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Tigers hope to bounce back at Colorado

Jun 18, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers are no longer alone atop the American League Central standings and look to regroup tonight in the second portion of a three-game interleague series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The Tigers dropped a 13-6 decision in Friday's series opener and now sit tied with Cleveland for the AL Central lead, with the Indians just ahead in percentage points. A six-run second inning said it all for the Rockies, who battered young hurler Rick Porcello to the tune of nine runs -- six earned -- and eight hits in three innings for the loss.

Adam Wilk was reached for four runs in four innings of relief.

"I just didn't do a good job limiting the damage there. They had an opportunity to score some runs, but I also had an opportunity to put a foot down and stop it a three runs and I ended up giving up a big hit," Porcello said about the second inning.

Jhonny Peralta had a grand slam for the Tigers, who entered the game having won three of four and five of their last eight games. Miguel Cabrera finished with three hits and was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a Magglio Ordonez single in the third inning.

Detroit entered the opener of a six-game road trip against the Rockies and Dodgers batting and AL-best .307 this month. Before outfielder Brennan Boesch finished 0-for-4 with a walk last night he was hitting .414 with four doubles, five homers and 11 RBI over his last 14 games.

Tigers starter Phil Coke is 1-6 with a 3.69 earned run average in 13 games (11 starts) this season, and will take the hill Saturday. Coke won his first game of the season with seven scoreless innings at Oakland on April 14, but is 0-4 with a 4.18 earned run average in nine outings since.

Coke did not record a decision in Monday's 2-1 win versus Tampa Bay and yielded four hits with three K's and no walks over 6 1/3 shutout frames. The righty pitched better than a June 8 outing at Texas in which he was reached for six runs -- four earned -- and 10 hits in five innings.

Coke has never faced Colorado and is only 1-4 in nine games, seven of which have been starts, away from Comerica Park this season.

Colorado has won three in a row and six of nine games, and improved to 5-3 on a 10-game homestand with Friday's triumph. Chris Nelson highlighted a six-run second inning with a three-run homer -- his first in the majors -- and Carlos Gonzalez ended 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI for the Rockies, who are 4 1/2 games behind San Francisco for the NL West lead.

Charlie Blackmon went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in the win.

"It's hard to do. I've only done it in the minors once, maybe twice," Blackmon said about his four-hit night. "It's awesome. You'd like to do it every night. It makes you feel good."

Jason Hammel lasted 6 1/3 innings for the win, allowing six runs on eight hits and four walks.

The Rockies will send struggling ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound tonight and he's just 1-7 with a 4.62 earned run average in 12 starts. Since tossing a four-hit shutout on June 1 at Los Angeles for his only win of the season, Jimenez has dropped back-to-back starts and is coming off Sunday's 10-8 setback to the Dodgers at Coors Field.

Jimenez allowed seven runs -- two earned -- and 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings with two strikeouts and a walk. Jimenez, who was 13-1 a year ago at this time en route to a career-best 19 wins, is still searching for his first victory as the host as evidenced by his 0-5 mark in seven starts at Coors Field.

The right-hander is also winless in his career against Detroit, having dropped both of his starts in this matchup.

Detroit and Colorado are meeting for the first time since the Rockies won a three-game set from May 22-24, 2009 at Comerica Park. The Rockies have won eight of the past nine meetings between the clubs at Coors Field and are 104-105 all-time in interleague play. The Tigers own a 135-116 ledger against the National League.