Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics: Game 80 Preview, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

Jun 30, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder

(left) celebrates his walk off grand slam with first baseman

(24) in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Detroit won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers (44-34) vs Oakland Athletics (51-31) — 7:08 p.m. 

Comerica Park — Detroit, MI

TV: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB Network

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 83 degrees, clear

Game Notes

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The Detroit Tigers begin their fourth month of the season looking to capitalize on a positive end to the third month, which started out so poorly. On June 18, the Tigers had gone 4-11 in the month, but they finished 9-2 to go 13-13. The last game in June received an exclamation point of all exclamation points to the end of the month in style.

Victor Martinez gets his second straight day off and Austin Jackson moves back into the leadoff spot. God Speed.

When We Last Met

As Jim Price would say, “wow.” The Tigers bats looked as cold as they had been all weekend in Houston last night until an improbably rally was started by the bottom of the lineup in the ninth. Trailing 4-1, Nick Castellanos, Alex Avila, and Austin Jackson all had terrific at-bats to get on base for Rajai Davis, who promptly hit a walk-off grand slam, giving the Tigers the 5-4 victory to notch first blood in the three-game series.

Pitching Matchup 

Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

As has happened through much of his career, Rick Porcello (10-4, 3.41) has flown under the radar this season and has been lost in the story lines of Verlander-Scherzer-Sanchez. Rick is putting together the best season of his career and may have pitched the best game of that career his last time out. He went the distance, for just the second time in his career, allowing just three hits and striking out six in the 6-0 victory over Texas. Porcello earned one of the two wins that the Tigers notched in Oakland during May, pitching into the sixth inning, allowing two runs on five hits in the 5-4 win on May 29.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Recently acquired Brad Mills (1-0, 4.35) takes the mound for the Athletics on Tuesday night. The right hander was picked up in a trade for cash consideration with the Milwaukee Brewers on June 17. Since the trade, Mills has started two games and allowed five runs over 10 1/3 innings. He had not pitched in the majors for the Brewers this season and has limited big league action. Mills appeared in 17 games with the Blue Jays (2009-11), Angels (2012), and now A’s. He’s started 12 of those games and posted a 7.21 ERA with a 4-3 record.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

1. Austin Jackson-CF
2. Ian Kinsler-1B
3. Miguel Cabrera-1B
4. J.D. Martinez-DH
5. Torii Hunter-RF
6. Nick Castellanos-3B
7. Bryan Holaday-C
8. Eugenio Suarez-SS
9. Rajai Davis-LF

Injuries

Detroit Tigers

• Victor Martinez — Questionable
• Ian Krol – 15-Day DL
• Luke Putkonen – Out indefinitely
• Joel Hanrahan – Out indefinitely
• Andy Dirks – 60-day DL
• Jose Iglesias – Out for season
• Bruce Rondon – Out for season

Oakland Athletics

• Yoenis Cespedes – Questionable (Out Tue)
• Josh Reddick — 15-day DL
• Derek Norris — Day-to-Day
• Kyle Blanks — 15-day DL
• Drew Pomeranz — 15-day DL
• Eric O’Flaherty — 60-day DL
• A.J. Griffin — Out for season
• Jarrod Parker — Out for season