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DETROIT TIGERS (41-39) vs. TORONTO BLUE JAYS (42-41)

RHP Justin Verlander (0-1, 5.09) vs. RHP Marco Estrada (5-4, 3.58)
Sunday, July 5, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers clinched their series against the Blue Jays with an 8-3 win on Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park. Yoenis Cespedes and Ian Kinsler each had three hits in the win with Cespedes driving in one run and Kinsler recording two RBI. J.D. Martinez hit his 22nd home run of the season and finished the game 1×3 with two RBI. David Price started for Detroit and earned his eighth win of the season, pitching 7.0 innings and giving up just one run on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. The Tigers and Blue Jays conclude their three-game series this afternoon. Following today’s game, the Tigers close out the first half of the season with a seven-game road trip, which includes three games in Seattle and four games in Minnesota.

EVERYDAY I’M HOMERIN’: J.D. Martinez hit his 22nd home run of the season yesterday, hitting a two-run shot off R.A. Dickey in the first inning. Martinez’s 22 home runs are the second most in the American League. The home run on Saturday was Martinez’s ninth in a span of 44 at bats. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Martinez is one of four major leaguers to hit nine home runs in 44-or-fewer bats this season, joining Nelson Cruz, Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton. Additionally, Martinez is one of three Tigers over the last 25 years to hit nine homers in a span of 44 at-bats. The others are Bobby Higginson in 2000 and Marcus Thames in 2008. Martinez enters today’s game with a home run every 13.59 at bats, which ranks third in the American League.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT: David Price picked up his eighth win of the season on Saturday vs. Toronto. Price tossed 7.0 innings and allowed one run on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. The performance continued Price’s mastery of the Blue Jays. In 21 career starts vs. Toronto, Price has a 16-2 record with a 2.41 ERA (145.2IP/39ER) and 126 strikeouts.

KINSLER, CESPEDES PILING UP THE MULTI-HIT GAMES: Ian Kinsler and Yoenis Cespedes each had three hits in yesterday’s win. Kinsler recorded his 28th multi-hit game of the season, which ranks tied for fourth in the American League, while Cespedes notched his 27th multi-hit performance, which ranks seventh in the AL. Cespedes turned in his ninth three-hit game of 2015, which is tied for the third-most in the AL.

FERRELL MAKES MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT: Jeff Ferrell made his major league debut in Saturday’s game, pitching the ninth inning. In his 1.0 inning, Ferrell allowed two runs on two hits. Ferrell became the fourth Tiger to make his major league debut this season, joining Daniel Fields, Dixon Machado and Angel Nesbitt.

ROAD WORK UPCOMING: Following today’s game, the Tigers embark on a seven-game road trip, which includes three games at Seattle and four games at Minnesota, to close the first half of the season. Detroit is 19-17 on the road this season. The Tigers’ .528 road winning percentage ranks fifth in the American League, while their 19 road wins rank 10th in the AL.

TODAY’S TIDBITS

• All Sunday home games are Kids Days at Comerica Park. All kids 14-and-under will receive a free promotional item as part of the “Every Kid, Every Sunday” giveaway guarantee, enjoy free rides courtesy of Kroger on the Comerica Bank Carousel or the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel, take part in free face painting, have the chance to win a bicycle and are invited down to the field for Kids Run the Bases courtesy of Aquafina and Meijer following the game, weather permitting.
• All kids 14-and-under will receive an Ian Kinsler poster, courtesy of Meijer.
• Topps baseball cards will be distributed to all kids at all gates.
• The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Dr. Steven Zavinsky, representing Red Robin.
• The national anthem will be performed by the Temple Israel Shabbat Singers and O’Canada will be performed by Cantor Michael Smolash.
• God Bless America will be performed by Rachel Miltmore prior to the bottom of the seventh inning.

ON-FIELD PHOTO DAY: From 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. all fans are invited down to the field for a special opportunity to take photos of their favorite Tigers players and coaches. Fans are encouraged to take selfies with their favorite players in the background and tag them on Twitter and Instagram using #TigersSelfies. Please note that this is not an autograph event and posed photos are not permitted. Photo Day is presented by Ballpark and Meijer.

TIGERS AT A GLANCE

Record: 41-39 / Streak: W2
Game #81 / Home #45
Home: 22-22 / Road 19-17

TIGERS VS. BLUE JAYS

2015 Record: 2-0
2015 at Home: 2-0
2015 at Toronto: 0-0
All-Time Record: 187-215
All-Time at Home: 100-101
All-Time at Comerica Park: 25-30
All-Time at Toronto: 87-114

2015 GAME LOG

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 5, 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.