(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks will collide this afternoon in the finale of the three-game interleague series at Comerica Park.
The Diamondbacks will send Ian Kennedy to the hill, as the young hurler will be looking for his first win in a month. Kennedy's last victory came back on May 19th when he led Arizona to a win over San Francisco.
Since then the hard-throwing right-hander has gone winless in five starts, and that includes a loss to Boston in his last outing. In the setback to the Red Sox, Kennedy was roped for six runs on nine hits in six innings of duty.
It was the third road loss on the year for Kennedy, who has a lackluster 4.56 earned run average as the visitor.
The former Yankee prospect has made one career start against the Tigers, but it was a forgettable one, as he surrendered four runs on five hits and three walks in less than five innings of work.
For the Tigers, they will turn to Max Scherzer, who is 2-2 since being recalled from the minor leagues. Scherzer was sent down after scuffling through the first six weeks of the season, but he seems to be in a better place at this moment.
The last time he was on the hill he was a bit inconsistent, surrendering four runs -- three earned -- in six innings of work against Washington. The hard- throwing right-hander only walked two, but did strike out nine batters en route to the win.
It was just the second home victory on the year for Scherzer, who has struggled for the most part at Comerica Park, posting a horrible 6.04 earned run average in five games.
On Saturday, Mark Reynolds hit a two-run home run as Arizona snapped its franchise record 14-game road losing streak with a 6-5 win over Detroit in the second of a three-game interleague set.
Gerardo Parra hit a two-run triple and scored once while Miguel Montero added a solo home run for the Diamondbacks, who had dropped their previous four games. Edwin Jackson (4-6) got the win as he gave up four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings.
Arizona had not won a road contest since taking a 5-1 decision over Florida on May 17.
Alex Avila and Magglio Ordonez each drove in two runs while Miguel Cabrera added an RBI for the Tigers, who had a seven-game winning streak and a nine- game home winning streak snapped. Rick Porcello (4-7) dropped his third straight decision as he was tagged for five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
The Tigers are 131-109 all-time in interleague play and 8-3 this season. Also, the team has won 36 of its last 43 home interleague matchups. Arizona improved to 87-108 in interleague play.