San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - John Bowker smoked a three-run homer in a five-run eighth inning, as the San Francisco Giants edged the Detroit Tigers, 8-6, in the opener of a three-game interleague set at AT&T Park.

Bowker and Fred Lewis each had a home run, double and three runs batted in while Rich Aurilla added two hits with an RBI and a run scored for the Giants, who snapped a three-game skid with their first interleague victory this season.

"Bowker came through tonight," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We have had trouble winning games here and it was nice to win a big game and come from behind. He had two strikes on him and he was battling to get that run in. To hit it out, that was quite a job by John."

Tim Lincecum pitched well as the starter, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over seven innings. Keiichi Yabu (3-3) notched the victory for San Francisco with a perfect eighth.

Marcus Thames blasted two home runs and Ivan Rodriguez was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Curtis Granderson added a two-run single late but Detroit had a season-high six-game winning streak snapped.

Justin Verlander continued his recent stretch of quality outings, surrendering three runs - two earned - on five hits and a walk. The right-hander struck out seven, exiting after six innings of work.

San Francisco jumped in front with five in the eighth. Freddy Dolsi (0-2) stayed in to start the inning after pitching the seventh. Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand singled around a fly out and Fernando Rodney was called upon for the first time this season, one day after coming off the disabled list. Bowker took a Rodney pitch deep to right for a three-run homer.

Aurilla followed with a double and pinch-hitter Jose Castillo walked, setting the stage for Lewis, who roped a ground-rule double down the left field line, scoring two. A fan interfered with the ball before Castillo rounded third but third base umpire Brian O'Nora ruled that both runners would have scored on the play.

"We were going for the strikeout and we almost got it," Tigers skipper Jim Leyland said of Rodney. "He throws an 0-2 changeup right down the middle of the plate and the guy couldn't miss it."

Brian Wilson came on for what turned into a rocky ninth inning for the Giants. The Tigers loaded the bases on two singles and a walk and Granderson lined a two-run single to left before Wilson induced Placido Polanco to ground out to short, ending the game.

Detroit put a run on the board in the second courtesy of a two-out, Thames solo shot to left.

San Francisco tied it up with a run in the home half. Rowand was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a Bowker single to center. Rowand came around to score on shortstop Mike Hollimon's errant throw off a Aurilla grounder.

Carlos Guillen led off the fourth with a single and Thames blasted his second home run in as many plate appearances, giving Detroit a 3-1 lead.

The Giants cut the lead to one in the bottom half. Bowker lined a one-out double to right and scored when Aurilla laced a single back up the middle.

San Francisco then tied it again in the fifth when Lewis belted a Verlander fastball to straight away center for a leadoff homer.

The Tigers reclaimed the lead in the seventh. Rodriguez lined a triple to the gap in right-center to start the frame and pinch-hitter Edgar Renteria came through with a sacrifice fly to right. Bochy was ejected arguing the play at home. A replay appeared to show that Bengie Molina applied the tag from Winn in time to get Rodriguez.