DETROIT TIGERS (11-5) vs. CLEVELAND INDIANS (5-9)
RHP Shane Greene (3-0, 0.39) vs. RHP Danny Salazar (3-0, 3.00)
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 7:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers dropped the series finale to the Yankees 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park. New York broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning with a RBI groundout from Brian McCann, scoring Jacoby Ellsbury for the go-ahead run. Anibal Sanchez started for Detroit and pitched well, allowing one run on one hit with four walks and eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Tom Gorzelanny took the loss after giving up a run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings. J.D. Martinez had a pair of doubles for the Tigers, while Victor Martinez drove the Tigers’ only run of the game. The Tigers continue their 10-game homestand tonight as they begin a three-game weekend series vs. Cleveland. Following this weekend’s series the Tigers being a 10-game road trip that will take them to Minnesota for three games (April 27-29), Kansas City for four games (April 30-May 3) and Chicago for three games (May 5-7).
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: J.D. Martinez hit a pair of doubles in yesterday’s game. It was his fifth career multi-double game and his first since May 2, 2014 at Kansas City. Martinez has hit four doubles this season, which is tied for third on the team.
WINNING WAY VS. CLEVELAND: The Tigers have had success against the Indians in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2013 season, Detroit has posted a 29-12 record vs. Cleveland, including winning 10 of the last 11 games against the Indians. During the 41-game stretch, the Tigers have outscored the Indians 248-172.
MIGGY, VMART ON THE MARK VS. THE INDIANS: Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez have each put up impressive numbers in their career against the Indians. Cabrera is hitting .357 (184×516) with 31 doubles, 37 home runs and 118 RBI in 133 games vs. the Indians, while Martinez is batting .353 (89×252) with 24 doubles, 12 home runs and 56 RBI in 68 career games against Cleveland. Cabrera leads all active players with a .632 slugging percentage and 37 home runs vs. Cleveland, while he is tied for first with 118 RBI and second with a .357 batting average and .427 on-base percentage. Martinez ranks second among active players with a .591 slugging percentage, while he is third with a .353 batting average and a .426 on-base percentage.
13TH ANNUAL NEGRO LEAGUES WEEKEND BEGINS TONIGHT
The Detroit Tigers host the franchise’s 13th annual Negro Leagues Weekend this weekend. The annual weekend marks the longest running three-day celebration of its kind in Major League Baseball. Tonight’s pregame festivities include the “Passing of the Bat” ceremony. The individuals in the pregame ceremony include Walt Owens, a former Negro Leagues player for the Detroit Stars from 1953-55, Tigers alumni including Jake Wood, Willie Horton and Lou Whitaker, current Tigers players and coaches including Dave Clark, Rajai Davis, Anthony Gose and David Price and Nick Plummer of Brother Rice High School, a top African American high school prospect from Michigan.
TONIGHT’S TIDBITS
- The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by the Great Grandson of National Baseball Hall of Famer Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Antonio Embry.
- The national anthem will be performed by Joyce Stearnes Thompson and Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown, daughters of Norman “Turkey” Stearnes.
- The Tigers have partnered with Radio One for the ninth annual Detroit Stars Singing Competition. The competition will take place at the Big Cat Court starting at 5:30 p.m. 10 finalists will be judged by celebrities Lee Thomas of FOX 2 News and former World Series Champion, Lou Whitaker. The winner receives a grand prize of $2,000, will be recognized on field prior to Friday’s game against the Indians and will have the opportunity to sing the anthem at a future Detroit Tigers game.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 11-5 / Streak: L3
Game #17 / Home #11
Home: 6-4 / Road 5-1
TIGERS VS. INDIANS
2015 Record: 3-0
2015 at Home: 0-0
2015 at Cleveland: 3-0
All-Time Record: 1,100-1,050-12
All-Time at Home: 596-472-5
All-Time at Comerica Park: 75-60
All-Time at Cleveland: 504-578-7
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/10 | CLE | W, 8-4 | Simon/McAllister/Soria |
| 4/11 | CLE | W, 9-6 | Krol/Allen |
| 4/12 | CLE | W, 8-5 | Lobstein/House/Soria |
| 4/24 | DET | ||
| 4/25 | DET | ||
| 4/26 | DET | ||
| 6/12 | DET | ||
| 6/13 | DET | ||
| 6/14 | DET | ||
| 6/22 | CLE | ||
| 6/23 | CLE | ||
| 6/24 | CLE | ||
| 9/4 | DET | ||
| 9/5 | DET | ||
| 9/6 | DET | ||
| 9/10 | CLE | ||
| 9/11 | CLE | ||
| 9/12 | CLE | ||
| 9/13 | CLE |
STREAKS
Last five games: 3-2
Last 10 games: 3-7
Last 15 games: 5-10
Last 20 games: 8-12
This content was originally published on April 24, 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.
