GDT: 7/2/11 - DET (44-39) VS SF (47-36) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Pitching in focus as Zito squares off against Scherzer
Scherzer goes for 10th win against Giants

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/1/2011 8:28 PM ET

At least through the first seven innings, Friday presented yet another reason to believe that good pitching trumps good hitting, a scenario that is likely to be a theme during the Giants' three-game series in Detroit.

Entering play Friday, the Giants pitching staff ranked first in the National League in strikeouts and opponents batting average, third in ERA and had allowed the fewest homers in the Majors. The Tigers, meanwhile, ranked second in the American League in batting average, third in on-base percentage and fourth in slugging percentage, runs scored and runs per game, while tied for fifth in home runs.

On Friday, it was San Francisco left-hander Madison Bumgarner who silenced the Tigers bats through 7 1/3 innings. On Saturday, Barry Zito (1-1, 4.95 ERA) looks to follow Bumgarner's lead in the second of a three-game set at 7:05 p.m. ET at Comerica Park against the Tigers and Max Scherzer (9-3, 4.47).

Saturday marks Zito's second start since returning from the disabled list with a sprained right foot, and also will come on three days' rest. Zito has never thrown on three days' rest in the regular season, but said he doesn't think it will affect him.

"I don't really make a big deal out of it as far as physically," Zito said. "You're either good to go or you're not. ... My body certainly can handle whatever the demands are. I think it should be no problem to go out there and throw 100-plus pitches."

The left-hander's return from the DL on Tuesday went well, as he allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings. Zito is 7-6 with a 3.09 ERA in 15 starts against Detroit, the last of which came in June 2008 when he lasted only two innings.

Opposing Zito is Scherzer, who is gunning for his 10th win of the season. After allowing six runs in six innings on June 21 against the Dodgers, Scherzer rebounded in his last start against Toronto, allowing two runs and striking out nine in seven innings. The former D-back is 1-2 with a 2.60 ERA in three career starts against the Giants.

Giants: Panda extends streak
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games Friday, going 2-for-5 and driving in two runs. During the streak, Sandoval is hitting .314 with six doubles, one home run and five RBIs.

• Giants skipper Bruce Bochy said Friday that struggling center fielder Andres Torres will be out of the lineup for "at least a couple of days." Torres has only one hit in his last 22 at-bats.

• Pat Burrell, scheduled to start at designated hitter Friday, was a late scratch because of right foot soreness.

Tigers: Leyland ready for Interleague to end
This weekend marks the final Interleague series for the Tigers, and skipper Jim Leyland said prior to Friday's loss that he's excited for it to end. Although playing without a designated hitter won't affect the Tigers this weekend in Detroit, Leyland said he's ready to get back to a sense of normalcy.

"I am, just because it gets us back into our norm," Leyland said. "It's over for us, really, because we're home. You get back into the more comfortable settings for us. We know the White Sox, Cleveland, Kansas City, we're going there. We're going to the places we're familiar with and you get back in your element. I'm glad it's over."

• Justin Verlander finished June 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other Tigers pitcher other than Verlander to win six or more games during a calendar month with an ERA lower than 1.00 since 1913 -- when earned runs became an official American League statistic -- was Frank Lary in September 1956. Lary went 7-0 with a 0.86 ERA that month.

Worth noting
• San Francisco is 6-4 all-time against the Tigers since they began playing in 2003, including winning five of the last six games.

• San Francisco DHs are hitting only .125 (2-for-16) this season, after compiling a .091 mark (2-for-22) during Interleague Play last year.

• Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez is hitting .289 since returning from the DL.

• The Giants are 20-0 in games in which they've had a lead of at least three runs.


Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (9-3, 4.47 ERA)

After looking almost unbeatable for much of the first two months, Scherzer has been stuck on nine wins the last couple of turns through the rotation. He used nine strikeouts to help him to seven innings of two-run ball Monday.


Giants: LHP Barry Zito (1-1, 4.95 ERA)

Zito will be starting on three days' rest, one fewer than usual, which he has never done in his Major League career. But he didn't labor in his comeback outing last Tuesday at Chicago, facing four batters or fewer in every inning but one.


Game Information



RESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
- Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)

INJURY UPDATE:
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 15-day disabled list on May 11),
• INF Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30), Rehab with Lakeland
• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).


To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

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• Gameday
• Official Press Pass game notes

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• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule

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• Sunday, July 3:
"Every Kid, Every Sunday" Justin Verlander Superhero Cape
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (6-6, 5.06 ERA)) VS
Giants (RHP Ryan Vogelsong (6-1, 2.09 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Monday, July 4:
Tigers (LHP Charlie Furbush (1-1, 2.49 ERA)) AT
Angels (RHP Joel Pineiro (3-3, 4.14 ERA)),
9:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Tuesday, July 5:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (11-3, 2.32 ERA)) AT
Angels (RHP Dan Haren (8-5, 2.85 ERA)),
10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Wednesday, July 6:
Tigers (RHP Brad Penny (5-6, 4.43 ERA)) AT
Angels (RHP Tyler Chatwood (5-4, 3.83 ERA)),
3:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUP:

GIANTS

1. Aaron Rowand, CF
   
2. Emmanuel Burriss, 2B
   
3. Pablo Sandoval, DH
   
4. Aubrey Huff, 1B
   
5. Cody Ross, LF
   
6. Nate Schierholtz, RF
   
7. Brandon Crawford, SS
   
8. Miguel Tejada, 3B
   
9. Eli Whiteside, C
   

TIGERS
1. Austin Jackson, center field
2. Casper Wells, right field
3. Magglio Ordonez, designated hitter
4. Miguel Cabrera, first base
5. Victor Martinez, catcher
6. Jhonny Peralta, shortstop
7. Brennan Boesch, left field
8. Ryan Raburn, second base
9. Brandon Inge, third base

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110702/SPORTS0104/107020388/Tonight-s-Tigers--lineup#ixzz1Qz5nXHMf

SF - Top 1st
B:2 S:3 O:1
Aaron Rowand out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Emmanuel Burriss singles on a ground ball to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Pablo Sandoval homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Emmanuel Burriss scores.
SF 2 - 0

B:1 S:1 O:1
Aubrey Huff reaches on fielding error by second baseman Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Cody Ross flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Nate Schierholtz singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ryan Raburn, deflected by first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Aubrey Huff to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Brandon Crawford homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Aubrey Huff scores. Nate Schierholtz scores.
SF 5 - 0

B:2 S:2 O:3
Miguel Tejada flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET - Bot 1st
B:4 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Casper Wells pops out to first baseman Aubrey Huff in foul territory.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to left fielder Cody Ross. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play, third baseman Miguel Tejada to second baseman Emmanuel Burriss to first baseman Aubrey Huff. Magglio Ordonez out at 2nd.

SF 5 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

SF - Top 2nd
B:4 S:2 O:0
Eli Whiteside walks.

With Aaron Rowand batting, wild pitch by Max Scherzer, Eli Whiteside to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Aaron Rowand grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Emmanuel Burriss grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Eli Whiteside to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Pablo Sandoval out swinging.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:3 S:2 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Cody Ross.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds into double play, third baseman Miguel Tejada to second baseman Emmanuel Burriss to first baseman Aubrey Huff. Victor Martinez out at 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Nate Schierholtz.

SF 5 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

10:35 PM GAME RESUMES

SF - Top 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:0
Aubrey Huff doubles (16) on a line drive to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Cody Ross doubles (16) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Aubrey Huff scores.
6 0

B:4 S:2 O:0
Nate Schierholtz walks.

RAIN DELAY BEGINS AT 8:03PM

RAIN DELAY ENDS AT 10:35PM

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Brayan Villarreal replaces Max Scherzer.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Brandon Crawford walks. Cody Ross to 3rd. Nate Schierholtz to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Miguel Tejada hits a grand slam (3) to left field. Cody Ross scores. Nate Schierholtz scores. Brandon Crawford scores.
SF 10 - 0

Injury Delay. (V.MART HIT BY BALL WHILE CATCHING)

B:4 S:2 O:0
Eli Whiteside walks.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Aaron Rowand singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Eli Whiteside to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Emmanuel Burriss grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Eli Whiteside to 3rd. Aaron Rowand to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Pablo Sandoval walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Brayan Villarreal.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Aubrey Huff pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Cody Ross out swinging.

DET - Bot 3rd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Miguel Tejada to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge lines out to left fielder Cody Ross.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson out swinging.

SF 10 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

SF - Top 4th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces catcher Victor Martinez, batting 5th, playing catcher.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Nate Schierholtz grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Brandon Crawford flies out to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Miguel Tejada pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

DET - Bot 4th
B:2 S:1 O:0
Casper Wells doubles (8) on a line drive to center fielder Aaron Rowand.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play, shortstop Brandon Crawford to second baseman Emmanuel Burriss to first baseman Aubrey Huff. Casper Wells to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez out at 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Don Kelly grounds out softly, third baseman Miguel Tejada to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

SF 10 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

SF - Top 5th
Detroit Tigers catcher Victor Martinez left the game due to an injured shoulder.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Eli Whiteside out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Aaron Rowand hit by pitch.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Emmanuel Burriss singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Aaron Rowand to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Pablo Sandoval out swinging. Passed ball by catcher Don Kelly. Aaron Rowand to 3rd. Emmanuel Burriss to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Aubrey Huff singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Aaron Rowand scores. Emmanuel Burriss scores.
SF 12 - 0

B:1 S:2 O:3
Cody Ross flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET - Bot 5th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta pops out to second baseman Emmanuel Burriss.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch hits a ground-rule double (21) on a fly ball down the left-field line.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Ryan Raburn flies out to right fielder Nate Schierholtz.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Miguel Tejada to first baseman Aubrey Huff.

SF 12 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

SF - Top 6th
Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces first baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 4th, playing second base.

Defensive switch from second base to first base for Ryan Raburn.

Pitcher Change: David Purcey replaces Ryan Perry.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Nate Schierholtz singles on a fly ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:3 S:1 O:0
Brandon Crawford singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Nate Schierholtz to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Miguel Tejada singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Nate Schierholtz to 3rd. Brandon Crawford to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Eli Whiteside doubles (4) on a line drive to right fielder Casper Wells. Nate Schierholtz scores. Brandon Crawford scores. Miguel Tejada to 3rd.
SF 14 - 0

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Andres Torres replaces Aaron Rowand.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Andres Torres reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third baseman Brandon Inge. Miguel Tejada scores. Eli Whiteside out at 3rd.
SF 15 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:3
Emmanuel Burriss grounds into double play, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Ryan Raburn. Andres Torres out at 2nd.

DET - Bot 6th
Andres Torres remains in the game as the center fielder.

Defensive Substitution: Chris Stewart replaces first baseman Aubrey Huff, batting 4th, playing first base.

Defensive Substitution: Bill Hall replaces left fielder Cody Ross, batting 5th, playing left field.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Emmanuel Burriss to first baseman Chris Stewart.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Casper Wells singles on a line drive to left fielder Bill Hall.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Magglio Ordonez pops out to third baseman Miguel Tejada in foul territory.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Bill Hall.

SF 15 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

SF - Top 7th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Pablo Sandoval pops out to catcher Don Kelly in foul territory.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Bill Hall flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Chris Stewart doubles (4) on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Nate Schierholtz grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Ryan Raburn.

DET - Bot 7th
Pitcher Change: Guillermo Mota replaces Barry Zito.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Don Kelly pops out to shortstop Brandon Crawford.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta homers (14) on a fly ball to left field.
SF 15 - 1

B:0 S:1 O:1
Brennan Boesch homers (11) on a fly ball to right center field.
SF 15 - 2

B:1 S:2 O:1
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andres Torres.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Brandon Inge pops out to catcher Eli Whiteside in foul territory.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson called out on .
15 2
SF 15 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

SF - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Lester Oliveros replaces David Purcey.

B:3 S:2 O:0
Brandon Crawford singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Miguel Tejada grounds into double play, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Ryan Raburn. Brandon Crawford out at 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Eli Whiteside grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Ryan Raburn.

DET - Bot 8th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Casper Wells called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:2
Magglio Ordonez lines out to left fielder Bill Hall.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Ramon Santiago out swinging.

SF 15 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

SF - Top 9th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Andres Torres pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Emmanuel Burriss grounds out to first baseman Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Pablo Sandoval flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET - Bot 9th
B:2 S:0 O:1
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Nate Schierholtz.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Andres Torres.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch walks.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn doubles (12) on a line drive to left fielder Bill Hall. Brennan Boesch scores.
SF 15 - 3

B:0 S:0 O:3
Brandon Inge pops out to shortstop Brandon Crawford.