(Sports Network) - Rookie lefty Drew Smyly meets the Chicago White Sox for
the first time tonight when his Detroit Tigers host them in the opener of a
three- game set between American League Central Division rivals at Comerica
Park.
A second-round pick of the Tigers in 2010, Smyly made 22 minor-league
appearances at Single- and Double-A in 2011 and went 11-6 with a 2.07 earned
run average before jumping up to make a single start at Triple-A Toledo this
spring.
He debuted in the majors on April 12 against Tampa and got three consecutive
no-decisions before breaking through with a victory at Yankee Stadium after he
allowed a single run on two hits in six innings in Detroit's 7-5 win over New
York.
The Little Rock, Ark. native, who'll turn 23 next month, has pitched six
innings in three of his four starts and allowed only one run in all four while
holding opponents to a .222 batting average.
He's allowed 18 hits, three earned runs and struck out 22 batters in 22
innings.
He's opposed by veteran righty Jake Peavy, who makes his 257th major-league
outing and faces the Tigers for the second time this season.
The 30-year-old Alabama native defeated Detroit, 5-2 on April 13 in Chicago
after allowing two runs on two hits in 6 2/3 innings.
He went on to win consecutive decisions against Baltimore and Oakland on April
18 and 23, then dropped a hard-luck decision to Boston after pitching all nine
innings and allowing a run on four hits.
Peavy has gone the distance in his last two starts while surrendering seven
hits and striking out 12. The complete games were the 10th and 11th of his
career.
He's 3-2 in six lifetime outings against Detroit with a 3.58 ERA.
On Thursday in Chicago, Jason Kipnis smacked a run scoring triple in the third
and added a three-run homer in the seventh as the Indians downed the White
Sox, 7-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field on
Thursday.
Asdrubal Cabrera belted a solo shot and knocked in two while Casey Kotchman
finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Justin Masterson (1-2) got
his first win of the season after allowing three runs on eight hits and three
walks in 6 1/3 innings.
"I don't know how it happens because they are a good hitting team," said
Masterson. "But they're nice enough to not hit when I face them and I
appreciate it."
Chris Perez got the final two outs of the game to record his ninth save of the
year as the Indians took the last two of the series after dropping the opener.
Adam Dunn launched a two-run blast in the ninth and Alejandro De Aza added
three hits and two RBI for Chicago, which has lost seven of its last nine.
John Danks (2-4) tossed seven innings, but surrendered seven runs -- six
earned -- on nine hits and a walk to take the loss.
On Wednesday in Detroit, Chris Getz slapped a go-ahead RBI single in the top
of the ninth inning Wednesday as the Royals downed the Tigers, 3-2, in the
finale of a weather-shortened two-game series at Comerica Park.
Royals starter Jonathan Sanchez carried a no-hitter into the fifth before a
two-out double ended it. Jose Mijares and Kevin Herrera also held the Tigers
scoreless but Aaron Crow served up a game-tying two-run blast to Brennan
Boesch in the bottom of the eighth.
The Tigers scored the go-ahead run off Joaquin Benoit (0-1), who entered for
Detroit starter Justin Verlander.
Chicago took two of three from the Tigers earlier in the year.
The Sports Network