• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Tigers unveil Fister against Rangers

Aug 3, 2011 - 2:33 PM (Sports Network) - Hoping a change of scenery will suit him better, the Detroit Tigers will unveil their new acquisition when Doug Fister takes the mound tonight in the second test of a three-game set versus the Texas Rangers.

Fister and reliever David Pauley were acquired from Seattle this past weekend in exchange for pitcher Charlie Furbush, outfielder Casper Wells, third baseman Francisco Martinez and a player to be named later. Fister is 0-7 with a 3.42 earned run average in his last 10 starts and went 3-12 with a 3.33 ERA in 21 overall outings with the Mariners this season.

The right-hander went 2-6 in 11 starts at Safeco Field and is counting on reversing the trend in the Motor City.

"This lineup, top to bottom, is definitely a threat hitting the ball out of the park or causing a lot of havoc in one swing," Fister said of Detroit's lineup. "Obviously it's good to be on their side."

Fister lost to Texas on July 15, when he allowed four runs over 7 2/3 innings of a 4-0 loss in the Emerald City. In five career starts against the defending American League champion Rangers, Fister is 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA. He is very familiar with Texas from his previous days with the AL West-rival Mariners.

Detroit pushed its lead atop the American League Central standings to three games over Cleveland with last night's 6-5 victory in the series opener. Alex Avila homered and knocked in three runs, while Brennan Boesch recorded three hits, including a home run, and two runs scored for the Tigers, who have won three of four and nine of their last 14 games.

"I just wanted to come through any way I could in that situation," Boesch said of his home run off of Mike Adams with one out in the eighth inning. "I wasn't trying to hit a home run, but obviously it all worked out for us."

Joaquin Benoit earned the win in relief even though he allowed three runs and starter Max Scherzer was reached for two runs in six innings. Jose Valverde posted his 29th save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Texas saw its lead atop the AL West standings dip to one game ahead of the LA Angels of Anaheim. It has lost two straight and five of seven games, and got homers from Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli. Michael Young had a hit and is eight hits shy of the 2,000-hit mark.

Colby Lewis did not figure into the decision and gave up five runs -- four earned -- and 10 hits over four innings. Adams was dealt the loss for surrendering Boesch's big home run in the eighth inning.

"It's not really the outcome I was hoping for," Adams said. "You come in here, you want to impress your new teammates. I was nervous out there, but that's not an excuse."

It was Adams' first game with the Rangers since being traded from the Padres over the weekend.

Drawing the start for the Rangers tonight will be Matt Harrison. The lefty is 9-7 on the season with a 2.94 ERA in 20 starts, and will try to keep his unbeaten streak alive against the Tigers. Harrison is 3-0 with a 2.04 ERA in his past five starts, all Texas victories, and is coming off 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a 4-1 triumph versus Minnesota last Thursday.

Harrison lost to Detroit back on June 7 this season in an 8-1 loss and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, in four innings. He is 1-3 with a 7.11 ERA in six career appearances (4 starts) in this matchup.

Detroit has won five of seven meetings with Texas this season.