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DETROIT TIGERS (11-2) vs. NEW YORK YANKEES (6-7)

LHP Kyle Lobstein (1-0, 5.40) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 4.35)
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at 7:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers continued their winning ways on Monday night as they defeated the Yankees, 2-1. The Tigers rallied from a 1-0 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the seventh on RBI singles from J.D. Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes. Ian Kinsler had a pair of hits to pace the Detroit offense. Alfredo Simon started for the Tigers and improved his record to 3-0 after allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings. Joakim Soria tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn his fifth save of the season. The Tigers and Yankees play game two of their four-game series tonight. Following the series vs. New York, the Tigers close their homestand this weekend with a three-game set vs. Cleveland.

START ME UP: The Tigers starting rotation has posted several impressive performances in the first weeks of the season. Entering tonight’s game, Detroit’s starting pitchers lead the American League with nine wins, a 2.37 ERA (87.1IP/23ER) and 87.1 innings pitched, while they rank third with a .219 opponents batting average. Tigers starting pitchers have worked 6.0-or-more innings in nine of 13 games and have allowed three-or-fewer runs in 11 of 13 contests

WHAT A RELIEF: Along with the strong performances from the Tigers starting staff, the bullpen has also put up strong numbers this season. Detroit’s relief corps has combined for a 2-0 record with six saves, a 2.83 ERA (28.2IP/9ER) and a .198 opponents batting average. Through 13 games last season, the Tigers bullpen had a 5.23 ERA (41.1IP/24ER) with a .274 opponents batting average.

ELIAS SAYS: The Tigers have allowed fewer than two runs in six of seven home games this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 2015 Tigers are just the second MLB team in the previous 80 seasons to accomplish that feat, joining the 1999 Tigers. In 1999, Detroit allowed fewer than two runs in six of their first seven games at Tiger Stadium, including a three-game sweep of the defending champion Yankees, who scored exactly one run in each of their three losses.

SORIA SLAMS THE DOOR: Joakim Soria worked a perfect ninth inning last night to pick up his fifth save of the season. Soria leads the American League with five saves and has finished a major league best eight games. Soria has not allowed a run in seven of eight appearances this season and has a 1-0 record with five saves, a 1.35 ERA (6.2IP/1ER) and a .087 opponents batting average.

MIGGY MASHES VS. THE YANKEES: Miguel Cabrera has enjoyed facing the Yankees in his career. Entering tonight’s game, Cabrera is hitting .338 (66×195) with 35 runs scored, 14 doubles, one triple, 18 home runs and 46 RBI in 55 career games against the Yankees. Cabrera leads all active players with a .697 slugging percentage vs. the Yankees, while he is second with a .411 on-base percentage and third with a .338 batting average. Cabrera has hit safely in 43 of 54 career games against the Yankees.

STREAKING: Nick Castellanos, Rajai Davis and Jose Iglesias each enter tonight’s game on a hitting streak. Castellanos has hit safely in eight straight games, which is tied for the longest hitting streak of his career. During the current streak, Castellanos is hitting .385 (10×26) with three doubles and two RBI. Davis and Iglesias have hit safely in six straight games. Davis is batting .292 (7×24) with three runs scored, one double, one home run and three RBI while Iglesias is hitting .421 (8×19) with a run scored, three doubles and a RBI.

The “Women in Sports” event, hosted by Jennifer Hammond of FOX 2 News, will explore the expanding role of women in the professional sports industry. The panel will feature Vice President of Marketing for the Detroit Tigers Ellen Hill Zeringue, Cause Marketing Manager for the Detroit Lions Samantha Bourque, Wayne State University’s Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Promotions Nicole Blaszczyk, Varsity Volleyball Coach for Kalamazoo College and author Jeanee Hess and Director of Marketing and Sales Promotions for FOX Sports Detroit Lauren Pober.

TONIGHT’S TIDBITS

• The ceremonial first pitches will be thrown out by a Detroit Tigers Kid’s Club member and Senior Deputy Director for the State of Michigan, Mike Turnquist, representing Belfor.
• The national anthem will be performed by vocalist Kathy Scarlett Moore.

TIGERS AT A GLANCE

Record: 11-2 / Streak: W2
Game #14 / Home #8
Home: 6-1 / Road 5-1

TIGERS VS. YANKEES

2015 Record: 1-0
2015 at Home: 1-0
2015 at New York: 0-0
All-Time Record: 938-1,056-9
All-Time at Home: 521-479-5
All-Time at Comerica Park: 33-28
All-Time at New York: 417-577-4

2015 GAME LOG

STREAKS

Last five games: 4-1
Last 10 games: 8-2
Last 15 games: 11-2
Last 20 games: 11-2

This content was originally published on April 21, 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.