DETROIT TIGERS (20-14) vs. MINNESOTA TWINS (19-15)
RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-4, 5.44) vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey (3-0, 2.62)
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers dropped a 6-2 decision to the Twins on Wednesday night at Comerica Park. Nick Castellanos, Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez each had two hits in the loss with Castellanos adding a RBI. Kyle Lobstein started for Detroit and took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout in 2.1 innings. The Tigers and Twins conclude their three-game series this afternoon. Following today’s game, Detroit embarks on a brief three-game road trip to face the St. Louis Cardinals.
WHAT A RELIEF: Alex Wilson, Al Alburquerque, Blaine Hardy and Tom Gorzelanny combined to throw 6.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen last night. With the 6.2 shutout innings, the Tigers lowered their bullpen ERA to 2.97 ERA (91.0IP/30ER). Detroit’s 2.97 bullpen ERA ranks fourth in the American League.
TIGERS TIDBITS: Blaine Hardy threw a scoreless inning of relief in last night’s game. Hardy has not allowed a run in each of his last seven appearances, a stretch that spans 5.2 innings … Jose Iglesias had two hits on Wednesday, marking his seventh multi-hit game of the season.
INTERLEAGUE PLAY THIS WEEKEND: After today’s game, the Tigers will play six straight games against National League opponents, playing at St. Louis this weekend and returning home to face Milwaukee next Monday-Wednesday. Detroit is 2-1 in Interleague games this season after taking two of three games at Pittsburgh earlier this season. Since the start of the 2006 season, the Tigers have a 107-62 record in Interleague play, which is the second-best record among major league clubs during that stretch.
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.
G.R.E.A.T. PROGRAM: The Tigers were the first professional sports team to commit to the Gang Resistance and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program and have dedicated one game since 1992 to G.R.E.A.T. This year, 350 Detroit area middle school students who have graduated from or are currently receiving lessons under the 13-week program will attend the game to celebrate their achievements in avoiding destructive behaviors. 40 select students will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony and have the opportunity to hear inspiring words from a Tigers coach or player.
AQUAFINA SCHOOL INCENTIVE DAYS: During six select games this season, the Detroit Tigers Foundation and Aquafina will host over 10,000 students from area schools to reward and thank students as part of the annual Detroit Tigers School Incentive and Reward Program. For more than 60 years the Tigers organization has hosted members of school safety patrol squads and more recently, rewarded students for maintaining perfect attendance for a marking period. On May 14, as part of the school incentive program, 1,000 backpacks will be given away to students, courtesy of Aquafina.
TODAY’S TIDBITS
- Prior to Thursday’s game more than 2,500 students from local schools will participate in Weather Day, the third installment of the Tigers annual “Class Outside Series.”
- The ceremonial first will be thrown out by 92-year-old World War II Veteran, Ron Hanchett.
- The national anthem will be performed by the Woodhaven High School Warrior Marching Band, of Brownstown, Michigan.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 20-14 / Streak: L1
Game #35 / Home #19
Home: 10-8 / Road 10-6
TIGERS VS. TWINS
2015 Record: 6-2
2015 at Home: 4-1
2015 at Minnesota: 2-1
All-Time Record: 1,091-999-17
All-Time at Home: 581-468-8
All-Time at Comerica Park: 73-68
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 | W, 2-1 (10) | Nesbitt/Pressly |
| 5/13 | DET | L, 6-2 | Nolasco/Lobstein |
| 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: 5-5
Last 15 games: 7-8
Last 20 games: 9-11
This content was originally published on May 14, 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.
