Tigers try for sweep of Diamondbacks (May 10, 2017)
PHOENIX -- The Detroit Tigers will attempt to complete a sweep of their first interleague series of the season Wednesday when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a two-game set.
Detroit left-hander Matt Boyd is scheduled to face Arizona right-hander Zack Godley.
Boyd, 2-2 with a 3.78 ERA in six starts this season, makes his first career appearance against the Diamondbacks. He gave up three runs and five hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings in his last start, a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians on May 3.
Boyd will pitch on six days' rest. He is 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in three road starts.
Godley will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to make his second spot start of the season. He gave up four hits and two runs in five innings of a no-decision against the San Diego Padres on April 26. That was the first time Arizona needed a fill-in for right-hander Shelby Miller, who will miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury he sustained April 23.
Godley is a candidate to remain in the rotation for the next start since the Diamondbacks play nine consecutive games. He was 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four appearances at Reno this season. Godley never faced the Tigers.
"Good performances earn extra moments," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "Out of fairness to some of the call-ups, it would be nice to see what they could do over two turns. We're hoping it trends in that direction.
"We like what Zack did the last time he was here, and we're optimistic that will take place again. He's thrown the ball in Reno very well and deserves this opportunity."
The Diamondbacks are likely to return a pitcher to the minors to add Godley to the roster.
Arizona, which has lost seven of its past 10 games, has scored six runs while losing three straight games. The Diamondbacks have 30 runs in the past 10 after scoring in double digits four times in the first 19 games of the season.
"A little bit of a frustrating night offensively," Lovullo said after Arizona's 7-3 loss to Detroit on Tuesday.
The Diamondbacks (18-16) were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
"I thought we had some opportunities to impact the game but just couldn't take advantage of some key moments and some key situations," Lovullo said.
Little-used outfielder Mikie Mahtook had the big hit for Detroit on Tuesday, a two-run single to cap a three-run fifth inning that gave the Tigers a 5-3 lead. He is hitting .189 in 37 at-bats this season.
"It's a mindset. Every day I come to the field ready to play, whether I'm in the lineup or on the bench," Mahtook said. "My swing is in a really good place right now, and mentally I know when I come up to the plate I'm going to have a good at-bat."
Detroit (16-15) prevailed Tuesday without two regulars in the starting lineup, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez. Kinsler missed his fourth consecutive game because of a hamstring injury. Martinez was relegated to pinch-hitting duty since there is no designated hitter in National League ballparks.
