DETROIT TIGERS (68-78) vs. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (86-61)
LHP Matt Boyd (1-5, 8.02) vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (13-8, 3.59)
Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 7:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers opened their final homestand of 2015 with a 5-4 win in 12 innings against the Royals on Friday night at Comerica Park. Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the 12th, the Tigers scored a pair of runs with two outs as Tyler Collins drew a bases loaded walk and Dixon Machado hit a game-winning RBI single. Ian Kinsler had four hits and scored two runs in the win, while Miguel Cabrera had two hits and drove in two runs. Drew VerHagen picked up his second win of the season, allowing a run on one hit and one walk in 1.0 inning. The Tigers and Royals play game two of their three-game series tonight. Following the series vs. the Royals, the 10-game homestand continues with four games vs. the Chicago White Sox (September 21-23) and three games against the Twins (September 25-27).
SEPTEMBER 12 MAKEUP VS. CLEVELAND: It has been determined in coordination with Major League Baseball that the postponed Tigers vs. Indians game on September 12 will be made up, only if there are postseason implications, on Monday, October 5 (time TBD) in Cleveland at Progressive Field.
MACHADO WALKS IT OFF: Dixon Machado provided the walkoff winner in last night’s game with a RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning. The walkoff win was the eighth for the Tigers this season, while the walkoff hit was the first of Machado’s career.
QUALITY WORK FROM JV: Justin Verlander turned in his 11th quality start of the season and the 200th of his career on Friday night, allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings. Verlander has recorded a quality start in seven of his last eight outings and has compiled a 1.88 ERA (57.1IP/12ER) with 37 hits allowed, 14 walks and 51 strikeouts over the eight-start stretch.
TONIGHT’S TIDBITS
Star Wars Night: Starting at 5:30 p.m., over 50 Star Wars characters will be available on Comerica Park’s main concourse for fans to take photos. Additionally, there will be a special pregame on-field parade featuring dozens of Star Wars characters and Detroit’s very own feline Jedi, Obi-PAWS Kenobi. The parade will feature a performance of the timeless Star Wars movie score performed from the Michigan Philharmonic Brass Quintet. The first 15,000 fans through the gates on Star Wars Night will receive a limited edition Miguel Cabrera Star Wars Night poster, courtesy of Meijer. Following the game all fans can enjoy an intergalactic presentation of fireworks, weather permitting, and presented by Pepsi. Several primary Star Wars characters will accompany a lucky Tigers fan to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and the Michigan Philharmonic Brass Quintet will perform the National Anthem.- Detroit Tigers Foundation 50/50 Raffle: The Detroit Tigers Foundation 50/50 Charity Raffle continues at Comerica Park this season. This weekend, the raffle will happen on Friday and Saturday. The partner charity for this weekend’s 50/50 raffle is Karmanos Cancer Institute in support of Pink Out The Park. Tickets will be sold on a digital platform and are three for $5, 10 for $10 and 40 for $20.
Verlander’s Victory for Veterans: This season, for each Saturday home game, Verlander hosts Veterans from Veterans Affairs Medical Centers throughout the state of Michigan. These Veterans sustained injuries or illness in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom or in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The Veterans along with their families cheer on the Tigers from the comfort of Verlander’s personal luxury suite. After serving our country, the special day provides American veterans the opportunity to enjoy a Tigers game with their family. Veterans share 18 luxury suite tickets and parking passes in the Tigers Parking Garage. Food and beverage is provided for the guests courtesy of Verlander. Veterans receive a personalized welcome letter from Verlander and a Verlander’s Victory for Veterans t-shirt.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 68-78/ Streak: W3
Game #147 / Home #73
Home: 34-38 / Road 34-40
TIGERS VS. ROYALS
2015 Record: 8-9
2015 at Home: 4-3
2015 at Kansas City: 4-6
All-Time Record: 323-320
All-Time at Home: 170-152
All-Time at Comerica Park: 78-65
All-Time at Kansas City: 153-168
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 | L, 6-2 | Guthrie/Sanchez |
| 5/10 | DET | L, 2-1 (10) | Fraser/Nesbitt/Holland |
| 8/4 | DET | L, 5-1 | Duffy/Verlander |
| 8/5 | DET | W, 2-1 | Boyd/Cueto/Wilson |
| 8/6 | DET | W, 8-6 | Wilson/Madson |
| 8/10 | KC | L, 4-0 | CUETO/Boyd |
| 8/11 | KC | L, 6-1 | Ventura/Sanchez/Hochevar |
| 8/12 | KC | W, 7-4 | Feliz/Volquez/Rondon |
| 9/1 | KC | W, 6-5 | Verlander/Cueto/Rondon |
| 9/2 | KC | L, 12-1 | Ventura/Wolf |
| 9/3 | KC | L. 15-7 | Young/Ryan |
| 9/18 | DET | W, 5-4 (12) | VerHagen/Holland |
| 9/19 | DET | ||
| 9/20 | DET |
STREAKS
Last five games: 4-1
Last 10 games: 6-4
Last 15 games: 7-8
Last 20 games: 8-12
This content was originally published on September 19, 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.
