DETROIT TIGERS (19-13) vs. MINNESOTA TWINS (18-14)
RHP Alfredo Simon (4-1, 3.44) vs. RHP Kyle Gibson (3-2, 2.97)
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers lost the rubber game of their three-game series against the Royals, falling 2-1 in 10 innings on Sunday night at Comerica Park. With the game tied at one in the 10th inning, the Royals scored a run in the top half of the inning to take a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Shane Greene started the game for the Tigers and pitched well, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts in 8.0 innings. Ian Kinsler was 1×4 with a RBI in the loss, while Anthony Gose was 1×4 with a run scored. The Tigers continue their six-game homestand tonight as they begin a three-game series vs. the Twins. Following the series vs. Minnesota, Detroit embarks on a brief three-game road trip to face the St. Louis Cardinals.
EASY BEING GREENE: Shane Greene tossed his fourth quality start of the season on Sunday night vs. Kansas City, allowing a run on four hits with three strikeouts in 8.0 innings. The start marked the fourth time this season that Greene has worked 7.0-or-more innings while allowing one run-or-fewer. In seven starts this season, Greene has a 3-2 record with a 4.71 ERA (42.0IP/22ER) and 24 strikeouts.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers played their first extra-inning game of the season on Sunday night vs. Kansas City in Detroit’s 32nd game of the season. It marked the latest the Tigers have had their first extra-inning contest since the 2009 season when the Tigers also played their first extra-inning game in the 32nd game of the season.
THE NEED FOR SPEED: The Tigers enter tonight’s game with 29 stolen bases, which ranks second in the American League. Rajai Davis ranks sixth in the American League with eight stolen bases, while Anthony Gose is tied for ninth with six stolen bases.
TAKE YOUR BASE: The Tigers drew six walks on Sunday vs. Kansas City. Detroit has drawn 114 walks as a team this season, which ranks third in the American League. Individually, Miguel Cabrera ranks second in the AL with 21 walks, while Ian Kinsler is 13th with 16 free passes.
THREE TIGERS ON TARGET VS. GIBSON: Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez have each had success in their career against tonight’s Twins starter, Kyle Gibson. Cabrera is batting .417 (5×12) with a double, a home run and four RBI vs. Gibson, while Kinsler is hitting .400 (6×15) with a home run and three RBI. Martinez has a .429 (6×14) batting average vs. Gibson with a double, a home run and four RBI.
CESPEDES MASHES VS. MINNESOTA: Yoenis Cespedes has feasted on Minnesota pitching in his career. In 21 career games vs. the Twins, Cespedes is hitting .379 (33×87) with 17 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, five home runs and 25 RBI. Cespedes has hit safely in 20 of 21 career games vs. Minnesota, including 11 multi-hit games. Since 2012, Cespedes’ .701 slugging percentage vs. Minnesota ranks second among American League hitters, while his .379 batting average ranks fourth.
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.
TONIGHT’S TIDBITS
- The national anthem will be performed by the Vandercook Lake Jayhawk Marching Band.
- A special ticket package was offered for tonight’s game for Adoption Awareness Night. The package included a mezzanine or lower baseline box ticket, Detroit Tigers/Adoption Awareness t-shirt and a $5 donation to the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 19-13 / Streak: L2
Game #33 / Home #17
Home: 9-7 / Road 10-6
TIGERS VS. TWINS
2015 Record: 5-1
2015 at Home: 3-0
2015 at Minnesota: 2-1
All-Time Record: 1,090-998-17
All-Time at Home: 580-467-8
All-Time at Comerica Park: 72-67
All-Time at Minnesota: 510-531-9
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 | W, 7-1 | Greene/Gibson |
| 4/27 | MIN | W, 5-4 | Price/Milone/Soria |
| 4/28 | MIN | L, 3-2 | Pelfrey/Sanchez/Perkins |
| 4/29 | MIN | W, 10-7 | Gorzelanny/Fien/Soria |
| 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: 2-3
Last 10 games: 4-6
Last 15 games: 8-7
Last 20 games: 9-11
This content was originally published on May 12, 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.
