SB Nation Detroit - Tigers No-Hit By Tampa Bay's Matt Garza In 5-0 Loss To Rayshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2010-07-26T21:48:00-04:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13529182010-07-26T21:48:00-04:002010-07-26T21:48:00-04:00Tampa Bay's Matt Garza Throws No-Hitter Against Tigers
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<p><a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/1588920/tigers-lineup-tonight-is-scary-and">Earlier today</a>, I joked that the Tigers' lineup was scary -- and not in a good way. After all, most of the lineup probably belongs in Toledo rather than in the majors with the Tigers, and unfortunately, their play tonight was proof of that. Why? Well, Tampa Bay's Matt Garza opened the series between the Tigers and Rays by throwing a no-hitter.</p>
<p>Garza walked one batter and struck out six en route to the first no-no in Tampa Bay Rays history and the first no-no against the Tigers since 1990 when Randy Johnson did it. None of the Tigers even came all that close to getting a hit outside of a nice catch or two Rays outfielders had to make during the course of the game.</p>
<p>The interesting thing about this game is that Detroit's Max Scherzer went 6.2 innings without giving up a hit. He ended up loading the bases during the sixth because of two walks and a catcher interference call, however, and former Tiger Matt Joyce hit a grand slam on a full count to give the Rays a 4-0 lead. Carl Crawford later added a home run to make it 5-0 Rays, which is what the final score ended up being.</p>
<p>Perhaps the saddest part of the Tigers getting no-hit is that it could definitely happen again this season. With the way the lineup looks both on paper and during actual games, it's certainly possible, because the only player currently worth anything is Miguel Cabrera. At this point you might as well call them the Detroit Mud Hens, because they are playing like a Triple-A team right now.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/1589425/matt-garza-no-hitter-tampa-bay-rays-detroit-tigersSean Yuille2010-07-26T21:09:04-04:002010-07-26T21:09:04-04:00Max Scherzer Loses No-Hitter On Grand Slam In Sixth Inning
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<p>Max Scherzer didn't give up his first hit until the bottom of the sixth inning tonight, but boy was it a big one. Former Tiger Matt Joyce absolutely destroyed a pitch on a 3-2 count and it barely stayed fair for a grand slam, giving the Rays a 4-0 lead.</p>
<p>Joyce's hit was the first one in this game for either team. The Tigers are currently being no-hit by Matt Garza, and despite loading the bases, Scherzer hadn't given up a hit until Joyce came up in the sixth. Before that at bat, Scherzer walked a couple batters and Carl Crawford also reached base thanks to the home-plate ump calling catcher interference on Gerald Laird.</p>
<p>With the way the Tigers lineup has played tonight, I really only have confidence in Miguel Cabrera to break up Garza's no-hitter. The rest of the players in the lineup -- many of whom should be in Toledo right now -- just look clueless out there.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/1589381/max-scherzer-no-hitter-matt-garza-tigers-raysSean Yuille2010-07-26T20:01:59-04:002010-07-26T20:01:59-04:00Jim Leyland Ejected In Third Inning
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<p>Jim Leyland was just tossed in the bottom of the third inning by umpire Marty Foster for arguing a call at second base. This is the second time Leyland has been ejected this season, and interestingly, both ejections came at the hands of this umpiring crew.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton successfully attempted to steal second thanks to Foster calling him safe despite Will Rhymes applying the tag well before Upton slid into second. Foster was in a terrible position to make the call, which is likely why he got it wrong.</p>
<p>Before FS Detroit could even finish showing a replay of the call, Jim Leyland sprinted out of the dugout and unloaded on Foster. It took all of a few seconds for him to get tossed, but he made sure to get his money's worth and kept arguing for a minute or two before leaving the field.</p>
<p>Luckily for Foster and the Tigers, the blown call did not cost Detroit anything more than Leyland for the night, as they got out of the inning without giving up a run.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/1589285/jim-leyland-ejected-umpire-marty-fosterSean Yuille2010-07-26T16:22:36-04:002010-07-26T16:22:36-04:00Tigers Lineup Tonight Is... Scary (And Not In A Good Way)
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<p>I think the headline says it all. Here is <a href="http://twitter.com/OFFICIAL_TIGERS/status/19597218259">tonight's lineup</a> for your <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2010/7/25/1587242/game-97-jays-at-detroit-mud-hens-6">Detroit Tigers <strike>Mud Hens</strike></a><strike></strike>.</p>
<p>CF Austin Jackson <br>2B Will Rhymes<br>DH Johnny Damon<br>1B Miguel Cabrera<br>RF Brennan Boesch<br>LF Ryan Raburn<br>3B Don Kelly<br>C Gerald Laird<br>SS Danny Worth</p>
<p><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Yikes.<a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23mlb" title="#mlb" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow"></a></span></span></span></p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/1588920/tigers-lineup-tonight-is-scary-andSean Yuille2010-07-26T16:15:09-04:002010-07-26T16:15:09-04:00Tigers Head To Tampa Bay To Open 4-Game Set With Rays
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<p>(<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/53956/preview/110067">Sports Network</a>) - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/DET">Detroit Tigers</a> begin what could be a make-or-break week-long road trip for the American League Central contenders tonight at Tropicana Field, where the struggling and injury-plagued club takes on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/TAM">Tampa Bay Rays</a> in a clash of postseason hopefuls.</p>
<p>Detroit enters the opener of this four-game series just two games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central standings, but hasn't performed like a playoff-worthy team lately. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/DET">Tigers</a> have lost nine of their last 12 contests and dropped all four bouts of their only road set during that span, which came against last-place Cleveland from July 16-18.</p>
<p>Winning away from home has been a challenge for Detroit all year long. The Tigers are a poor 16-29 on the road this season and haven't taken a series as the visitor since registering a two-game sweep at Oakland from May 19-20.</p>
<p>The Tigers also starts up this important trip, which also includes a stop at Boston's Fenway Park, at nothing close to full strength. Detroit has lost three lineup regulars -- third baseman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/280/Brandon_Inge">Brandon Inge</a> (broken hand), right fielder <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/275/Magglio_Ordonez">Magglio Ordonez</a> (fractured right ankle) and second baseman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/308/Carlos_Guillen">Carlos Guillen</a> (calf strain) to injuries over the past week.</p>
<p>Detroit will be coming in with a bit of momentum, however, after putting forth a strong rally to deliver a much-needed 6-5 win over Toronto in yesterday's finale of a doubleheader. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/TOR">Blue Jays</a> prevailed in the opener by a 5-3 count.</p>
<p>Toronto appeared headed for a sweep of the twinbill after carrying a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but the Tigers responded with four runs to move ahead. MVP candidate <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/427/Miguel_Cabrera">Miguel Cabrera</a> brought Detroit within a run by smacking a two-RBI double with one out, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/271/Ryan_Raburn">Ryan Raburn</a> put the team ahead two batters later with a two-run double off his own off Jays reliever <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/1041/Jason_Frasor">Jason Frasor</a>.</p>
<p>Raburn finished with three RBI in the nightcap, while Cabrera went 2-for-4 to raise his season average to .350. Reliever <span>Phil Coke</span> (6-1) garnered the win by throwing a scoreless top of the eighth, with All-Star closer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/587/Jose_Valverde">Jose Valverde</a> notching his 21st save despite allowing a solo homer to Dewayne Wise in the ninth.</p>
<p>Valverde also struggled in the first game, serving up a two-run homer to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/861/Lyle_Overbay">Lyle Overbay</a> in the top of the ninth that snapped a 3-3 deadlock.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay will embark upon a season-high 11-game homestand this evening and returns to Tropicana Field off back-to-back wins over Cleveland over the weekend. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/TAM">Rays</a> took Sunday's rubber match of the three-game series by a 4-2 score, with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31731/Reid_Brignac">Reid Brignac</a> belting a three-run homer to support a strong outing from starting pitcher <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31728/Wade_Davis">Wade Davis</a>.</p>
<p>Brignac's second-inning blast off <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/33392/Justin_Masterson">Justin Masterson</a> gave Tampa a 3-1 advantage, and Davis overcame a shaky beginning to make the lead stand. The rookie righty was touched for a run in each of the first two frames, but held the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/CLE">Indians</a> scoreless over the remainder of his 6 1/3-inning stint to move to 8-9 on the season.</p>
<p>"The first two innings was an uphill battle," Davis said. "Couldn't really find anything to go to throughout the whole game, but we played some great defense today and won the game."</p>
<p>Sunday's victory kept the Rays within three games of the first-place <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/NYY">New York Yankees</a> in the AL East standings. Following this series, Tampa Bay will host the defending world champions in a three-game set.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/655/Matt_Garza">Matt Garza</a> will attempt to follow up Davis' sharp showing, as well as rebound from a horrible last start, when he takes the mound for the Rays tonight. The usually-reliable right-hander was torched for seven runs in 6 1/3 innings of a road loss to Baltimore last Tuesday, giving up four homers and 10 hits overall in a forgettable performance.</p>
<p>Heading back to Tropicana Field could get Garza back on track, as he's registered three wins and a no-decision in his last four starts there and sports a 5-2 record in 10 overall games (nine starts) at home this year.</p>
<p>Garza does not have a track record of success against the Tigers, however. In six lifetime encounters with Detroit, the 26-year-old is 0-4 with a 5.85 earned run average.</p>
<p>The Rays figure to face a stern test tonight from Detroit starter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31245/Max_Scherzer">Max Scherzer</a>, who's been terrific since being recalled from a brief banishment to the minors in late May. In 10 starts following his return to the big leagues, the young right-hander has compiled a 6-3 record and an outstanding 2.54 ERA in addition to racking up 74 strikeouts over a span of 63 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>Scherzer was on top of his game once again this past Wednesday, yielding just four hits and fanning five over seven shutout frames to defeat AL West leader Texas. It's the fifth time in his last six starts the former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/ARI">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> first-round selection has given up one run or less.</p>
<p>The University of Missouri product, who turns 26 on Tuesday, is just 1-5 with a 5.61 ERA in nine road starts this season, however. This will be Scherzer's first-ever start against the Rays.</p>
<p>Detroit has lost its last six contests on the road, but did sweep a three-game set from the Rays at Tropicana Field last September. The Tigers won five of the seven overall meetings between the clubs in 2009.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/2318404/tigers-head-to-tampa-bay-to-open-4-game-set-with-raysSean Yuille