DETROIT TIGERS (19-11) vs. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (18-11)
RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-3, 5.11) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (1-2, 6.52)
Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers opened their six-game homestand with a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night at Comerica Park. With the game tied at five in the bottom of the ninth, Anthony Gose led off the inning with a double and then came around to score on Ian Kinsler’s bunt single and a throwing error by Kansas City pitcher Yohan Pino. Kinsler reached base in all five plate appearances on Friday, going 4×4 with a double, two RBI and a walk. Gose added three hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Andrew Romine was 1×4 with a run scored and two RBI. Joakim Soria threw a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his second win of the season. David Price started for the Tigers and received a no decision after allowing five runs, four earned, on 13 hits with one strikeout in 6.1 innings. The Tigers and Royals play game two of their three-game series this afternoon. Following the three games vs. Kansas City, Detroit remains at home to face Minnesota in a three-game series.
KINSLER PILING UP THE MULTI-HIT GAMES: Ian Kinsler was 4×4 with a double and two RBI to record his 14th multi-hit game of the season. Kinsler’s 14 multi-hit games are tied with Houston’s Jose Altuve for the most in the American League. Kinsler’s four-hit performance last night marked the 13th four-hit game of his career and his second of the 2015 season.
SORIA SLAMS THE DOOR: Joakim Soria picked up his second win of the season in last night’s game, throwing a scoreless ninth inning. Soria has not allowed a run in five straight outings and in 11 of his last 12 appearances. In 15 appearances this season, Soria has a 2-0 record with 11 saves and a 1.29 ERA (14.0IP/2ER) with six hits allowed, two walks and 11 strikeouts. Soria currently leads the American League with 15 games finished, while he is second with 11 saves.
GOLDEN GOSE: Anthony Gose went 3×4 with two run scored and a double in last night’s victory. Gose recorded his fourth three-hit game of the season, which ranks as tied for the fifth-most in the American League. In 19 games this season, Gose is hitting .338 (24×71) with 12 runs scored, five doubles, one triple, one home run and seven RBI.
STREAKING: James McCann extended his hitting streak to a career-best six games with a 1×4 performance in last night’s game. During his six-game streak, McCann is batting .455 (10×22) with three runs scored, one double, one home run and three RBI.
THREE TIGERS ON TARGET VS. GUTHRIE: Several Tigers have posted quality numbers against today’s Royals starter, Jeremy Guthrie. Miguel Cabrera is hitting .358 (19×53) with a double, four home runs and 14 RBI vs. Guthrie, while Victor Martinez is batting .351 (13×37) with three doubles and two RBI. Ian Kinsler enters today’s game with a .333 (15×45) batting average vs. Guthrie with two doubles, one triple, one home run and three RBI.
ALL-STAR VOTING OPEN NOW: Voting has started for Major League Baseball’s 86th All-Star Game held at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. MLB’s All-Star Balloting Program is the largest of its kind in professional sports and this year will be conducted exclusively online. Fans around the world can cast their votes for position starts 35 times by visiting tigers.com/vote. Voting is open now through July 2 and fans are encouraged to vote early and often. Last year, Miguel Cabrera was elected as the American League’s starting first baseman, marking the second time he has been selected to start an All-Star Game.
TODAY’S TIDBITS
- The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by Steve Koppin, representing Homeplate, Tigers fan Logan Atkinson and Gil Humphreys of Belle Tire.
- The national anthem will be performed by Matt Hammitt, representing Homeplate.
- The first 10,000 fans will receive a Detroit Tigers Tote Bag, courtesy of MLB Network.
- The Detroit Tigers Foundation 50/50 Raffle continues this season. The partner charity is Detroit Sports Commission. Tickets will be sold on a digital platform and are three for $5, 10 for $10 and 40 for $20. Since inception, the 50/50 Charity Raffle has raised nearly $900,000 for charity.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 19-11 / Streak: W2
Game #31 / Home #15
Home: 9-5 / Road 10-6
TIGERS VS. ROYALS
2015 Record: 3-2
2015 at Home: 1-0
2015 at Kansas City: 2-2
All-Time Record: 318-313
All-Time at Home: 167-149
All-Time at Comerica Park: 75-62
All-Time at Kansas City: 151-164
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/30 | KC | L, 8-1 | Duffy/Simon |
| 5/1 | KC | L, 4-1 | Young/Lobstein/Davis |
| 5/2 | KC | W, 2-1 | PRICE/Volquez |
| 5/3 | KC | W, 6-4 | Sanchez/Guthrie/Soria |
| 5/8 | DET | W, 6-5 | Soria/Pino |
| 5/9 | DET | ||
| 5/10 | DET | ||
| 8/4 | DET | ||
| 8/5 | DET | ||
| 8/6 | DET | ||
| 8/10 | KC | ||
| 8/11 | KC | ||
| 8/12 | KC | ||
| 9/1 | KC | ||
| 9/2 | KC | ||
| 9/3 | KC | ||
| 9/18 | DET | ||
| 9/19 | DET | ||
| 9/20 | DET |
STREAKS
Last five games: 3-2
Last 10 games: 5-5
Last 15 games: 8-7
Last 20 games: 10-10
This content was originally published on May 9, 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.
