DETROIT TIGERS (39-37) vs. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (43-33)
RHP Alfredo Simon (7-4, 3.57) vs. RHP A.J. Burnett (6-3, 2.01)
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 7:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers lost to the Pirates 5-4 in 14 innings in their series opener on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. J.D. Martinez had three hits, including his 20th home run of the season, with two runs scored and two RBI, while Nick Castellanos and James McCann also added three hits. Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez each had two hits in the loss. Tom Gorzelanny took the loss after allowing a run on two hits with one strikeout in 0.2 innings. The Tigers and Pirates play game two of their three-game Interleague series tonight. Following the series vs. Pittsburgh, the homestand concludes with three games against the Toronto Blue Jays.
J.D. POWER: J.D. Martinez hit his 20th home run of the season last night, belting a two-run shot off Tony Watson in the bottom of the eighth inning. Martinez’s 20 home runs are tied for the second most in the American League. Since making his Tigers debut on April 21, 2014, Martinez has hit 43 home runs, 20 of which have come in the seventh inning-or-later. Martinez leads the majors with 20 homers in the seventh inning-or-later since the start of the 2014 season.
RECAPPING J.D.’S JUNE: J.D. Martinez finished the month of June with a .290 (27×93) batting average with 16 runs scored, three doubles, 11 home runs and 26 RBI. Martinez tied for the American League lead with 26 RBI in June, while he ranked second with 11 homers. His 11 home runs in June are tied for the third most in franchise history and are the most since Mickey Tettleton also hit 11 homers in June, 1993.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers played their eighth extra inning game of the season last night, falling to the Pirates 5-4 in 14 innings. Detroit is now 3-5 in extra inning games this season. Last night’s 14 inning contest was the longest for the Tigers since they played a 19 inning game on August 10, 2014 at Toronto.
WILSON ON A ROLL: Righthanded reliever Alex Wilson tossed 3.1 shutout innings with four hits allowed and three strikeouts in last night’s game. In his last 16 appearances, he has posted a 0.76 ERA (23.2IP/2ER) with 11 strikeouts during the span. Overall this season, Wilson has posted a 1.49 ERA (42.1IP/7ER) with 24 strikeouts over 27 games. Opponents are batting .219 (33×151) this season against Wilson.
DAVIS ON TARGET VS. BURNETT: Rajai Davis is hitting .462 (6×13) with two doubles, a triple and a RBI in his career against tonight’s Pirates starter, A.J. Burnett. Among active players with at least 10 at bats vs. Burnett, Davis’ .462 batting average ranks fifth.
#VOTETIGERS: Voting continues 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 starters 35 times by visiting tigers.com/vote. Voting is open now through July 2 and fans are encouraged to vote early and often. Miguel Cabrera regained his lead for first baseman this past week, while Yoenis Cespedes is closing in on an outfield start. Other Tigers players are near the tops of their position lists, so make your 35 votes count and VOTE TIGERS!
BUSES FOR BASEBALL: Through Buses for Baseball, the Detroit Tigers and the Major League Baseball Players Trust host the Munger Lions at Comerica Park. The Tigers provide complimentary tickets, bus transportation by way of the Fox Sports Detroit Fan Express, and the opportunity to watch batting practice. Major League Baseball Players Trust provide food vouchers for the team and arrange a meet and greet with Tigers players.
WILLIE HORTON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CEREMONY: The Tigers created this annual scholarship in 2000 in honor of hometown hero and former Tiger Willie Horton. Each year, a $5,000 scholarship is awarded by the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, to a senior from Detroit’s Northwestern High School, Horton’s alma mater. Scholarship recipients are students who display high levels of commitment to academics, leadership, character development and volunteer involvement. The 2015 Willie Horton Scholarship winner is LaShay Hamilton. LaShay’s accomplishments include: 3.92 grade point average, 1st in her graduating class, Class Valedictorian, National Honor Society, Principal’s Award, Northwestern High School Softball Player, Gleaner’s Food Bank Volunteer, and Michigan Youth in Government Cabinet Member. Willie Horton is scheduled to participate in the ceremony.
TONIGHT’S TIDBITS
- The game ball will be delivered by Petty Officer Second Class Nelson Maczuga of the United States Navy from Wixom, MI.
- The first 10,00 fans will receive a Yoenis Cespedes Bobblehead, courtesy of Frito-Lay.
- The first pitch will be thrown by Tigers fan E. Powell Miller.
- The national anthem will be performed by vocalist, Amber Grand.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 39-37 / Streak: L1
Game #77 / Home #41
Home: 20-20 / Road 19-17
TIGERS VS. PIRATES
2015 Record: 2-2
2015 at Home: 0-1
2015 at Pittsburgh: 2-1
All-Time Record: 23-22
All-Time at Home: 13-7
All-Time at Comerica Park: 11-6
All-Time at Pittsburgh: 10-15
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/13 | PIT | L, 5-4 | Cole/Sanchez |
| 4/14 | PIT | W, 2-0 | Greene/Burnett/Soria |
| 4/15 | PIT | W, 1-0 | Simon/Liriano/Soria |
| 6/30 | DET | L, 5-4 (14) | Guerra/Gorzelanny |
| 7/1 | DET | ||
| 7/2 | DET |
STREAKS
Last five games: 2-3
Last 10 games: 5-5
Last 15 games: 7-8
Last 20 games: 11-9
This content was originally published on July 1, 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.
