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Scherzer, Tigers blank Rockies

Jun 17, 2012 - 10:52 PM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Max Scherzer struck out 12 as the Detroit Tigers took the rubber match of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies, 5-0.

In a 122-pitch effort, Scherzer (6-4) tossed eight shutout innings and gave up seven hits. His 12 strikeouts were three short of his career-best and he did not issue a walk.

"I was locating all three [of my pitches] and fastballs on both sides of the plate," Scherzer said. "I've been pitching pretty well, I just haven't been getting results and today I was finally able to execute and finally got results."

Quintin Berry had his first-career five-hit game for Detroit, which has won four of its last five games.

"You don't think about it too much," Berry said. "5-for-5 is just something that happens - things fall in, getting good pitches to hit. Hitting behind Austin [Jackson] makes it a lot easier to hit, too. I get a lot of good pitches to hit because they don't want to fool around with him on the bases."

The Tigers chased Jeremy Guthrie (3-6) from the game after three innings. He gave up four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and two walks for the Rockies, who have dropped 10 of their past 11 games.

"I thought I had good stuff," Guthrie said. "A couple 0-2 pitches were able to start rallies for them and I just couldn't get the big [out]."

Each team left a runner on third in the first inning before Detroit opened the scoring in the second. After Don Kelly's two-out single, Gerald Laird laced a double into the left-field corner to score Kelly and give the Tigers the only run they would need.

The Tigers broke out for three runs in the third after Berry started the inning with a base hit. Following a Cabrera walk, Prince Fielder legged out a double to score Berry. Three batters later, Ramon Santiago hit a ground ball just under the glove of Colorado second baseman Chris Nelson to bring home Cabrera and Fielder.

Cabrera helped tack on another Detroit run in the sixth with a liner down the third-base line, scoring Jackson and giving the Tigers a 5-0 lead.

Brayan Villarreal shut down the Rockies in order in the ninth to close out the win.

Game Notes

The game was delayed for 53 minutes in the fourth inning due to rain...Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was scratched prior to the game due to right hamstring soreness...Berry is a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts this season...Detroit is 8-4 in interleague play this year...Fielder is hitting .367 (44-for-120) with 12 doubles and 28 RBI in his last 32 games. He is also hitting .556 (15-for-27) with runners in scoring position since May 25...The Tigers have collected an extra base hit in 51 straight games...Scherzer is tied for second in the majors with 100 strikeouts, trailing only teammate Justin Verlander (103). He struck out nine-or-more for the sixth time this season and the third time without allowing a walk.