DETROIT TIGERS (8-1) vs. CHICAGO WHITE SOX (3-5)
LHP David Price (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 6.23)
Friday, April 17, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers won the rubber game of their three-game series vs. the Pirates 1 -0 on Wednesday night at PNC Park. Alfredo Simon and Joakim Soria combined on a two-hit shutout with Simon working 8.0 innings and allowing two hits with two strikeouts, while Soria threw a perfect ninth inning to record his fourth save of the season. Rajai Davis drove in the only run of the game with his solo home run in the sixth inning. Nick Castellanos added two hits in the victory. The Tigers begin a 10-game homestand this afternoon as they open a three-game series vs. the White Sox. Following the series vs. Chicago, the Tigers remain at home, hosting the Yankees for four games and the Indians for three games.
FAST START: The Tigers improved to 8-1 on the season with 1-0 win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. The 8-1 start is tied for the second-best, nine-game start in franchise history, trailing only the 1984 team, which began the season 9-0. With a win today, the 2015 Tigers would equal the 1984, 1968 and 1911 teams for the best 10-game start in club history at 9-1.
PUTTING UP ZEROES: The Detroit pitching staff posted their fourth shutout of the season on Wednesday night, marking the first time since at least 1914 that a Tigers team has recorded four shutouts in the first nine games of the season. The Tigers are the fifth MLB team since 1914 with four shutouts in the first nine games. The others teams to do so are Oakland in 2014, Florida in 2005, Florida in 2004 and Brooklyn in 1940.
ELIAS SAYS: Rajai Davis accounted for the only run of Wednesday night’s game with a solo home run in the sixth inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Davis was the first Tigers player to homer in a 1-0 game on the road since Alan Trammell in May 1988 against the Angels in Anaheim.
VMART ON THE MARK VS. CHICAGO: Victor Martinez enters today’s game hitting .327 (194×594) with 33 doubles, 25 home runs and 99 RBI in 164 career games against the White Sox. He ranks second among active American League players with 194 hits vs. Chicago, while he is third with 99 RBI and a .401 on-base percentage and fourth with a .327 batting average. Martinez has at least one base hit in 24 of his last 29 games vs. the White Sox.
CENTRAL FOCUS: Today’s game vs. the White Sox begins a stretch for the Tigers that will see them play 22 of their next 26 games against teams from the American League Central Division. Detroit is 6-0 vs. AL Central teams so far this season after sweeping three-game series vs. Minnesota and at Cleveland.
AWARD PRESENTATIONS PRIOR TO TODAY’S GAME: Prior to today’s game, Victor Martinez will be presented with his 2014 American League Silver Slugger award for being the best hitter at the designated hitter position last season. Also, Martinez will be presented with the 2014 Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter of the Year Award. Additionally, Ian Kinsler will be presented with the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for his defensive performance at second base last season. Miguel Cabrera will also be presented with the American League Player of the Month Award for the month of September of 2014.
IN THE COMMUNITY: During six select games this season, the Tigers and Aquafina will host over 10,000 students from local schools to reward them for being a member of their school’s safety patrol or having perfect attendance for a marking period.
TODAY’S TIDBITS
- The first pitch will be thrown out by a member of the Detroit Tigers Kids Club and AAA’s Teen Safe Driving Winner, Katrina Badour.
- The national anthem will be performed by the Pansophia Academy Choir of Coldwater, Michigan.
- The first 10,000 fans will receive a Fleece Lined Knit Hat presented by FSD and April in the D.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 8-1 / Streak: W2
Game #10 / Home #4
Home: 3-0 / Road 5-1
TIGERS VS. WHITE SOX
2015 Record: 0-0
2015 at Home: 0-0
2015 at Chicago: 0-0
All-Time Record: 1,056-1,023-15
All-Time at Home: 558-478-5
All-Time at Comerica Park: 67-69
All-Time at Chicago: 498-545-10
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/17 | DET | ||
| 4/18 | DET | ||
| 4/19 | DET | ||
| 5/5 | CWS | ||
| 5/6 | CWS | ||
| 5/7 | CWS | ||
| 6/5 | CWS | ||
| 6/6 | CWS | ||
| 6/7 | CWS | ||
| 6/25 | DET | ||
| 6/26 | DET | ||
| 6/27 | DET | ||
| 6/28 | DET | ||
| 9/21 | DET | ||
| 9/21 | DET | ||
| 9/22 | DET | ||
| 9/23 | DET | ||
| 10/2 | CWS | ||
| 10/3 | CWS | ||
| 10/4 | CWS |
STREAKS
Last five games: 4-1
Last 10 games: 8-1
Last 15 games: 8-1
Last 20 games: 8-1
This content was originally published on April 17, 2015. It was delivered electronically to specific media contacts and the entire Detroit Tigers front office staff, as well as being available to media in the press box and distributed to fans at program stands around Comerica Park.
