Detroit Tigers Notes And Quotes 5-25-11
--C Alex Avila hit two home runs, the second a two-run blow to the opposite field off a left-handed pitcher in the eighth that gave Detroit a comeback 7-6 victory over Tampa Bay. Avila launched a nearly 400-foot blast to right center in the sixth that brought the Tigers within a run at 6-5. Avila now has eight home runs this season, one more than he hit all of last year. Manager Jim Leyland gave no thought to pinch-hitting for Avila when he came up in the eighth following a one-out walk, even though his Tampa Bay counterpart, Joe Maddon, brought in LHP Cesar Ramos to face him. Avila hit a 1-0 fastball into the Tigers' bullpen in left. "That's the matchups," Avila said. "Everybody does it. Lefties on lefties. It was good to have some success after coming up short (Monday night) against a couple of lefties."
--1B Miguel Cabrera hit Detroit's first three-run home run of the season in another situation where Tampa Bay could not walk him. Two singles began the fifth and following a strikeout, Cabrera hit a 3-2 inside fastball over the left field fence. It was the Rays last July who began Cabrera's acceleration to 32 intentional walks with three straight times in which they put him on first on purpose with a runner already on first.
--RHP Justin Verlander didn't have his best command and allowed six runs in six innings, his worst start of the season in terms of runs. Verlander wasn't locating his fastball and his offspeed pitches were spotty as well. He didn't have any walks but struck out only two as his put-away pitches didn't have quite enough. Verlander followed his recent pattern of starting out throwing his fastball in the low 90s and then moving up the register. He had not allowed more than three runs in any previous start this season. "He definitely struggled with his command," C Alex Avila said. "Not only early but throughout the game. But even great pitchers have a bad night." Added manager Jim Leyland, "Justin was on fast-forward, which hasn't been the norm lately. He's not going to be great every time out. You can't expect that."
--LHP Daniel Schlereth brought one of his best curveballs of the season to the mound with him. Schlereth has had an erratic breaking ball this season but he struck out the first two batters he faced in the seventh with sharp benders. He ran into trouble in the eight, sandwiching singles to a pair of left-handed hitters around a walk to leave a bases-loaded, one-out situation for his successor.
--RHP Al Alburquerque was brought in to a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the eighth mainly because of one factor -- his wipeout slider makes him a high-percentage play for a strikeout. Alburquerque went slider-fastball-slider to fan SS Sean Rodriguez for a strikeout, then deflected a chopper by LF Sam Fuld to SS Jhonny Peralta for an inning-ending forceout at second. Had Alburquerque not tipped the grounder, the ball might have gone into center field for a single.
--RHP Joaquin Benoit, who just a few days ago was in limbo as a relief pitcher, was called upon to get a save and responded with a four-batter ninth inning to preserve a 7-6 Detroit victory. RHP Jose Valverde had been worked hard in recent days so manager Jim Leyland told Benoit before the game he would be the save guy if it came to that. It wasn't textbook perfect but it was the first save of the season for Benoit, who had one save for Tampa Bay last season and now has 10 for his career. Benoit got the first out on a fly to deep center, the second on a liner to first and closed the game with a forceout at second. "That's a great tonic for him," manager Jim Leyland said. "He's really good. That's why we got him. Sometimes you hit a bump in the road."
--LHP Adam Wilk joined the Tigers after Detroit purchased his contract from Triple-A Toledo. Wilk, 23, replaced disabled LHP Phil Coke on the roster and will be sent back to the minors when LHP Andy Oliver is brought up Saturday to start against Boston. Wilk came close to making the roster in spring training and was 3-4 with a 3.86 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Toledo, although he will work out of the bullpen. He has walked five and struck out 32 in 49 innings. The Tigers designated RHP Robbie Weinhardt for assignment to make room for Wilk on the 40-man roster.
--LHP Phil Coke was placed on the 15-day disabled list after suffering a bone bruise in his right foot Monday when he slipped coming off the mound trying to field a bunt in the fourth inning. "It's not a major concern," GM Dave Dombrowski said. "It would definitely cause him to miss a start. We're not sure about the second start. But knowing Phil he would push it as much as he can. And I don't think you can take a chance on a pitcher."
--LHP Andy Oliver, winless in five tries as a starter last year, will be recalled Saturday to start against the Boston Red Sox. Oliver will take the turn of LHP Phil Coke, placed on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his right foot. Oliver, 23, was 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Toledo after giving up a run in a two-inning tuneup Tuesday. He was brought up to replace RHP Rick Porcello in the rotation last summer and was 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA in five starts.
BY THE NUMBERS
47 -- Games played this season without a three-run home run by a Detroit player. 1B Miguel Cabrera ended the streak in the 48th game with a three-run shot to left in the fifth inning of a 7-6 Detroit victory over Tampa Bay.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"The service in my house is just terrible, so the phone actually cut out. So I was running outside -- and I was running into stuff because it was dark -- and called him back. It's a good phone call to get." -- LHP Adam Wilk, on how he got the news from Toledo manager Phil Nevin he was being brought up to Detroit for his first major league experience.
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