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Scherzer aims to bounce back versus Twins

May 31, 2011 - 2:59 PM (Sports Network) - Max Scherzer takes another shot at win No. 7 this evening when the Detroit Tigers continue their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.

Scherzer opened the year by winning his first six decisions, but has lost his last two starts, including a horrific effort against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. Scherzer lasted just two innings in that one and allowed seven runs and seven hits to raise his earned run average to 3.86 on the year.

"It just wasn't Max's day," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "When he threw it good, they hit it bad but got good results, and when he threw it bad, they hit it good and got real good results."

Scherzer has faced the Twins three times and is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA against them.

Detroit beat the Twins for the seventh straight time on Monday, as Alex Avila hit a two-out, RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning, helping the Tigers eke out a 6-5 win. Victor Martinez clubbed a game-tying, two-run homer in the sixth and Miguel Cabrera added a solo shot for Detroit, which has won five of its last eight games overall.

"It looked like we were going to have a tough time winning that game ... but we hung in there," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

Michael Cuddyer drove in a pair of runs for the Twins, who have lost eight of 10.

After squandering a bases-loaded opportunity with no one out in the next inning, Detroit pushed home a go-ahead run off Alex Burnett (1-4) in the eighth. Jhonny Peralta kept the frame alive with a two-out single and scored when Avila ripped a double down the left-field line.

A fan seated along third-base side interfered with the ball, and Peralta was awarded home when the umpires convened to discuss the play.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected for arguing the call.

"I still don't know how that runner scored," Gardenhire said after the game. "We know it hit a person in the stands. They're call was not clear when I talked to them. I don't know how the run scored [from first]."

Jose Valverde succeeded Al Alburquerque (2-1) and tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 13th save in as many opportunities.

Hoping for some better luck tonight, Minnesota will rely on lefty Brian Duensing, who has lost his last three starts and previous five decisions. Duensing's struggles continued on Wednesday against Seattle, as he allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings, dropping him to 2-5 on the year to go along with a 2.83 ERA.

Duensing is 1-2 lifetime against the Tigers with a 3.07 ERA in 13 games, four of which have been starts.

The Tigers split their 18-game matchup with the Twins last season, but won the final four games and have beaten them all three times they have faced them this season. Minnesota was also just 2-7 in Detroit a year ago.