Game Information ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Detroit Tigers Media Relations Department Comerica Park Phone (313) 471-2000 Fax (313) 471-2138 Detroit, MI 48201 www.tigers.com Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics Sunday, August 23, 2009 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA Game Time - 4:07 p.m. EDT RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers lost 3-2 to the Oakland Athletics last night at Oakland- TIGERS AT A GLANCE Alameda County Coliseum. Armando Galarraga limited the Athletics to two runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings of work, but did not factor in the decision. Zach Miner (5-4) allowed one Record: 65-57 / Streak: L1 run on two hits in a third of an inning to take the loss. Placido Polanco led the Tigers with Game #123 / Road #63 two hits, while Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen each collected an RBI. The club continues Home: 40-20 / Road: 25-37 a six-game road trip today with the final game of a three-game series at Oakland and completes the trip with a three-game set against the Angels beginning tomorrow. Today’s Scheduled Starters RABURN’S BEEN RAKING: Ryan Raburn singled last night against the Athletics and has RHP Rick Porcello vs. RHP Brett Tomko hit safely in five of his last six games. He is hitting .386 (17x44) with four home runs and (10-7, 4.21) (2-2, 4.21) seven RBI over his last 20 games dating back to July 29. STARTING STRONG: Armando Galarraga limited the Athletics to two runs on seven hits TV/Radio over 6.1 innings of work last night to record a quality start. Over the last nine games, FSD/AM 1270 & 97.1 FM Tigers starting pitchers have posted a 3-1 record and 2.90 ERA (59.0IP/19ER), while recording six quality starts. TIGERS VS. ATHLETICS POLANCO PACKS A PUNCH AGAINST A’S: Placido Polanco is tops among all major 2009 Record: 5-3 league players with a .379 batting average (64x169) in 41 career games against the 2009 at Home: 3-0 Oakland Athletics. Polanco was selected the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 American 2009 at Oakland: 2-3 League Championship Series after batting .529 (9x17) in four games versus Oakland. All-Time Record: 973-895-14 CABRERA CRANKING IT UP AFTER THE BREAK: Miguel Cabrera has hit safely in eight of All-Time at Home: 548-392-5 his last nine games and is hitting .368 (49x133) with nine doubles, six home runs and 23 All-Time at Comerica Park: 17-22 RBI in 34 games since the all-star break. Cabrera is second in the American League with a All-Time at Oakland: 425-503-9 .444 on-base percentage since the all-star break and third with a .368 batting average. STOPPING THE RUNNING GAME: Tigers catchers have combined to throw out 34.8 2009 Game Log percent of runners attempting to steal (31x89) this season, second-best in the American Date Site Result Winner/Loser/Save League. Gerald Laird is tops among all league catchers by throwing out 41.9 percent of 5/15 DET W, 14-1 Jackson/Anderson runners attempting to steal (26x62). 5/16 DET W, 9-1 Porcello/Braden RACKING UP THE STRIKEOUTS: Three Tigers pitchers combined to fan five batters 5/17 DET W, 11-7 Miner/Cahill last night against the Athletics and Tigers pitchers have now combined to fan 7.14 batters 6/29 OAK L, 7-1 Anderson/Porcello per nine innings this season. It marks the highest single-season strikeout per nine innings 6/30 OAK W, 5-3 Galarraga/Gonzalez total by club pitchers in franchise history. The 1968 Tigers are the next closest club with 7/1 OAK L, 5-1 Braden/Verlander 6.74 strikeouts per nine innings. 8/21 OAK W, 3-2 Jackson/Gonzalez/Rodney THE LINE ON LYON: Brandon Lyon has not allowed a run over his last 15 appearances, 8/22 OAK L, 3-2 Bailey/Miner tossing 17.0 scoreless innings. Over his last 29 appearances, he is 5-1 with a 0.72 ERA 8/23 OAK (37.1IP/3ER) and 32 strikeouts. Lyon has limited opponents to a .167 batting average STREAKS (21x126) over the 29-outing stretch. He is tied for second among all American League relievers with six wins. Last five games: 3-2 CABRERA CLOSING IN ON 200 HOME RUNS: Miguel Cabrera enters today’s game Last 10 games: 6-4 against the Athletics one home run shy of 200 in his major league career. Cabrera would Last 15 games: 8-7 become the fifth player from Venezuela to belt 200 career home runs, joining Tony Armas Last 20 games: 11-9 (251), Bobby Abreu (252), Magglio Ordonez (275) and Andres Galarraga (399). WINNING OVER THE WEST: The Tigers have compiled a 20-12 record this season against A FIGHT TO THE FINISH clubs from the American League’s West Division. The Tigers are third among all American The Tigers enter the final 40 games of the League clubs with a .625 winning percentage over west division clubs this season. season battling for a Central Division title. BONDERMAN, ROBERTSON AND WILLIS ON INJURY REHAB ASSIGNMENT: The club plays 19 games on the road and 21 Righthanded pitcher Jeremy Bonderman and lefthanded pitcher Nate Robertson both joined games at Comerica Park, including the final Triple A Toledo for injury rehabilitation assignments on August 4. Lefthanded pitcher seven games of the season against American Dontrelle Willis joined Toledo for an injury rehab assignment beginning Wednesday night. League Central Division opponents. • Bonderman tossed two scoreless innings of relief for Toledo Thursday night at Columbus, • 13 home games against teams from the striking out two and retiring all six batters he faced. He has allowed seven runs on 14 hits American League Central Division. in nine innings of work in seven outings during his current injury rehabilitation assignment • Eight home games against teams from the with Toledo. Bonderman will continue to work in relief for the Mud Hens. American League East Division. • Robertson started for the Mud Hens Thursday night at Columbus, earning the victory after • 12 road games against teams from the allowing one run on five hits and striking out four in five innings of work. He has compiled American League Central Division. a 1-1 record and 2.92 ERA (12.1IP/4ER) in four starts with Toledo. Robertson will • Four road games against teams from the continue to work as a starter for the Mud Hens. American League West Division. • Willis started for the Mud Hens Wednesday night against Columbus, allowing one run on one • Three road games against teams from the hit, while walking one and striking out one in 1.1 innings of work. American League East Division. INJURY UPDATE: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (continued rehabilitation from thoracic outlet compression syndrome surgery, 15-day DL on June 9), RHP Alfredo Figaro (right wrist sprain, 15-day DL on June 28), LHP Nate Robertson (mass in left medial elbow, 15-day DL on June 27), C Matt Treanor (right hip strain, 60-day DL on April 24), LHP Dontrelle Willis (anxiety disorder, 15-day DL on June 15), RHP Joel Zumaya (right shoulder soreness, 60-day DL on July 18). TIGERS UPCOMING GAME DETAILS TIGERS OPPONENTS DATE OPPONENT GAME TIME PROBABLE PITCHER PROBABLE PITCHER TV/RADIO Monday at Los Angeles 10:05 p.m. RHP Justin Verlander RHP Jered Weaver FSD/1270 & 97.1 (13-7, 3.29) (13-4, 3.89) Tuesday at Los Angeles 10:05 p.m. LHP Jarrod Washburn RHP John Lackey FSD/1270 & 97.1 (8-7, 3.18) (8-6, 4.00) Wednesday at Los Angeles 3:35 p.m. RHP Edwin Jackson TBA FSD/1270 & 97.1 (10-5, 2.86) 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 2009 vs. AL East: 8-17 Scoring five-or-more runs: 41-11 Lead after 6th/7th/8th inning: 48-6/52-5/56-0 vs. AL Central: 27-20 Scoring four-or-less runs: 24-46 Trail after 6th/7th/8th inning: 5-43/5-47/4-52 vs. AL West: 20-12 Extra-innings: 4-3 Tied after 6th/7th/8th inning: 12-8/8-5/4-5 vs. NL: 10-8 One-run games: 21-20 Tigers out hit opponent: 47-7 Tigers score first: 42-22 Tigers get quality start: 41-16 Opponent out hits Tigers: 13-47 Opponents score first: 23-35 Tigers starter works 6+ innings: 47-25 Tigers and opponent have equal hits: 5-3 © Detroit Tigers, 2009 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... World Series Champions 1935 1945 1968 1984 August 23, 2009 TODAY’S TIGERS STARTER - RICK PORCELLO ‘09 Season (Detroit): 10-7, 4.21 ERA, 22 G, 22 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 117.2 IP, 123 H, 60 R, 55 ER, 39 BB, 65 SO. ‘08 Season (Lakeland): 8-6, 2.66 ERA, 24 G, 24 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 125.0 IP, 116 H, 51 R, 37 ER, 33 BB, 72 SO. PORCELLO’S PROGNOSIS: In his first season with 2009 GAME-BY-GAME RUNDOWN the Tigers, Porcello will make his 23rd start of the SEASON (DETROIT) 2009 season this afternoon against the Athletics. DATE OPP. RESULT S/R DEC. ERA IP H R ER BB SO PC ROOKIE IN THE ROTATION: Porcello is the first 4/9 @TOR L, 6-2 S L-1 7.20 5.0 9 4 4 1 4 89 4/19 @SEA W, 8-2 S W-1 3.75 7.0 5 1 1 0 3 86 rookie to begin the season in the Tigers starting 4/24 @KC L, 6-1 S L-2 4.50 6.0 4 5 4 2 4 85 rotation since Justin Verlander did so in 2006.