whose vice president, Ziad S. Ojakli, is on the foundation board. Jackie Robinson changed sports history, and in doing so, changed American history. Still, I can't help but wonder what he would think about the impact he has had on 1,400 students -- students like Amber Spears. Amber will attend graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin in the fall. She will be studying geotechnical engineering. But just as Jackie Robinson merged his passion for justice with a career in sports, Amber is trying to merge her passion for making a difference with her engineering studies to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. "I'm not exactly sure," she said, "but God knows."

13 Tigers offense cold again in second straight loss to Sox April 15, 2012 By Tom Gage / The Detroit News

Chicago— It was quirky enough at four or five. But eight games into the season and still no victories for a Tigers starting pitcher? Now you're talking downright weird. It was Adam Wilk's turn Saturday not to win, despite pitching well before a mishap-induced exit in a 5-1 loss to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. After winning five of six at home, the Tigers have dropped two in a row here. "This is why I was telling everyone not to get too excited," manager Jim Leyland said. "We've faced eight real good pitchers. You don't wear out good pitchers. It just doesn't happen." Making his first major league start after five relief appearances last season, Wilk allowed two runs (on two home runs) in five innings before a foul ball hit him on the left shoulder while he was sitting in the Tigers dugout in the top of the sixth. He suffered a left shoulder bruise, but should be able to make his next start. "I thought he did a good job," Leyland said. "He moved the ball around pretty good. He gave up a couple of solo homers, but no walks before them, so that was all right." The bigger problem was that except for a Brennan Boesch home run in the eighth and three more hits for Austin Jackson (now hitting .433), the Tigers were quiet at the plate. In fact, after scoring 23 runs at home in back-to-back games against the Red Sox, they've managed only three runs in two days against the White Sox. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd got himself into big trouble a couple of times — his control bothering him but not betraying him. In fact, he put it to good use. "He did a great job of taking advantage of our aggressiveness," Leyland said. "It was a pretty good game plan. We're an aggressive team and we swung at a lot of balls. "When you do that, you're going to make outs. Basically he stuck the bats up our butts. We had some real bad at-bats." In the second, Floyd hit Delmon Young with a one-out pitch, then walked and hit with two outs to load the bases. But Ryan Raburn, mired in another early season slump, flied out to center to end both the inning and the threat. Double plays got in the way of the Tigers doing anything in the first, third and fourth innings, Boesch bouncing into one in the first, Alex Avila hitting into another in the fourth — and the one in the third being a strike-'em- out-throw-'em-out variety with Boesch getting cut down at second after Miguel Cabrera took a called third strike. The Tigers had another strong chance in the sixth following a leadoff double by Jackson. Prince Fielder walked, after hitting the ball into the Tigers dugout and knocking Wilk out of the game. Young, who'd been hit by a pitch in his first two plate appearances, walked in his third — following the walk to Fielder — so it was a bases-loaded situation that Avila stepped up to. He ended by striking out. Meanwhile, the White Sox built their lead one run at a time. * Second inning: Alexei Ramirez hit a two-out home run to left off Wilk. * Fifth inning: Tyler Flowers made it 2-0 with a two-out home run to left. For both Ramirez and Flowers, it was their first home run of the year. * Sixth inning: With Wilk out because of his shoulder bruise, the Sox greeted Collin Balester with consecutive doubles by Brent Morel and . * Seventh inning: Alejandro De Aza tripled in Flowers to make a four-run lead. * Eighth inning: And last, but not least, a leadoff home run by Paul Konerko off struggling Daniel Schlereth. Tigers Brandon Inge made his 2012 debut, pinch-hitting in the ninth inning. He grounded out to the pitcher to end the game. Sunday's game Tigers at White Sox 14 First pitch: 2:10 p.m., U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago TV/radio: FSD/WXYT Scouting report * , Tigers (0-0, 2.57): Right-hander was sharp in 2012 debut, with seven strong innings against Rays. Didn't get a win, though. No Tigers starter has yet. * Chris Sale, White Sox (1-0, 1.35): Hard-throwing lefty takes the hill, which means recently activated Brandon Inge could get the start at second for the Tigers.

15 Tigers' Brandon Inge looking forward to possibly starting Sunday April 15, 2012 By Tom Gage / The Detroit News

Chicago— Brandon Inge rejoined the Tigers on Saturday and immediately began looking forward to Sunday. Because on Sunday, with White Sox left-hander Chris Sale on the mound, it looks like Inge will be making his regular-season debut at second base for the Tigers. Inge is fresh off a three-game injury rehab assignment at Toledo. He didn't hit much (1-for-9, .111) while on assignment, but made more than one outstanding play at a new position he's quickly grown to enjoy With Miguel Cabrera ensconced at third, Inge had to switch positions to retain any chance of playing time. Inge began the season on the disabled list because of a groin strain, but said he's completely recovered from that. "I was able to run hard out of the (batter's) box," he said about his Toledo assignment, "and that's how I did it in the first place. I also made plays coming in, going back, to my left and to my right. I made plays in every direction — plus, I turned a and got run into. "I pretty much covered everything I'll have to do. In three days, I got it all in." Sunday's game will be the ninth of the season for the Tigers, but the first Inge is likely to start. "If I'm in the lineup, I'm excited," he said. "I love playing baseball. I can't wait." What Inge said he likes about second base is "it's a little more physical" than he knew. "I love all the contact, like on double plays," he said. "Plus, you can cover so much more ground than you can at third. The range you cover at third and second isn't even close. It takes me back to high school and college days (when he was a shortstop)." Inge made his 2012 debut Saturday, pinch-hitting in the ninth inning. He grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.

16 Adam Wilk's gem ends in pain, but he won't miss start for Tigers April 15, 2012 By Tom Gage / The Detroit News

Chicago— So he was having a nice little outing for himself, keeping the Tigers in the game through five innings … And suddenly a foul ball off Prince Fielder's bat came rocketing into the Tigers' dugout at U.S. Cellular Field and ended his day. That's how Adam Wilk's first major-league start concluded Saturday: with a bruised left shoulder, which is the bad news. But the good news is that it won't knock him out of his next start. "It wasn't life threatening," said manager Jim Leyland, "but it smoked him pretty good." The even-better news for him is Wilk will get another start when it wasn't guaranteed, going into this one, that he would. First, though, the ache on the side of his left arm, which took a direct hit, needs to subside. "I had no idea it was coming," Wilk, a left-hander, said about the ball. "There was a group of players at the railing and I didn't see it coming at all. It bounced in the dirt, then got through the opening (of the dugout). First thing I knew it had hit me. It got me flush, but I feel fine. "It's going to be a little stiff and will hurt a little bit, but other than that, it's O.K." Wilk allowed two runs on three hits in five innings, striking out four. "It was disappointing to come out," he said. "I thought it was a good outing, but you might as well be safe when it involves your throwing shoulder." More aches and pains Alex Avila had a painful day, too — getting hit by several foul balls behind the plate. "I was in icing," said Wilk, "but I saw he was getting hit pretty hard, too." So hard, in fact, that Leyland said of Avila, "He got beat up today about as good as you can beat up. But he wasn't starting tomorrow anyway." With left-hander Chris Sale starting for the White Sox on Sunday, Gerald Laird will catch for the Tigers. Around the horn What's bothering Daniel Schlereth, who has a 9.00 ERA after giving up a run in 1.1 innings Saturday? "His command isn't very good," Leyland said. "That's why I wanted to pitch him some." … The White Sox and Tigers switched spots in the — the Sox now occupying first and the Tigers second. … Delmon Young has been hit by three pitches in the last two games after being hit only twice in 124 games last year. … Despite the last two losses, the Tigers are 21-8 in their last 29 games against the White Sox. … Paul Konerko's home run (off Schlereth) gave him his 139th RBI against the Tigers, second-most against them to 's 153 among active players. … To benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan, a limited number of licensed (and MLB approved) Rawlings featuring the 1-2 punch of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are being sold. For details, visit nikcosports.com or call (800) 345-2868. The ball comes with a display case. Sunday's game Tigers at White Sox First pitch: 2:10 p.m., U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago TV/radio: FSD/WXYT Scouting report * Rick Porcello, Tigers (0-0, 2.57): Right-hander was sharp in 2012 debut, with seven strong innings against Rays. Didn't get a win, though. No Tigers starter has yet. * Chris Sale, White Sox (1-0, 1.35): Hard-throwing lefty takes the hill, which means recently activated Brandon Inge could get the start at second for the Tigers.

17 Tigers lose outfielder Clete Thomas to Twins in waiver claim April 15, 2012 By Tom Gage / The Detroit News

Chicago- Clete Thomas has been claimed by the Minnesota Twins. And it didn't take long. Designated for assignment on Thursday when the Tigers recalled pitcher Drew Smyly for his major league debut, Thomas not only was claimed by the Twins, but could be in a position to play a lot for them. "I'm happy for him," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Saturday about Thomas, an outfielder who was out of options and couldn't just be sent to Toledo. The Tigers would have liked to keep Thomas in the organization, but they also knew that the downside of losing Thomas to another major league team was the upside for him. "I'm not surprised it was the Twins," Leyland said. "Gardy (Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire) has always loved him." What's to like about the 28-year-old outfielder is the fact he can play all three outfield positions, is a better than average runner and also has better-than-average power. In three stints with the Tigers (2008-09 and 2012), Thomas hit .253 with eight home runs and 48 RBIs in 391 at-bats. He was a sixth-round draft pick by Detroit in 2005.

18 Aggressive Detroit Tigers hitters come up empty against Gavin Floyd in 5-1 loss to White Sox April 15, 2012 By Chris Iott / MLive.com

CHICAGO -- Manager Jim Leyland told everyone not to get too excited when the Detroit Tigers won their first four games. His message would likely be the same after the Tigers lost three of their next four. The Tigers managed just five hits Saturday afternoon in a 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers have scored just three runs and have just 11 hits in consecutive losses to the White Sox. That is a bit different from the season-opening series against the , when the Tigers scored 23 runs in two days. "This is why I was telling everybody, 'Don't get too excited,' " Leyland said. "What are we, 5-3? We've faced eight real good pitchers. You don't wear out good pitchers. It just doesn't happen." The Tigers offense this weekend has revolved around Austin Jackson getting on base (three hits Saturday), Delmon Young being hit by pitches (three times in two games) and an occasional home run (Young on Friday, Brennan Boesch on Saturday). Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are 2-for-14 with no RBIs in the series. The Tigers had just one hit in the first six innings Friday and three in the first six innings Saturday while falling behind in both games. The Tigers have never led in the series and never managed to tie either game at any point after the White Sox scored first in both of them. Adam Wilk threw with precision Saturday in his first major league start. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd did not, although Leyland said that appeared to be the plan. He said that the Tigers swung at a lot of pitches out of he strike zone and "when you swing at balls you make outs." "He took advantage of our aggressiveness," Leyland said of Floyd. "He basically stuck the bat up our (butt), to be honest with you. We had some real bad at-bats. That happens." Floyd walked three and hit three batters with pitches, which helped the Tigers load the bases with two outs in both the second and sixth innings despite their lack of hits. But the Tigers failed to push runs across in either inning. Ryan Raburn, hitting .080 (2-for-25) for the season, hit a fly ball to center to end the second, and Avila struck out to end the sixth. Wilk pitched a very different game, but was nearly as effective. He allowed just three hits and one walk before coming out of the game after being hit by a foul ball off the bat of Prince Fielder while sitting in the dugout. Two of the three hits were home runs, but both came with the bases empty, which limited the damage. "I thought I threw the ball pretty well," Wilk said. "I made a couple mistakes. They made me pay for both of them." The Tigers were unable to return the favor against Floyd. "I thought he pitched to our aggressiveness very good," Leyland said. "He did a very good job of that. He got a lot of outs on balls."

19 Adam Wilk pitches well in first start; Detroit Tigers' bats cold again in loss to White Sox April 15, 2012 By Chris Iott / MLive.com

CHICAGO -- For the second time in two games against the Chicago White Sox, the Detroit Tigers received a strong outing from their starting pitcher. For the second time in those two games, the Tigers' bats were all but silent. Adam Wilk allowed just two runs in five innings of impressive work Saturday evening, but the Detroit Tigers managed just five hits in a 5-1 loss to the White Sox. Brennan Boesch hit a solo home run in the eighth inning for the Tigers, their fourth hit of the game. Austin Jackson had all three Tigers hits up to that point. The Tigers had just six hits -- including one in the first six innings -- in a 5-2 loss Friday to the White Sox. Wilk was hit by a foul ball that Prince Fielder hit into the Tigers dugout in the top of the sixth inning. He was removed from the game at that point due to a left shoulder contusion, but the Tigers said he is expected to be available to make his next start as scheduled. That is good news for the Tigers and Wilk, who pitched extremely well during his time on the mound. He allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out four in his first major league start. "He's not an overpowering guy," Leyland said before the game. "He's just got to make them mis-hit the ball. That's the type of pitcher he is." Wilk always has thrown strikes consistently. He has 263 strikeouts and just 46 walks in almost 350 innings in the minors. Wilk made five relief appearances for the Tigers last season and said Friday that he expected that experience to help him in his first start in the majors. Leyland agreed. "He's been on the big-league scene enough to know what it's like up here, so he should be able to graduate into keeping his poise and everything," Leyland said. "It's just a matter of making his pitches. No ballpark is good for it, but this one in particular, you've got to stay out of the middle of the plate." When the White Sox did manage to take advantage of mistakes by Wilk, there were no runners on base. Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers hit solo home runs -- Ramirez in the third and Flowers in the fifth -- to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd hit Delmon Young with a pitch, walked Jhonny Peralta and hit Andy Dirks with a pitch to load the bases with two outs in the second inning. But the Tigers came away scoreless when Ryan Raburn hit a fly ball to center to end the inning. The Tigers put a runner on in the first, third and fourth innings, but all three were eliminated on double plays. The Tigers loaded the bases again in the sixth inning on a double by Jackson and two-out walks to Fielder and Young, but Alex Avila struck out to end the inning. The Tigers managed just three hits off Floyd -- all by Jackson -- in six innings. Floyd walked three and hit three batters with pitches. Young was hit by a pitch in each of his first two at-bats, and Floyd also hit Andy Dirks with a pitch. The White Sox scored a run in the sixth off reliever Collin Balester on back-to-back doubles by Brent Morel and Adam Dunn, who was 0-for-6 with five strikeouts in the series coming into the inning. Chicago added another run in the seventh. Balester hit Tyler Flowers with a pitch, and Flowers scored later in the inning when Alejandro De Aza greeted reliever Daniel Schlereth with a triple into the corner in right field. That made it 4-0. Paul Konerko followed the solo home run by Boesch with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it 5-1.

20 Detroit Tigers' Adam Wilk removed from game after foul ball into dugout April 15, 2012 By Chris Iott / MLive.com

CHICAGO -- Adam Wilk received no run support in his first career start. Then he saw it end early due a foul ball. Wilk was hit in the left shoulder by a foul ball off the bat of Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder in the top of the sixth inning Saturday evening. He was removed from the game due to a left shoulder contusion but is expected to make his next start. "It smoked him pretty good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. Wilk said it hit him flush in the shoulder. "I had no idea it was coming," he said. "There was a group of players on the railing and I didn't see it coming at all. The first thing I knew is it just hit me." Trainers worked with Wilk immediately after the foul ball, which came off the bat at a sharp angle into the Tigers dugout, which was on the first-base side and behind the left-handed-hitting Fielder. Shortly after the foul ball, Collin Balester began warming up in the bullpen, and Wilk headed to the clubhouse along with head athletic trainer Kevin Rand. Wilk pitched well in his first major league start. He allowed three hits -- two on solo home runs Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers -- and one walk while striking out four in five innings of work. The Tigers trailed 2-0 when he left the game and went on to suffer a 5-1 loss. Wilk said he is confident he will be able to make his next start, which is likely to take place Thursday in the first game of a four-game series against the at Comerica Park.

21 Brandon Inge upon return from disabled list to Detroit Tigers: 'I can't wait to play' April 15, 2012 By Chris Iott / MLive.com

CHICAGO -- Brandon Inge was happy to be back in the clubhouse Saturday afternoon. He will be even happier Sunday when he gets back on the field. Inge rejoined the Detroit Tigers on Saturday following a 15-day on the disabled list with a strained left groin. "I love playing baseball," Inge said. "If I'm in the lineup, I'm excited. I can't wait. I can't wait to play." Inge said his injured groin passed every test possible in the three games he played during a rehabilitation assignment this week for Triple-A Toledo. "I pulled a couple balls," he said. "I ran out of the box hard -- that was one, because that's how I did it in the first place. Then I made plays coming in, going back, going to my right and to my left. I made plays in every direction. "That pretty much covers it. Turned a double play. Got run into. Pretty much covered everything that could happen. I got it all in in three days." Inge went 1-for-9 with the Mud Hens after hitting .180 (9-for-50) in Grapefruit League action. Inge hit .250 (5- for-20) with one home run and four strikeouts against left-handers during the spring and will play primarily against left-handed pitchers during the season. Inge will play second base for the first time in the majors Sunday, when the Tigers face left-hander Chris Sale. When he was asked whether playing second takes him back to his days as a shortstop, Inge answered before the question was even complete. "Yep," he said. "It does. It takes you back to high school days and college days." Inge, who has started 924 games at third base in the majors, said there are some things about playing second that he prefers to playing third. "I love all the contact on the double plays," Inge said. "I love that. And you can cover so much more ground than you can at third."

22 Minnesota Twins claim outfielder Clete Thomas off waivers from Detroit Tigers April 15, 2012 By Chris Iott / MLive.com

CHICAGO -- It didn't take outfielder Clete Thomas long to find a new home. The Minnesota Twins claimed Thomas off waivers Saturday, two days after the Detroit Tigers designated him for assignment to clear room on the roster for pitcher Drew Smyly. "I'm happy for him," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I'm not surprised it's the Twins because (Twins manager Ron Gardenhire) has always loved him." Thomas was out of options, so the Tigers could not send him to Triple-A Toledo without sending him through the waiver process. Once they designated him for assignment, the Tigers had 10 days to trade Thomas or allow him to go through the waiver process. The Twins, who had the worst record in the American League, quickly snatched him up on waivers. Thomas hits left-handed and can play all three outfield positions. He will provide the Twins with some speed and can hit for power, but he does strike out at a high rate. He entered spring training in a competition with outfielder Andy Dirks for the final spot on the Tigers roster. The Tigers started the season with an extra position player, which allowed both Dirks and Thomas to make the Opening Day roster. But the Tigers were forced to make a move to add Smyly, who was not previously on the 40-man roster, and decided to let Thomas go. "Everything happens for a reason," Thomas said Thursday. "There's 29 other teams out there that have a shot at me now. I can contribute to any team that wants to have me. … I know I'm a major-league player, and we'll see what happens." Thomas hit .253 with eight home runs and 48 RBIs in three seasons with the Tigers. He played in 102 games for the Tigers in 2009.

23 Detroit Tigers lineup: Adam Wilk to face Gavin Floyd in first major league start April 15, 2011 By Chris Iott / MLive.com

CHICAGO -- Adam Wilk will make his first career start. Gavin Floyd will make his 155th. It will be the rookie vs. the veteran today when the Detroit Tigers face the Chicago White Sox in the second game of a three-game series. Wilk made five appearances out of the bullpen during the 2011 season but will be making his first major league start. Floyd is 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA in his career vs. the Tigers. The Tigers will use the same starting lineup they did in the series opener. Here are the starting lineups: DETROIT TIGERS 1. Austin Jackson, CF 2. Brennan Boesch, RF 3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B 4. Prince Fielder, 1B 5. Delmon Young, LF 6. Alex Avila, C 7. Jhonny Peralta, SS 8. Andy Dirks, DH 9. Ryan Raburn, 2B CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1. Alejandro De Aza, CF 2. Brent Morel, 3B 3. Adam Dunn, DH 4. Paul Konerko, 1B 5. Alex Rios, RF 6. Alexei Ramirez, SS 7. Dayan Viciedo, LF 8. Tyler Flowers, C 9. , 2B

24 Tigers offer little support in Wilk's first start Jackson's three hits, Boesch's homer not enough to carry offense April 15, 2012 By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Remember when Tigers manager Jim Leyland was talking about the good pitching the Tigers had managed to grind through during their homestand? The good pitching, and even better game plans, caught up to them on Chicago's South Side. "This is why I was telling everybody, 'Don't get too excited,'" he said after Saturday's 5-1 loss to the White Sox. "We faced eight real good pitchers. You don't wear out good pitching. It just doesn't happen." The only grinding at the plate Saturday, aside from Austin Jackson's three-hit day, was the sound of Leyland's fork scraping across and around his dinner as he talked about Detroit's second straight loss and back-to-back low-scoring outputs. The Tigers' fall out of first place, meaningless as it is in April, was comparatively quiet. It's a technicality, with Chicago's 5-2 mark placing them a half-game up on Detroit (5-3), but it at least ends the question among optimistic fans whether the Tigers would lead the division from wire to wire. The last two games themselves have proven that it won't always come easy for this offense. In crediting White Sox starter Gavin Floyd of six innings of holding the Tigers hitless aside from Jackson's three hits, Leyland hinted that he wasn't happy with the approach. "He took advantage of our aggressiveness," Leyland said. "We swung at a lot of balls [outside the strike zone]. ... We're an aggressive team, and when you swing at balls, you make outs." It was a bizarre, cruel twist that the starting pitcher the Tigers knocked out was their own, the product of a freak foul ball off the bat of Prince Fielder that struck Adam Wilk flush on his throwing shoulder as he sat in the dugout. The Tigers took him out as a precaution, ending what had the makings of a quality start with five innings of two-run ball on three hits, two of them solo homers. The way it turned out, Wilk could've held them down the next few innings and still not gotten out of the hard- luck loss he took. The White Sox pitching didn't let up, striking out eight batters over nine innings. Six of those came from Floyd, who improved to 7-2 for his career against Detroit. "I was just trying to make pitches," he said. "Certain situations where I got a couple of runners on and bases loaded, I acted like it was a situation where I needed to make good, quality pitches and try to get them to get out. I just trusted in that and tried to rely on my focus." What had been the highest-scoring team in the league entering Saturday with 42 runs, averaging six runs a game, has scored three runs in two games in Chicago, where Detroit won six out of nine games in 2011 to help capture the American League Central. Even so, Jackson's day gave them chances at big innings. If Floyd's success rested on getting hitters to chase pitches out of the strike zone, Jackson's success against him is an impressive statement. His singles in the first and third innings came on 1-2 counts. So was his sixth-inning double, a liner into the gap that he turned into an extra-base hit with an aggressive start out of the box. If Jackson's challenge this season was to set the table for a productive offense, he was at the top of his game Saturday. Floyd erased him from the basepaths after the singles -- first on a Brennan Boesch double play, then on a fielder's choice. Back-to-back two-out walks to Fielder and Delmon Young advanced Jackson and loaded the bases, but after Avila wouldn't offer at a first pitch in the dirt, Floyd got him to foul off two before getting a swing and miss on a cutter to end the threat. "In those situations where we had the ability to get ahead, he made good pitches in those situations," Jackson said. "You've got to give credit to him. We definitely had the opportunities, but he made good pitches." Wilk challenged hitters all afternoon, reaching just a pair of three-ball counts. He stayed out of situations where he had to serve up a hittable pitch, but had two he left up in the strike zone. One was an offspeed pitch to Alexei Ramirez in the second inning for his first home run. The other was a fifth- inning to Tyler Flowers, who drove it 423 feet to left for his first homer.

25 "I felt I threw the ball pretty well," Wilk said. "I made a couple of mistakes, and they made both of them pay. I was just trying to keep the team in the game, give them a chance to win, just came up on the losing side today."

26 Virgil a trail blazer for Tigers April 15, 2012 By Jason Beck / MLB.com

To most baseball fans today, Ozzie Virgil is a relatively little-recognized name. Those who do find it familiar might know the son, a former catcher, more than the father. To Latin-American players, however, he's a pioneer. "In Latin America," Ramon Santiago said, "he is like Jackie Robinson." Ozzie Virgil became the first Dominican-born player to make it to the Majors in 1956. (AP) To the Tigers, he's a pioneer as well. When Virgil broke into the big leagues with the New York Giants in 1956, he became the first Dominican-born player to make it to the Majors. For that, he's a hero in his native country. Two years later, he was traded to Detroit, where he eventually had an altogether different honor. After starting the season at Triple-A Charleston, he got a midseason call to the Tigers. When he took the field wearing the Old English D, he broke the team's color barrier. Virgil, born in the Dominican but having lived in New York, was not the first African-American to play for the Tigers, a distinction that has been often confused over the years and more often debated for historical purposes. It's a confusion created around a franchise that was later to integrate compared with other franchises; only the Red Sox took longer. Larry Doby became the first African-American Tiger, playing in 18 games after the Indians traded him to Detroit before the 1959 season. Doby was better known a decade earlier as the first African-American to play in the American League. Virgil, and later Doby, were the figures that allowed the Tigers -- under a new ownership group that included eventual majority owner John Fetzer -- to join the rest of the league. The Tigers had a procession of prominent African-American players help the franchise to greatness in the 1960s, from Jake Wood to to Earl Wilson and Gates Brown. Somewhere in the years since, Virgil's accomplishment became somewhat overlooked, in part, arguably, because his Tigers career wasn't a long one. For a generation of players, though, Virgil's career -- including his stint in Detroit -- was significant and groundbreaking. When one considers the influence Latin players have had as Tigers in the decades since, it was vitally important. "He opened the door for all the Dominican players," Santiago said, "and he got recognized for that a lot in the Dominican. The people recognize that." After a strong start in the Minors earned the versatile infielder a callup to play regularly at third base, Virgil made his Tigers debut at 's Griffith Stadium on June 6, 1958 at the start of a lengthy road trip on the East Coast. By the time the Tigers finally came home, he had played in 11 games in a Detroit uniform in Washington, Boston and New York. If the start of a Tigers' homestand June 17 was supposed to be a significant day, it wasn't felt that way in the Tigers clubhouse. Hall of Famer , by then a perennial All-Star, recalled last week that it didn't feel like a big deal when it happened. Perhaps it was because so many teams had integrated already. "I don't remember it [being a big deal]," Kaline said. "Maybe I was naive about it." It was a big deal for fans. The Tigers drew an attendance of 29,794 that day, twice their normal attendance for a weekday game. If Virgil wanted to endear himself to the fans at Briggs Stadium, his performance at the plate did it. With a 5- for-5 performance in his opening game, he was welcomed enthusiastically. "It felt special," Virgil told the Detroit News a few years ago. "I loved Detroit. They were such good people. They treated me nice." Virgil hit .244 that year with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 49 games. He returned to play 62 games for the Tigers in 1960 before he was traded to Kansas City the next season. The Tigers didn't forget. When they had their annual Fiesta Tigers celebration a year ago, they welcomed back Virgil, who drew a strong ovation. Among the players to greet him was Santiago, who had the chance to meet him for the first time. 27 "It was special," Santiago said. "He's one of the guys people really appreciate what he did." This past offseason, Santiago had the chance to meet Virgil again as part of a Dominican national committee, along with Dominican president Leonel Fernandez. Virgil has spent his retirement in the Dominican, where he continues to serve as an inspiration for players.

28 Wilk leaves after taking foul ball off shoulder Sustains contusion to left shoulder, expected to make next start April 15, 2012 By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- What had been a strong first Major League start for Tigers left-hander Adam Wilk on Saturday against the White Sox ended in freak fashion when he was hit by a foul ball in the visiting dugout at U.S. Cellular Field. The lefty, who took the loss in a 5-1 Tigers defeat, sustained a left-shoulder contusion, but he should be able to make his next start next Thursday against the Rangers. The ball was a sharp liner off the bat of Prince Fielder, who was trying to give Wilk some much-needed run support with a runner on second in the top of the sixth inning and the Tigers trailing, 2-0. The ball reportedly bounced in the dirt and found an opening around the protective fence in front of the dugout as players along the railing scattered. Wilk was behind them on the bench, waiting to go out for what would have been his sixth inning. "There was a group of players on the railing, and I didn't see it coming at all," Wilk said. "Next thing I knew, it just hit me." The ball hit Wilk flush in the shoulder, he said, but in an area with more muscle than bone. Replays showed Wilk wincing in pain and holding his shoulder, as he was walking into the clubhouse with head athletic trainer Kevin Rand. Both Wilk and manager Jim Leyland said after the game that he was taken out as a precaution. "It was disappointing," Wilk said. "I'd like to keep going out there and try to keep the team in the game where it was, just try to give them an opportunity to come out. But we might as well just be safe at this point. Getting hit in your throwing shoulder isn't always a good thing." Wilk was the man primarily responsible for the Tigers having a chance at that point. While Gavin Floyd had held the Tigers scoreless on three hits, all of them from Austin Jackson, Wilk had allowed just three hits through five innings. Two of them were solo homers from Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers. As Wilk was heading into the clubhouse for treatment, pitching Jeff Jones was on the phone to the Tigers' bullpen, where Collin Balester began warming up in a hurry. Balester began the bottom of the sixth and gave up back-to-back doubles to Brent Morel and Adam Dunn for a White Sox insurance run. Wilk was making the start as an injury replacement for Doug Fister, who left his start last weekend with a strained rib-cage muscle on his left side and went onto the 15-day disabled list.

29 White Sox take aim at sweep of Tigers Sale, Porcello set for intriguing matchup of division rivals April 15, 2012 By Adam Berry / MLB.com

For all their recent struggles in their division, the White Sox have gotten off to a good start against the American League Central. It will be up to left-hander Chris Sale to keep them rolling against Rick Porcello and the Tigers on Sunday, which is Jackie Robinson Day across Major League Baseball, meaning all uniformed personnel at all 15 games will be wearing Robinson's retired No. 42 for the third consecutive year. The White Sox enter Sunday's game with a chance to sweep their division rivals -- the team analysts almost unanimously predicted will roll over the AL Central competition for a division championship -- and pick up their fifth straight against division opponents. The White Sox went 32-40 against the AL Central last season and haven't posted a winning record in their division since going 44-29 in 2008. Making his second start after an impressive season debut, Sale will be tasked with silencing the Tigers' potent bats. The 23-year-old southpaw, making the transition from late-inning reliever to frontline starter, allowed just three hits over 6 2/3 innings against the Indians on Monday, striking out five while walking two with 60 of his 100 pitches going for strikes. "I felt great," Sale said after that outing. "I felt strong the entire time." "Stuff-wise, that's not really the issue," White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Sale. "People are [wondering] if he can hold up. And we probably could have left him in there. What we got in the bullpen, we felt comfortable just bringing him out after the first start of the year." The Tigers also feel they have a talented young pitcher in Porcello, who threw seven strong innings in his 2012 debut Tuesday. The right-hander dueled Rays rookie to a draw, and manager Jim Leyland was quick to point out that the 23-year-old Porcello is still loaded with potential. Porcello showed off his ability Tuesday, easily inducing ground balls to help keep his pitch count to a mere 92 over seven innings. He only gave up one extra-base hit, recorded seven groundouts, and five of the seven hits he allowed were grounders. He also struck out four while walking only one. "You can tell he's growing up and he's getting that idea what he wants to do," catcher Gerald Laird said Tuesday. Tigers: Inge activated off DL, expected to start • Fresh off a rehab stint with Triple-A Toledo, Brandon Inge was officially activated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday, the first day he was eligible. Inge is expected to work in a three-man platoon at second base with Ryan Raburn and Ramon Santiago. The right-handed-hitting Inge, who ended Saturday's game with a groundout as a pinch-hitter, is expected to start Sunday against the lefty Sale. For his career, Inge has posted a .265/.342/.458 batting line against left- handed pitchers, compared to .223/.291/.362 against right-handers. • Doug Fister has yet to begin a throwing program and is still receiving treatment to ease the soreness caused by his strained left rib-cage muscle. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand updated Fister's status Saturday, saying he won't begin throwing until he makes further progress in his recovery. The fact that he hasn't started throwing yet doesn't necessarily mean Fister is due for a long-term absence, but the club won't be able to set any sort of timetable until his soreness subsides. White Sox: Pierzynski returning to lineup after day off • Catcher A.J. Pierzynski will be back in the starting lineup Sunday after taking off Saturday. Manager Robin Ventura said the decision to sit Pierzynski on Saturday was mostly about matchups, but he also wants to keep his catcher fresh for the long haul. "That's important. He's going to be playing most of the games. It's not a platoon or anything like that," Ventura said. "It's more of making sure he stays fresh and I just think he'll be better for that. We'll be better for that." Pierzynski's backup, Tyler Flowers, hit one of the club's three solo homers on Saturday. • Ventura also said it will be "a while" before he makes any permanent lineup changes based on his players' numbers or struggles at the plate. 30 "It's more of their approach than it is what the numbers are," Ventura said. Worth noting • Following a solo shot in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Tigers, Paul Konerko now has 397 career home runs. • While the White Sox have won the first two games of the series, the Tigers have still taken 21 of the clubs' last 29 meetings and 11 of their last 16 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field.

31 Schlereth unable to harness command April 15, 2012 By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Daniel Schlereth summed up his 2012 results to date succinctly. "The results [stink]," he said. That was before a Saturday outing that made neither his frustrations nor his statistics any better. What was an encouraging Spring Training for Schlereth, who accomplished the fastball command he wanted to improve, has turned into a nightmare of an opening stint. With one run charged over 1 1/3 innings during Saturday's 5-1 loss, his ERA actually dropped to 9.00. His hit total, however, rose to seven over four innings in as many outings. Two of those hits are home runs, including Paul Konerko's shot Saturday. After the game, manager Jim Leyland said he had kept Schlereth for a second inning to try to get him some repetitions and allow him to work through location problems. "The command's not very good," Leyland said. "That's why I wanted to pitch him." Before the game, Schlereth said he felt like he was executing most of his pitches, albeit not consistently enough. He had watched Alejandro De Aza's wind-blown fly ball in left field Friday lead to a triple that set up an RBI ground-ball single by Brent Morel against a drawn-in infield. "It's just hard right now," Schlereth said. "That's how things go sometimes. Sometimes you get line-drive outs right to guys. Other times, you get choppers and balls that do this in the wind. It's just how it goes." Schlereth came into the regular season coming off the best Spring Training of his career, allowing just two earned runs on four hits over 11 2/3 innings despite seven walks, but with help from 14 strikeouts. He came in wanting to work on his fastball command, and he accomplished it. He felt like he has taken that into the season, at least the fastball part, though he struggled to spot it against De Aza on Friday. His , of all things, hasn't quite been so consistent, which hurt him Wednesday against the Rays and nearly doomed him Friday when he went to a full count against Adam Dunn before striking him out on a fastball. "[Friday] was probably the best I've felt this season," Schlereth said. "I know I've only pitched three times, but that's still the best I've felt. My velocity was back. I thought my breaking ball was pretty good. [Against] Morel, I probably could've gotten that one down a little more, but I mean, he didn't hit it hard. Our infield was in." With a 3-1 count against Konerko, Schlereth had to challenge him with a fastball and paid for it. "We've got 150 whatever games left. That's all you can really do. You've got to keep grinding and keep working to get consistent," Schlereth said. "Hopefully, the chips fall a little bit better when I'm out there so I can actually help this team in some way instead of just blowing the doors open for us and making us lose games like this."

32 Outfielder Thomas claimed off waivers by Twins April 15, 2012 By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Clete Thomas is leaving the Tigers, but Detroit might still see him quite a bit if things work out for him. He's headed to the Twins, who claimed him off waivers on Saturday. Detroit designated Thomas' contract for assignment on Wednesday to make room for Drew Smyly on the 25- man roster. There was some hope he would sneak through waivers unclaimed, with teams having set their rosters just over a week ago, but enough teams have a need for outfield help and left-handed hitters, the Twins among them. "I'm happy for him," manager Jim Leyland told a pool reporter. "I'm not surprised it's the Twins, because [manager Ron Gardenhire] always loved him." The move ends Thomas' Tigers tenure after eight years. He was a sixth-round Draft pick in 2005 and a fill-in outfielder in 2008 after began the season on the disabled list. He played in 102 games in 2009, batting .240 with seven homers and 39 RBIs, but saw his career halted following knee surgery in 2010.

33 Inge expects to start Sunday against lefty April 15, 2012 By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Brandon Inge said Saturday he's eager to get back into action. He'll likely get his shot Sunday against White Sox left-hander Chris Sale. Inge was officially activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, the first day he was eligible after beginning the season on the DL. He's expected to serve as part of a three-man platoon at second with Ryan Raburn, who started at second base on Saturday, and Ramon Santiago. Inge, who grounded out as a pinch-hitter to end Saturday's 5-1 loss, went 1-for-9 with three walks during his rehab stint at Triple-A Toledo.

34 Fister's treatment continues, no timetable set April 15, 2012 By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Doug Fister, whose spot in the Tigers' rotation would have been Saturday had he not strained a left rib-cage muscle, continues to receive treatment to alleviate the soreness. Until they make progress in that, he won't be going on a throwing program. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand provided the update Saturday, which was essentially the same status as Fister has had since the injury. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be a long-term absence, but the Tigers will not have a timetable on Fister's return until that soreness goes away.

35 Tigers activate Inge, recall Wilk April 15, 2012 By Staff / Associated Press

The Detroit Tigers have activated infielder Brandon Inge from the 15-day disabled list Saturday. He is expected to start at second base Sunday. Inge, who strained his groin during spring training, hit .197 with three homers and 23 RBI in 103 games at third base last year. He will mostly see time at second base this year with Miguel Cabrera moving to third after the signing of Prince Fielder. Left-handed pitcher Adam Wilk was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to make his first major league start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, in place of injured starter Doug Fister. Wilk compiled a 5.40 in 13 1-3 innings of relief in 2011. The Minnesota Twins also claimed outfielder Clete Thomas off waivers from Detroit on Saturday. The Tigers optioned to Toledo infielder and right-handed reliever Brayan Villarreal.

36 Wilk injured in dugout, Tigers fall to White Sox Tigers drop second game to White Sox April 15, 2012 By Staff / Associated Press

Facing a dangerous lineup in his first major league start, Adam Wilk never thought one of his own teammates would knock him out of the game. Wilk was sitting in the dugout when he was hit in the pitching shoulder by Prince Fielder's foul ball in the sixth inning of the Detroit Tigers' 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. "I had no idea it was coming," the 24-year-old left-hander said. "There was a group of players on the railing and I didn't see it coming at all. First thing I knew, it just hit me." Wilk (0-1) was pulled with a bruised left shoulder but he is expected to make his next start. He allowed two runs on three hits in five innings and struck out four and walked one. "It was disappointing," Wilk said. "I'd like to keep going out there and keep the team in the game where it was, but you might as well be safe at this point. Getting hit in your throwing shoulder isn't always a good thing." Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers each hit homers off of Wilk. Paul Konerko also homered for the White Sox, who won their fourth straight game. Gavin Floyd (1-1) pitched around three walks and three hit batters. He struck out six and allowed only three hits. "I thought (Floyd) did a good job of taking advantage of our aggressiveness," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He got a lot of swings on bad pitches. It was a pretty good game plan on their part." Brennan Boesch homered in the eighth inning and Austin Jackson had three hits for the Tigers, who have scored just three runs in the last two games. Detroit got off to a quick start, posting 23 runs in its first two games, but has now lost three of its last four and is 5-3 on the season. "This is why I was telling everybody don't get too excited," Leyland said. "We've faced eight real good pitchers. You don't wear out good pitchers, it just doesn't happen." Floyd loaded the bases in the second inning by hitting Delmon Young with a pitch, walking Jhonny Peralta and hitting Andy Dirks. Floyd was able to recover by getting Ryan Raburn to fly out to end the inning. In the sixth inning, Floyd escaped trouble again. He allowed a leadoff a double to Jackson. After he struck out Boesch, Floyd walked Fielder and Young to load the bases. He then ended the inning by striking out Alex Avila. "He made good pitches in those situations," Jackson said of Floyd. "You gotta give credit to him, because we definitely had the opportunities, but he made good pitches." Ramirez homered on a 1-2 pitch from Wilk in the second inning to give the White Sox a l-0 lead. Flowers homered with two outs in the fifth inning. The ball landed deep into the left field seats. Flowers started at catcher to give A.J. Pierzynski a day off. "We play hard, I think we see that, we play as a team," Flowers said. "Actually there has been a little more camaraderie and such going on in the clubhouse, on the field and in the dugout, and I think that's better for the team." Wilk had a 5.40 ERA with no decisions in five relief appearances in 2011. He was added to the rotation after Doug Fister was placed on the disabled list Sunday with a left rib muscle strain. Brent Morel led off the sixth inning with a double off Tigers reliever Colin Balester and Adam Dunn followed with an RBI double. Alejandro De Aza added an RBI triple in the seventh off Tigers reliever Daniel Schlereth and Konerko tagged Schlereth in the eighth for his first homer of the season to make it 5-1. NOTES: The Tigers activated infielder Brandon Inge from the 15-day disabled list Saturday. He is expected to start at second base Sunday. Inge, who strained his groin during spring training, hit .197 with three homers and 23 RBIs in 103 games at third base last year. He grounded out in a pinch-hit appearance to end the game. ... Raburn stole a hit from Ramirez in the fifth by making a sliding, over the head catch down the right field line.

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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Team Player Transaction

Los Angeles Angels Jerome Williams Removed From 15-Day DL, (Strained left hamstring)

Tampa Bay Rays Jose Lobaton Placed on 15-Day DL, (Right shoulder soreness)

Tampa Bay Rays Alex Cobb Called Up from Minors

Tampa Bay Rays Chris Gimenez Purchased From Minors

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Team Player Transaction

Boston Red Sox Che-Hsuan Lin Called Up from Minors

Boston Red Sox Placed on 15-Day DL, (Subluxation of right shoulder)

Colorado Rockies Charlie Blackmon Sent to Minors

Colorado Rockies Charlie Blackmon Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Colorado Rockies Charlie Blackmon Removed From 15-Day DL, (Turf toe, right foot)

Detroit Tigers Brandon Inge Removed From 15-Day DL, (Left groin strain)

Detroit Tigers Adam Wilk Called Up from Minors

Detroit Tigers Brandon Inge Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Los Angeles Angels Brad Mills Sent to Minors

Los Angeles Angels Brad Mills Called Up from Minors

Los Angeles Angels Rich Thompson Designated for Assignment

Los Angeles Angels Jerome Williams Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Los Angeles Dodgers Placed on 15-Day DL, (Right knee inflammation)

Los Angeles Dodgers Ted Lilly Removed From 15-Day DL, (Recurring neck stiffness)

Los Angeles Dodgers Ted Lilly Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Milwaukee Brewers Alex Gonzalez Placed on Paternity Leave List

Milwaukee Brewers Eric Farris Called Up from Minors

38 Minnesota Twins Clete Thomas Acquired Off Waivers From, Detroit

Minnesota Twins Scott Baker Transferred to 60-Day DL, (Right elbow surgery - out for season)

Minnesota Twins Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Charlie Morton Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Removed From 15-Day DL, (Recovery from offseason hip Charlie Morton surgery)

Pittsburgh Pirates Matt Hague Sent to Minors

San Diego Padres Joe Wieland Purchased From Minors

San Diego Padres Kyle Blanks Placed on 15-Day DL, (Left shoulder strain)

Tampa Bay Rays Dane De La Rosa Sent to Minors

Tampa Bay Rays Dane De La Rosa Called Up from Minors

Yoshinori Texas Rangers Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment Tateyama

Yoshinori Texas Rangers Removed From 15-Day DL, (Lower back muscle strain) Tateyama

Yoshinori Texas Rangers Sent to Minors Tateyama

Washington Removed From 15-Day DL, (Strained left quad) Nationals

Washington Brett Carroll Designated for Assignment Nationals

Washington Rick Ankiel Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment Nationals

Friday, April 13, 2012

Team Player Transaction

Colorado Rockies Charlie Blackmon Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Detroit Tigers Brayan Villarreal Sent to Minors

Detroit Tigers Danny Worth Sent to Minors

Houston Astros Jed Lowrie Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

39 Jed Lowrie Removed From 15-Day DL, (Sprained right thumb)

Los Angeles Angels Jeremy Moore Transferred to 60-Day DL, (Recovery from right hip surgery)

Los Angeles Angels Alexi Amarista Sent to Minors

Los Angeles Angels Dave Carpenter Purchased From Minors

Philadelphia Phillies Mike Fontenot Signed to a Minor League Contract

Seattle Mariners Charlie Furbush Called Up from Minors

Seattle Mariners George Sherrill Placed on 15-Day DL, (Strained flexor bundle, left elbow)

Seattle Mariners Mike Carp Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Tampa Bay Rays Josh Lueke Sent to Minors

Yoshinori Texas Rangers Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation Tateyama

Toronto Blue Jays Evan Crawford Called Up from Minors

Toronto Blue Jays Placed on Paternity Leave List

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