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DETROIT TIGERS (39-39) vs. TORONTO BLUE JAYS (42-39)

RHP Anibal Sanchez (6-7, 4.63) vs. RHP Drew Hutchison (8-1, 4.99)
Friday, July 3, 2015 at 7:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers lost their third consecutive game on Thursday, falling to the Pirates 8-4 at Comerica Park. J.D. Martinez hit his 21st home run of the season and had three RBI in the loss, while Ian Kinsler finished the game 1×3 with a run scored, a double and a RBI. Jose Iglesias added two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Kyle Ryan started for the Tigers and suffered the loss after giving up two runs on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings. The Tigers continue their nine-game homestand tonight as they begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Following this weekend’s series, Detroit closes out the first half of the season with a seven-game road trip, which includes three games in Seattle and four games in Minnesota.

ROSTER UPDATE: The Tigers today have announced the following roster moves: ● The Tigers today recalled the injury rehabilitation assignment of catcher Alex Avila and activated him from the disabled list. In six games with the Mud Hens, Avila hit .300 (6×20) with two runs scored, one home run and five RBI. ● The Tigers have optioned the contract of catcher Bryan Holaday to Triple A Toledo. ● The Tigers have designated the contracts of righthanded pitcher Joba Chamberlain and lefthanded pitcher Tom Gorzelanny for assignment. ● The Tigers have recalled the contract of righthanded pitcher Drew VerHagen from Double A

Erie and purchased the contract of righthanded pitcher Jeff Ferrell from Triple A Toledo. In eight games this season between Erie and Toledo, VerHagen has a 2-1 record with two saves and a 5.73 ERA (11.0IP/7ER) and eight strikeouts. Ferrell has compiled a 0-0 record with 13 saves, a 1.61 ERA (28.0IP/5ER) and 36 strikeouts in 18 games between Erie and Toledo.

EVERYDAY I’M HOMERIN’: J.D. Martinez hit his 21st home run of the season yesterday, belting a three-run shot off Antonio Bastardo in the bottom of the eighth inning. Martinez’s 21 home runs are tied for the second most in the American League. Since making his Tigers debut on April 21, 2014, Martinez has hit 44 home runs, 21 of which have come in the seventh inning-or-later. Martinez leads the majors with 21 homers in the seventh inning-or-later since the start of the 2014 season.

MIGGY TIES WILLIE HORTON ON TIGERS TOTAL BASES LIST: With his single in the ninth inning of yesterday’s game, Miguel Cabrera tied Willie Horton for 11th place in franchise history with 2,549 total bases. For his career, Cabrera has 4,008 total bases, which ranks 87th in MLB history.

KINSLER PILING UP THE MULTI-HIT GAMES: Ian Kinsler had three hits in Thursday’s game, marking his third multi-hit game in the last five contests and his 27th multi-hit game of the season. Kinsler’s 27 multi-hit games rank tied for fifth in the American League.

GETTING IGGY WITH IT: Jose Iglesias had a pair of hits in yesterday’s game, giving him his 17th multi-hit game of the season. Iglesias enters tonight’s game ranked second in the American League with 10.8 strikeouts per plate appearances, while he is fourth in the AL with a .324 batting average and ninth with a .378 on-base percentage

DAVIS EXTENDS HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES: Rajai Davis extended his hitting streak to a season-long 10 games by going 1×5 in yesterday’s game. Over his last 10 games, Davis is batting .306 (11×36) with five runs scored, two doubles, one triple, one home run and one RBI. Davis’ hit streak is tied for the second-longest active hitting streak in the American League.

DETROIT TIGERS FOUNDATION 50/50 RAFFLE: The Detroit Tigers Foundation 50/50 Charity Raffle continues at Comerica Park this season. This weekend, the raffle will happen on Friday and Saturday. The partner charity for this weekend’s 50/50 raffle is the South Oakland Shelter, which works with a diverse range of people struggling with homelessness, including first-time homeless individuals and families, the chronically homeless, veterans, domestic violence victims, and people battling substance abuse, mental health issues, and frequently both. Tickets will be sold on a digital platform and are three for $5, 10 for $10 and 40 for $20. The winner will be announced on the Comerica Park scoreboard before the end of the game. The 50/50 Charity Raffle program has raised more than $970,727 for charity with the single largest one-game prize of the program being $17,039.50.

TONIGHT’S TIDBITS

• The game ball will be delivered by Major Matthew Wernert of the United States Army from Eastpoint, MI. Major Wernert has served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been awarded two Bronze Stars, a Combat Action Badge, and a Meritorious Service Medal.
• The first pitch will be thrown by Tigers fan Jon Bacon.
• The national anthem and O’Canada will be performed by World War II Veteran Harold Lanning. 
• Friday Night Fireworks: A special version of Independence Day fireworks will be presented by Pepsi (weather permitting).

TIGERS AT A GLANCE

Record: 39-39 / Streak: L3
Game #79 / Home #43
Home: 20-22 / Road 19-17

TIGERS VS. BLUE JAYS

2015 Record: 0-0
2015 at Home: 0-0
2015 at Toronto: 0-0
All-Time Record: 185-215
All-Time at Home: 98-101
All-Time at Comerica Park: 23-30
All-Time at Toronto: 87-114

2015 GAME LOG

STREAKS

Last five games: 2-3
Last 10 games: 5-5
Last 15 games: 6-9
Last 20 games: 9-11

This content was originally published on July 3, 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.