• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Tigers, A's start three-game series

Aug 31, 2007 - 2:35 PM Detroit (72-62) at Oakland (66-69) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers would like to put together a streak when they open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday.

Detroit's Virgil Vazquez (0-1, 9.39 ERA) gets the start after being recalled from Class AAA Toledo for lefthander Andrew Miller on Thursday. He is making his third career outing.

"(Vazquez) has pitched very well at Class AAA, period," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "I think that it is more of a comfort zone for him coming up here like a lot of guys. He has continued to pitch well and gain confidence."

In his last outing, the rookie righthander gave up two runs and four hits in five innings in an 8-7 loss to the Chicago White Sox on July 24.

Jeremy Bonderman pitched seven superb innings to pick up his first victory in eight starts as the Tigers avoided a three-game series sweep with Thursday's 6-1 win over Kansas City.

The Tigers hope Vazquez can provide a spark as they look to cut the Cleveland Indians' (76-57) 4 1/2-game lead in the American League Central standings.

Oakland counters with Joe Blanton (11-9, 3.92), who had his three-game winning streak snapped last time out. On Saturday, the righthander allowed four runs and seven hits over five frames in a setback at Tampa Bay.

On July 30, the 26-year-old Blanton stumbled in his pervious outing here against the Tigers, who surrendered five runs on nine hits through 6 2/3 innings in a loss.