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Tigers try to salvage finale of set with Pirates

May 22, 2011 - 2:44 PM (Sports Network) - In desperate need of a victory, the Detroit Tigers will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at PNC Park.

The Pirates have now won two straight interleague matchups, which is a minor miracle considering they came into the season with baseball's worst interleague record at 73-123.

Yesterday, Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-4 and scored twice, while pinch-hitter Matt Diaz had a two-run single, as the Pirates downed the reeling Tigers, 6-2.

Jose Tabata had a pair of hits and touched home twice for the Pirates, who have won a season-high four straight that includes the first two games of this three-game interleague set. They were swept in three games at Detroit a season ago by the Tigers.

Starting pitcher Kevin Correia (6-4) went 6 2/3 innings for the win, allowing just two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Miguel Cabrera recorded two hits and an RBI for Detroit, which has dropped five straight on the heels of a seven-game winning streak.

Tigers starter Max Scherzer (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season, giving up three runs on seven hits. He fanned seven batters without giving up a walk.

If the Tigers are going to break back into the win column they will need Rick Porcello to continue his solid pitching. Since allowing 10 runs in his first two games the young hurler has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last five outings.

The last time Porcello was on the bump, the right-hander allowed just one run in five innings against Minnesota. In the victory over the Twins, the 22-year- old scattered three hits and only struck out one batter.

Five of Porcello's seven starts have come on the road, so the right-hander is no stranger to pitching in hostile environments. Porcello has also made one career start against the Pirates and was impressive in that matchup, holding Pittsburgh to just one run on six hits in seven innings.

As for the Pirates, they will hand the ball to Paul Maholm, who has been the victim of some poor run support. The crafty lefty is just 1-6 on the year, but has a respectable ERA of 3.67. The Pirates have scored less than three runs in seven of his nine starts, and even in his lone win the Pirates could only muster four runs.

The last time Maholm was in action the 28-year-old allowed just three runs in 6 1/3 innings against Washington, but once again the Pirates were unable to help out the southpaw, leaving him with another tough loss.

Maholm has made just one career start against Detroit and in that matchup he allowed just one run against the Tigers, but again his team struggled to give him support, leaving the lefty with a no decision.