DETROIT TIGERS (2-0) vs. MINNESOTA TWINS (0-2)
RHP Shane Greene (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Kyle Gibson (0-0, 0.00)
Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers improved to 2-0 on the season with an 11-0 win over the Twins on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park. Five Tigers pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout, led by starter Anibal Sanchez, who tossed 6.2 scoreless innings with three hits allowed, two walks and six strikeouts. Offensively, Jose Iglesias reached base all five times, going 4×4 with three runs scored, a double and a walk. Anthony Gose was 3×6 with a run scored, a double, a triple and three RBI, while Ian Kinsler added two hits and drove in a game-high four runs. The Tigers and Twins conclude their three-game series this afternoon. Following today’s game, Detroit hits the road for the first time in 2015, traveling to Cleveland for a three-game series Friday-Sunday and then heading to Pittsburgh for three games vs. the Pirates from April 13-15.
NATHAN PLACED ON DL, HARDY RECALLED: Following Wednesday’s game, the Tigers placed righthanded pitcher Joe Nathan on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain retroactive to April 7th. Prior to today’s game, the Tigers will recall the contract of lefthanded pitcher Blaine Hardy from Triple A Toledo. Hardy pitched in 38 games for the Tigers in 2014, compiling a 2-1 record with a 2.54 ERA (39.0IP/11ER).
BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS: The Tigers posted their second consecutive shutout to start the season with an 11-0 win on Wednesday. It marked the first time in franchise history that the Tigers have started a season with back-to-back shutouts. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Tigers are the 14th MLB team since 1900 to begin a season with consecutive shutouts and the first since the Nationals in 2013.
HIP HIP JOSE: Jose Iglesias recorded the first four-hit game of his big league career on Wednesday, finishing the game going 4×4 with three runs scored, a double and a walk. Iglesias became the first Tigers shortstop to record four hits and score three runs in a game since Ramon Santiago on June 17, 2010 vs. Washington. Through his first two games this season, Iglesias is hitting .857 (6×7) with three runs scored, a double and two stolen bases.
NESBITT MAKES MLB DEBUT: Tigers righthanded pitcher Angel Nesbitt made his major league debut in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s game vs. the Twins. Nesbitt retired the only batter he faced as he got Kurt Suzuki to ground out to short.
TIGERS TIDBITS: The Tigers have opened the season 2-0 for the third time in the last four years … Alex Avila established a new career-high with four runs scored in Wednesday’s game, while he tied a career-high with three walks … Ian Kinsler, who finished tied for fifth in the American League with 55 multi-hit games last season, has recorded two hits in each of his first two games this season … James McCann drove in the first run of his major league career with a RBI single in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s game.
CABRERA, KINSLER ON TARGET VS. GIBSON: Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler have each put together good numbers vs. Twins starter Kyle Gibson. Cabrera enters today’s game hitting .455 (5×11) vs. Gibson with a double, a home run and four RBI, while Kinsler is batting .429 (6×14) with a home run and three RBI.
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 Detroit native and the Jacksonville Jaguars second round draft pick, Allen Robinson.
- The national anthem will be performed by Harper Creek High School Honors Choir.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 2-0 / Streak: W2
Game #3 / Home #3
Home: 2-0 / Road 0-0
TIGERS VS. TWINS
2015 Record: 2-0
2015 at Home: 2-0
2015 at Minnesota: 0-0
All-Time Record: 1,087-997-17
All-Time at Home: 579-467-8
All-Time at Comerica Park: 71-67
All-Time at Minnesota: 508-530-9
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/6 | DET | W, 4-0 | Price/Hughes/Nathan |
| 4/8 | DET | W, 11-0 | Sanchez/Nolasco |
| 4/9 | DET | ||
| 4/27 | MIN | ||
| 4/28 | MIN | ||
| 4/29 | MIN | ||
| 5/12 | DET | ||
| 5/13 | DET | ||
| 5/14 | DET | ||
| 7/9 | MIN | ||
| 7/10 | MIN | ||
| 7/11 | MIN | ||
| 7/12 | MIN | ||
| 9/14 | MIN | ||
| 9/15 | MIN | ||
| 9/16 | MIN | ||
| 9/25 | DET | ||
| 9/26 | DET | ||
| 9/27 | DET |
STREAKS
Last five games: 2-0
Last 10 games: 2-0
Last 15 games: 2-0
Last 20 games: 2-0
This content was originally published on April 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.
