Tigers Look To Extend Lead In Central
TIME: 07:10 P.M. EST
VENUE: Tropicana Field
The Detroit Tigers have gotten plenty of help from ace Justin Verlander during their drive for their first division title in 24 years. They could use a little more from Brad Penny.
Penny will try to win for just the second time in six starts Tuesday night, which promises to be a tough task against the Tampa Bay Rays and David Price.
Verlander earned his major league-leading 19th win Monday, limiting the Rays to a leadoff homer and three hits over seven innings in Detroit's 5-2 series-opening victory. ending their five-game streak. Alex Avila and Don Kelly homered in their team's fourth victory in a row, and Jhonny Peralta added a two-run single as the Tigers (69-58) extended their lead in the AL Central to 5 1/2 games over Cleveland and Chicago.
"It was a nice win for us because this is a hornet's nest," manager Jim Leyland said. "We got our work cut. They got a better record than we do."
One night after snapping Tampa Bay's five-game win streak, the Tigers will try to win their fifth straight overall and beat the Rays for a sixth consecutive time.
That could be easier said than done with Penny (8-9, 4.97 ERA) on the mound. The Tigers have lost four of his last five starts - Penny is 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in that span - and he's 1-4 with a 6.14 ERA in his last five outings against the Rays (69-57), though he hasn't faced Tampa Bay since 2009.
The right-hander was solid against Minnesota on Wednesday, giving up three runs and five hits over six innings, but the Tigers allowed two runs in the ninth and lost 6-5.
Making matters more difficult for Penny is pitching at Tropicana Field, where he's 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in his career. He'll also have to pitch opposite Price (11-10, 3.59), who has allowed one run and nine hits over 16 innings while winning his last two starts, and has won all three of his career starts against Detroit while allowing two runs or fewer each time.
The left-hander limited Boston to three hits over eight innings of Wednesday's 4-0 victory - a key win for the Rays, who trail the Red Sox by 7 1/2 games for the AL wild card.
"I knew I needed to step up," Price said. "We're in this. If we can continue to play good baseball and our starting pitching can continue to throw the ball well, we'll be all right."
Now, Price will try to keep the Tigers from winning five in a row for the first time since a season-best seven-game run in May.
Detroit catcher Victor Martinez, hitting .400 in his last eight games overall, is 7 for 14 with three homers in his career against Price.
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