Tigers send Verlander to prevent A's sweep

By Josh Liebeskind / MLB.com | 5/12/2012 11:24 PM ET

As far as pitchers and umpires go, they usually aren't the best of friends. When it comes to Laz Diaz, you can be pretty sure Justin Verlander doesn't love the sight of him calling a game when he's on the mound.

The Tigers ace will have to deal with Diaz when he gets the ball for the series finale against the A's, who are going for a three-game sweep on Sunday.

Verlander has given up nine runs on 13 hits in 12 innings in two starts with Diaz behind the plate. The last time Diaz called a Verlander start, the two got into a spat between innings.

Verlander has a 3-1 record this year with a 2.63 ERA. In 51 1/3 innings, Verlander has struck out 48 and walked just 11 batters.

The A's will counter with 23-year-old Jarrod Parker. The right-hander will be making just his fourth start with the A's, and carries a 1-0 record with a 1.80 ERA. He has gone at least 6 1/3 innings in his three outings, and has struck out 12, giving up just one home run.

A's: Continue to win in May
• After a 3-0 win over the Tigers on Saturday, the A's improved to 7-3 in the month of May. That is the second best record in the American League behind Baltimore (8-3).

• The A's string of five consecutive games with a steal was snapped on Saturday.

Tigers: Streak without being shutout at 101
The Tigers scored a run in the ninth inning Saturday against the A's, extending their streak of games without being shutout to 101. The club record for games without being blanked is 110, from August 28, 1992 to June 29, 1993.

Worth noting
• Miguel Cabrera's career batting average versus Oakland dropped significantly with an 0-for-4 performance Saturday. His average dropped from .667 (6-for-9) to .462 (6-for-13).






Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (3-1, 2.63 ERA)

Verlander always seems to run into low-scoring duels in Oakland, which partly explains why he's just 3-4 there despite a 2.62 ERA. If he's rounding into his usual May form of the last few years, though, it's going to be tough for the A's to beat him.


Athletics: RHP Jarrod Parker (1-0, 1.80 ERA)

Parker fired seven strong innings in a no-decision effort in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays, giving up just a pair of runs on four hits and five walks with three strikeouts. He has pitched into the seventh inning in each of his three starts.










INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery, 60-day disabled list on April 4).
• RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring, 15-day disabled list on April 4).
• C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 12).
• LHP Daniel Schlereth (left shoulder tendinitis, 15-day DL on April 21).










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• MONDAY, May 14:
Tigers (LHP Drew Smyly (1-0, 1.59 ERA)) AT White Sox (LHP John Danks (2-4, 5.89 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• TUESDAY, May 15:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (2-3, 5.73 ERA)) AT White Sox (RHP Jake Peavy (4-1, 1.89 ERA)), 2:10 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• WEDNESDAY, May 16:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (3-3, 5.18 ERA)) VS Twins (RHP Nick Blackburn (1-4, 7.18 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Andy Dirks, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Delmon Young, DH
Alex Avila, C
Brennan Boesch, RF
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Ryan Raburn, 2B

P: Justin Verlander

ATHLETICS

Cliff Pennington, SS
Collin Cowgill, CF
Josh Reddick, RF
Jonny Gomes, DH
Seth Smith, LF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Daric Barton, 1B
Anthony Recker, C
Eric Sogard, 2B

P: Jarrod Parker

DET - Top 1st
B:0 S:0 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Josh Donaldson to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to center fielder Collin Cowgill.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Reddick. Andy Dirks to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Prince Fielder out swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Delmon Young flies out to center fielder Collin Cowgill.


OAK - Bot 1st
B:3 S:3 O:1
Cliff Pennington out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Collin Cowgill grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Josh Reddick called out on .

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:3 S:3 O:1
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Reddick.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta walks. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Ryan Raburn out swinging. Brennan Boesch steals (2) 3rd base. Jhonny Peralta steals (1) 2nd base.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Andy Dirks pops out to shortstop Cliff Pennington.


OAK - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:2 O:1
Jonny Gomes pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Seth Smith called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:3
Josh Donaldson flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, pitcher Jarrod Parker to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Prince Fielder flies out to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Delmon Young grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Daric Barton.


OAK - Bot 3rd
B:3 S:2 O:1
Daric Barton pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Anthony Recker out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Eric Sogard pops out to second baseman Ryan Raburn.

0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Alex Avila pops out to third baseman Josh Donaldson in foul territory.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Josh Reddick.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Josh Donaldson to first baseman Daric Barton.


OAK - Bot 4th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Cliff Pennington grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Collin Cowgill pops out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Josh Reddick singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

With Jonny Gomes batting, throwing error by Justin Verlander on the pickoff attempt, Josh Reddick to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Jonny Gomes out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Collin Cowgill.

With Andy Dirks batting, Austin Jackson steals (6) 2nd base.

With Andy Dirks batting, wild pitch by Jarrod Parker, Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Andy Dirks out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Collin Cowgill. Austin Jackson scores.
1 - 0

B:2 S:1 O:3
Prince Fielder grounds out, second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Daric Barton.


OAK - Bot 5th
B:2 S:0 O:0
Seth Smith homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.
TIED 1 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:1
Josh Donaldson grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Daric Barton out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Anthony Recker out swinging.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Delmon Young pops out to first baseman Daric Barton in foul territory.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila lines out to second baseman Eric Sogard.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Brennan Boesch doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Ryan Raburn walks. Brennan Boesch to 3rd. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Grant Balfour replaces Jarrod Parker.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Austin Jackson walks. Brennan Boesch scores. Jhonny Peralta to 3rd. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.
2 - 1

B:3 S:3 O:3
Andy Dirks out swinging.


OAK - Bot 6th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Eric Sogard bunt grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

On-field Delay.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Cliff Pennington out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Collin Cowgill grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

2 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Jordan Norberto replaces Grant Balfour.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Prince Fielder flies out to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Delmon Young grounds out, second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Daric Barton.


OAK - Bot 7th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Josh Reddick pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Jonny Gomes grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Seth Smith walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Josh Donaldson flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

2 - 1 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch flies out to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.


OAK - Bot 8th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces right fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 7th, playing right field.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Justin Verlander.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Daric Barton walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Anthony Recker out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Prince Fielder to second baseman Ryan Raburn. Daric Barton to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Eric Sogard out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Cliff Pennington out swinging.

2 - 1 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Pedro Figueroa replaces Jordan Norberto.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Ryan Raburn doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Collin Cowgill.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Danny Worth replaces Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Danny Worth grounds into a force out, third baseman Josh Donaldson to shortstop Cliff Pennington. Ryan Raburn out at 3rd. Austin Jackson to 2nd. Danny Worth to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Seth Smith. Austin Jackson scores. Danny Worth to 2nd.
3 - 1

B:3 S:2 O:3
Prince Fielder grounds into double play, shortstop Cliff Pennington to second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Daric Barton. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.


OAK - Bot 9th
Danny Worth remains in the game as the second baseman.

Defensive switch from second base to left field for Ryan Raburn.

Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Collin Cowgill called out on .

B:1 S:2 O:2
Josh Reddick grounds out, first baseman Prince Fielder to pitcher Jose Valverde.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Jonny Gomes pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

WINS 3 - 1

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Game Over-R-H-E

Tigers	3	8	1
Athletics	1	2	0

WP: Verlander (4-1, 2.47)
LP: Parker (1-1, 2.10)
SV: Valverde (7)

WP: Parker, J.
Pitches-strikes: Verlander 104-68, Benoit 15-10, Valverde 11-9, Parker, J 112-61, Balfour 20-11, Norberto 20-10, Figueroa 19-12.
Groundouts-flyouts: Verlander 6-2, Benoit 1-0, Valverde 1-0, Parker, J 5-3, Balfour 0-0, Norberto 2-2, Figueroa 2-0.
Batters faced: Verlander 24, Benoit 4, Valverde 3, Parker, J 27, Balfour 3, Norberto 5, Figueroa 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Balfour 3-1.
Umpires: HP: Laz Diaz. 1B: Mike Everitt. 2B: Paul Schrieber. 3B: Tim Welke.
Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, Out to RF.
T: 3:08.
Att: 17,147.