(Sports Network) - Freddy Garcia tries to win his ninth straight decision as an opposing pitcher at Comerica Park this afternoon when the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers conclude their four-game series.
In his last nine starts as a visitor in Detroit, Garcia has posted an 8-0 mark to go along with a 2.59 earned run average. However, he did lose there while pitching for the Tigers back in 2008.
Garcia has dominated the Tigers pretty much everywhere, though, over the course of his career posting an 18-6 lifetime ledger against them with a 3.74 ERA in 28 starts.
Actually, it really hasn't mattered where Garcia has pitched or who he has pitched against recently, as the veteran right-hander is 7-1 in his last 11 starts and 10-4 on the year with a 4.73 ERA. His most recent victory came last Thursday against Seattle, which managed just three runs and seven hits off him in six innings.
Garcia won't be the only pitcher on Thursday who has had success in Motown, as Max Scherzer comes into today's finale having won his last six starts there, while posting a 1.33 ERA in those outings.
Scherzer, who is 7-8 on the season with a 4.28 ERA, did not get a decision on Saturday in Boston, but pitched well, surrendering just one run and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of his team's 5-4 loss.
He lost his only other start to the White Sox earlier this season, giving up three runs in 7 1/3 frames.
After splitting a day/night doubleheader to open this set, the White Sox won again on Wednesday, as Edwin Jackson (1-0) navigated his way through some early trouble to pitch seven-plus innings against his former club, helping Chicago to a 4-1 win.
Home runs by Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko helped make Jackson's Chicago debut a success. Acquired from Arizona prior to the non-waiver trade deadline, the right-hander was charged with a run on nine hits and struck out six while issuing just one walk. Jackson, who won 13 games for Detroit in 2009, had lost his last four starts with the Diamondbacks.
"The pitchers have been throwing great, so we feel like if we get them three, four, five runs, we'll win the game," Konerko said.
The White Sox remain 1 1/2 games in front of Minnesota for first place in the American League Central standings after the Twins beat Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Armando Galarraga (3-4) surrendered four runs on eight hits over 7 2/3 innings for the Tigers, who have dropped eight of their last 10 games. Galarraga, who walked a season-high five batters, is 0-3 over his last six starts and hasn't won at Comerica Park since his infamous near-perfect game on June 2 against Cleveland.
Brandon Inge, fresh off the 15-day disabled list, had three hits and knocked in the lone Detroit run. Inge had been sidelined since July 20 with a non- displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his left hand.
Chicago has won five of seven meetings with Detroit this season after splitting 18 matchups a year ago.