DETROIT TIGERS (39-38) vs. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (44-33)
LHP Kyle Ryan (1-1, 4.56) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (6-3, 2.01)
Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers dropped their second straight game to the Pirates, falling 9-3 on Wednesday night at Comerica Park. J.D. Martinez had three hits in the loss, while James McCann hit his fourth home run of the season and finished the game 2×4 with a run scored and a RBI. Alfredo Simon started for Detroit and took the loss after allowing six runs on 15 hits with seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings. The Tigers and Pirates conclude their three-game Interleague series this afternoon. Following today’s game vs. Pittsburgh, the homestand concludes with three games against the Toronto Blue Jays.
J.D. MARTINEZ, PRICE EARN JUNE HONORS: J.D. Martinez and David Price have been selected as the Tigers Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for June. Martinez finished the month hitting .290 (27×93) with 16 runs scored, three doubles, 11 home runs and 26 RBI. Martinez finished tied for the American League lead in RBI, while he was second in home runs. Martinez’s 11 home runs in June were tied for the third most in franchise history and were the most since Mickey Tettleton hit 11 in June, 1993. Price was a perfect 3-0 in five June starts with a 2.02 ERA (35.2IP/8ER), 31 hits allowed, three walks and 37 strikeouts. He finished the month ranked seventh in the AL in ERA and strikeouts.
NEW MONTH, SAME J.D.: After putting up impressive numbers in the month of June, J.D. Martinez started out the month of July in a similar fashion, going 3×4 in last night’s loss. Martinez has hit safely in 12 of his last 15 games and is batting .365 (23×63) with 13 runs scored, two doubles, 10 home runs and 21 RBI during that stretch.
TRIPLE THREAT: Rajai Davis hit his seventh triple of the season in last night’s game. Davis’ seven triples lead the American League and are the most he’s had in a season in his career, besting his previous high of six set in 2011 with Toronto.
CABRERA MOVING UP THE TIGERS TOTAL BASES LIST: Miguel Cabrera begins today’’s game with 2,548 total bases as a member of the Tigers, which ranks 12th in franchise history. Cabrera is one total base away from tying Willie Horton for 11th in club history with 2,549 total bases.
STREAKING: Rajai Davis enters today’s game on a nine-game hitting streak. Over his last nine games, Davis is batting .323 (10×31) with five runs scored, two doubles, one triple, one home run and one RBI.
TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: The Tigers turned one double play in last night’s game. The Tigers have now turned 74 double plays this season, which ranks tied for fifth in the American League.
VMART ON THE MARK VS. LIRIANO: Victor Martinez is hitting .464 (13×28) with six doubles, a home run and seven RBI in his career against today’s Pirates starter, Francisco Liriano. Among active players with at least 20 at bats vs. Liriano, Martinez’s batting average ranks third.
INTERLEAGUE HAPPENINGS: The Tigers are 7-9 in Interleague play this season after going 1-1 vs. Chicago, 1-2 vs. Cincinnati, 1-2 vs. Milwaukee, 2-3 vs. Pittsburgh and 2-1 vs. St. Louis. Since Interleague Play began in 1997, the Tigers have compiled a 183-156 record.
#VOTETIGERS: Voting continues 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 starters 35 times by visiting tigers.com/vote. Voting is open now through July 2 and fans are encouraged to vote early and often. Miguel Cabrera regained his lead for first baseman this past week, while Yoenis Cespedes is closing in on an outfield start. Other Tigers players are near the tops of their position lists, so make your 35 votes count and VOTE TIGERS!
NATURALIZATION CEREMONY: 60 individuals will be sworn in as American citizens during a pre-game ceremony on the field at Comerica Park. The oath will be administered by Judge Denise Page Hood through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The new citizens and their family members receive complimentary tickets courtesy of the Detroit Tigers to enjoy America’s Favorite Pastime after officially becoming a citizen of the United States. God Bless America will be performed as part of the ceremony by vocalist Michael Greene.
TODAY’S TIDBITS
- The game ball will be delivered by Captain Michael Gomez of the United States Army from Grand Rapids, MI. Captain Gomez has served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been awarded a Meritorious Bronze Star, three Army Commendation medals, an Iraqi Campaign medal, an Afghanistan Campaign medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service medal, a National Defense Service medal, an Amery Service medal, three Overseas Service medals, a NATO medal, a Meritorious Unit Citation, Air Assault Wings, and a Gold German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.
- The national anthem will be performed by the United States Army Field Band Brass Quintet.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 39-38 / Streak: L2
Game #78 / Home #42
Home: 20-20 / Road 19-17
TIGERS VS. PIRATES
2015 Record: 2-3
2015 at Home: 0-2
2015 at Pittsburgh: 2-1
All-Time Record: 23-23
All-Time at Home: 13-8
All-Time at Comerica Park: 11-7
All-Time at Pittsburgh: 10-15
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/13 | PIT | L, 5-4 | Cole/Sanchez |
| 4/14 | PIT | W, 2-0 | Greene/Burnett/Soria |
| 4/15 | PIT | W, 1-0 | Simon/Liriano/Soria |
| 6/30 | DET | L, 5-4 (14) | Guerra/Gorzelanny |
| 7/1 | DET | L, 9-3 | Burnett/Simon |
| 7/2 | DET |
STREAKS
Last five games: 2-3
Last 10 games: 5-5
Last 15 games: 7-8
Last 20 games: 10-10
This content was originally published on July 2, 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.
