Panzram
06-26-2004, 12:27 PM
The Detroit Tigers try to stay on the winning track this evening when they play the middle contest of their three-game interleague set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Comerica Park.
In the opener of the set on Friday, Jason Johnson allowed just one hit in eight superb innings, as the Tigers edged Arizona, 2-1.
The only man to get on base against Johnson (5-7) was Luis Gonzalez, who scored after a triple and also walked. Johnson stuck out five before giving way to closer Ugueth Urbina after only 86 pitches.
Urbina worked a perfect ninth for his 11th save. The final out came on a long fly ball to right by Steve Finley, but Bobby Higginson hauled it in at the wall.
Heading to the hill this evening for the Tigers will be 21-year-old righthander Jeremy Bonderman, who is 5-6 on the season with 5.73 ERA. Bonderman absorbed the loss in his last start on Sunday against the New York Mets, as he allowed four runs and three hits over five innings. He also fanned seven and walked three in the loss.
Bonderman lost his only other start against the Diamondbacks.
Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez has hit safely in 22 of his last 24 games for a .473 batting average and has 21 RBI during that span.
Detroit is 17-18 in the comforts of Comerica Park this season.
These teams have met the last three seasons with the Diamondbacks owning a 7-3 advantage in this series, including a three-game sweep in Detroit last season.
In the opener of the set on Friday, Jason Johnson allowed just one hit in eight superb innings, as the Tigers edged Arizona, 2-1.
The only man to get on base against Johnson (5-7) was Luis Gonzalez, who scored after a triple and also walked. Johnson stuck out five before giving way to closer Ugueth Urbina after only 86 pitches.
Urbina worked a perfect ninth for his 11th save. The final out came on a long fly ball to right by Steve Finley, but Bobby Higginson hauled it in at the wall.
Heading to the hill this evening for the Tigers will be 21-year-old righthander Jeremy Bonderman, who is 5-6 on the season with 5.73 ERA. Bonderman absorbed the loss in his last start on Sunday against the New York Mets, as he allowed four runs and three hits over five innings. He also fanned seven and walked three in the loss.
Bonderman lost his only other start against the Diamondbacks.
Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez has hit safely in 22 of his last 24 games for a .473 batting average and has 21 RBI during that span.
Detroit is 17-18 in the comforts of Comerica Park this season.
These teams have met the last three seasons with the Diamondbacks owning a 7-3 advantage in this series, including a three-game sweep in Detroit last season.