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Scherzer hopes for some more home cooking in middle tilt with Giants

Jul 2, 2011 - 2:43 PM (Sports Network) - Max Scherzer aims to continue his home success when he pitches for the Tigers against the Giants tonight in the middle test of a three-game series.

Scherzer is 5-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 10 games this year at Comerica Park. He's coming off a seven-inning no-decision against the Blue Jays on Monday when he fanned nine batters. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 2.60 ERA in three games against the Giants.

Barry Zito, meanwhile, will pitch on three days worth of rest for the Giants. The lefty shut down the Cubs over seven innings on Tuesday, limiting them to four hits and two runs in a 6-3 win. That was his first start in over two months. He was sidelined with a right foot sprain.

Zito has struggled in interleague play since coming over to the Giants from the A's in 2007. Since that time he's 3-10 vs. the American League.

This will be Zito's 16th career start vs. the Tigers. He owns a 7-6 lifetime ledger with a 3.09 ERA against them and is 3-1 over his last six starts vs. Detroit.

Pablo Sandoval continued his roll at the plate last night, driving in a pair of runs, including a hit that sparked a three-run ninth, as the Giants held on for a 4-3 win. Aaron Rowand went 3-for-5 and scored twice for the Giants, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

"We waited to get all our runs in the ninth," Giants catcher Chris Stewart said. "We will take whatever we can get. We trust that one run in the ninth is enough with our pitching staff, but sometimes things don't go that way."

Starter Madison Bumgarner tossed 7 1/3 solid innings, allowing just one run on five hits, but did not factor into the decision.

It wasn't a good night for either closer. Brian Wilson (6-1) blew his fourth save in the eighth, but still picked up the win after San Francisco sent nine batters to the plate in the ninth and scored three runs.

Detroit closer Jose Valverde (2-3) suffered the loss after giving up three runs on three hits and two walks in less than an inning. The loss wasted a solid start by Brad Penny, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball. He allowed just seven hits and struck out two for Detroit, which has dropped three of its last four games.

Sandoval extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games.

Detroit won two of three meetings with San Francisco the last time these two clubs met from June 16-18, 2008 at AT&T Park. The Giants have won six of the last 10 matchups in this series.