Detroit Tigers Notes And Quotes 6-22-11

--RHP Max Scherzer failed in his bid to become the first 10-game winner in the majors. Scherzer had trouble finishing off hitters with two strikes; seven of the nine hits he gave up in his six innings came when he was within a strike of putting the batter away. He threw a 3-0 fastball to RF Andre Ethier in the fifth, and Ethier sent it into the right field seats for a two-run home run. "Thing I didn't do was finish off the inning," Scherzer said.

"Actually I thought he threw the ball fairly decent," manager Jim Leyland said. "His control wasn't real sharp. They dumped a couple in, but they centered a couple pretty good as well."

--1B Miguel Cabrera didn't start for the first time this season, but he did pinch-hit for the sixth time in his career. Manager Jim Leyland found a prime spot for Cabrera to bat -- sixth inning, bases loaded and one out, which prevented the intentional walk -- but he grounded into an inning-ending double play. Leyland rested Cabrera because the slugger is 0-for-12 in his career against the Dodgers' starter, RHP Chad Billingsley. "Sometimes you need it," Cabrera said of getting a breather. "Sometimes you need to sit down, watch the game, relax, see what's going on around you, be ready for the next game." Cabrera hit for 2B Ryan Raburn but did not remain in the game. 2B Danny Worth took over in the field.

--1B Victor Martinez singled home a fourth-inning run while replacing Miguel Cabrera for a day as the Tigers' first baseman. Martinez came up with runners on first and second and stroked a 2-1 pitch solidly up the middle to drive in the run. Martinez probably will be the catcher for Wednesday afternoon's game with Los Angeles throwing a left-handed pitcher, Ted Lilly. Martinez had a pair of singles, also hitting in Cabrera's cleanup spot, and he is hitting .380 for June.

--RF Brennan Boesch singled twice to continue his surge as Detroit's No. 3 hitter. Boesch has hit so well in June (.397) that manager Jim Leyland declined to drop him to sixth when his third-place hitter of the past few years, RF Magglio Ordonez, returned from the disabled list more than a week ago.

--C Alex Avila started behind the plate as manager Jim Leyland got both Avila and 1B Victor Martinez in the lineup at the same time. The cost was playing without 1B Miguel Cabrera. Avila, who went hitless, might get his second career start at third base Wednesday if Leyland wants to match the left-handed hitter up against a lefty pitcher.

--SS Jhonny Peralta got a game off under manager Jim Leyland's plan to keep him as strong as possible. SS Ramon Santiago drew the start at short instead. Peralta will start again Wednesday afternoon.

BY THE NUMBERS
.397 -- OF Brennan Boesch's batting average this month. Most of that has come with Boesch hitting just ahead of 1B Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers' cleanup man.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Daniel's got to throw his fastball for strikes. Those are just the facts." -- Manager Jim Leyland on his southpaw reliever, Daniel Schlereth, who has walked two batters in each of his last two appearances.

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