GDT: 8/7/11 - DET (61-52) AT KC (48-65) - 2:10 p.m. ET

Scherzer looking to stay strong against Royals

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 8/6/2011 11:30 PM ET

Six starts ago, Max Scherzer failed to get out of the third inning for the second time this season.

The Tigers right-hander rebounded nicely five days later in Kansas City, tossing 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Royals. That outing began a stretch of five dominant starts in which Scherzer posted a 2.14 ERA.

On Sunday, Scherzer looks to continue his stellar stretch where it began and help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep of the Royals.

A sweep would certainly be disappointing for the Royals, especially considering Saturday's defeat marked their first losing series since dropping a four-game set in Minnesota following the All-Star break.

One of the reasons for Kansas City's ability to avoid series losses has been its bullpen, a strength throughout the season. Although the 'pen suffered the loss in Friday's series opener, Royals manager Ned Yost still feels confident in his relief corps and its versatility.

Yost has used various relievers in different roles throughout the season, which he thinks has helped the group's performance.

"You can keep your bullpen fresher that way," Yost said. "You're just not set up to one seventh inning guy, one eighth inning guy and one ninth-inning guy. It keeps everybody fresher and it keeps everybody healthier."

Tigers: Papa Grande nearing history
Jose Valverde recorded his 32nd consecutive save to open the season on Saturday night, tying the longest such streak in club history. Willie Hernandez also converted 32 straight from April 6-Sept. 23, 1984.

• Outfielder Brennan Boesch is hitting .327 with 12 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in his last 54 games.

Royals: Chen looks to rebound
Bruce Chen starts on Sunday, looking to rebound from his first home loss of the season against the Orioles in his last start. In that outing, the left-hander allowed three runs on seven hits while lasting only 4 2/3 innings. He defeated the Tigers on April 9, tossing six shutout innings while striking out a season-high seven. He is 3-3 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) in his career against Detroit.

• Johnny Giavotella is 3-for-6 with a run, RBI, walk and stolen base in his first two Major League games.

Worth noting
• Miguel Cabrera is hitting .500 (8-for-16) with three home runs and two doubles against Chen in his career, while two of Ryan Raburn's five career hits against the lefty have left the yard.

• Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez left Saturday's game with a left knee sprain and will be reevaluated on Sunday.

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (11-6, 4.23 ERA)

Scherzer deserved a better fate after six innings of two-run ball against the Rangers on Tuesday at Comerica Park, leaving with a three-run lead. A Texas comeback left him with a no-decision after alternating wins and losses.


Royals: LHP Bruce Chen (5-5, 4.37 ERA)

Chen couldn't quite hit the strike zone consistently enough and threw 115 pitches over just five innings in giving up three runs to the Orioles in what turned into an 8-2 loss for the Royals.


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:

• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 60-day DL on May 11)



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• Monday, August 8:
OFF DAY

• Tuesday, August 9:
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (1-0, 2.57 ERA)) AT
Indians (RHP Justin Masterson (9-7, 2.63 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Wednesday, August 10:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (11-6, 4.49 ERA)) AT
Indians (RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9, 4.64 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Thursday, August 11:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (16-5, 2.30 ERA)) AT
Indians (?HP ? (?-?, ?.?? ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

DET - Top 1st
B:2 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

KC - Bot 1st
B:2 S:3 O:1
Alex Gordon out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Johnny Giavotella grounds out, third baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Billy Butler out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:1 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera pops out softly to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, pitcher Bruce Chen to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Carlos Guillen singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

With Jhonny Peralta batting, Carlos Guillen steals (1) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Jhonny Peralta flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

KC - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Eric Hosmer flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Jeff Francoeur doubles (31) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Mitch Maier out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Brayan Pena flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:1 S:3 O:1
Alex Avila called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2
Andy Dirks flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Austin Jackson grounds out softly, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 3rd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Mike Moustakas grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Alcides Escobar flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Alex Gordon grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Brennan Boesch called out on .

B:3 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn grounds out softly, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd, left fielder Alex Gordon to shortstop Alcides Escobar to second baseman Johnny Giavotella.

KC - Bot 4th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Johnny Giavotella doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Andy Dirks.

With Billy Butler batting, wild pitch by Max Scherzer, Johnny Giavotella to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Billy Butler grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Johnny Giavotella scores.
KC 1 - 0

B:2 S:2 O:1
Eric Hosmer singles on a ground ball to right fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Jeff Francoeur out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Mitch Maier triples (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Eric Hosmer scores.
KC 2 - 0

B:3 S:1 O:2
Brayan Pena singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Andy Dirks. Mitch Maier scores.
KC 3 - 0

B:2 S:0 O:3
Mike Moustakas grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 3 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, pitcher Bruce Chen to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Carlos Guillen grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 5th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Alcides Escobar out swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Alex Gordon walks.

With Johnny Giavotella batting, Alex Gordon caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alex Avila to second baseman Carlos Guillen.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Johnny Giavotella homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
KC 4 - 0

B:0 S:1 O:3
Billy Butler grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 4 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:2 S:0 O:0
Alex Avila singles on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Andy Dirks doubles (7) on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Alex Avila scores.
KC 4 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson doubles (16) on a fly ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Andy Dirks scores.
KC 4 - 2

Pitcher Change: Louis Coleman replaces Bruce Chen.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Brennan Boesch pops out to third baseman Mike Moustakas.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera doubles (30) on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier. Austin Jackson scores.
KC 4 - 3

B:2 S:1 O:3
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.

KC - Bot 6th
Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Max Scherzer.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Eric Hosmer out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Jeff Francoeur out on foul tip.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Mitch Maier called out on .

KC 4 - 3 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Carlos Guillen flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Jhonny Peralta out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Jeff Francoeur to third baseman Mike Moustakas.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

KC - Bot 7th
B:3 S:1 O:1
Brayan Pena grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Mike Moustakas grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Duane Below.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Alcides Escobar grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 4 - 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Greg Holland replaces Louis Coleman.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Brennan Boesch called out on strikes.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

KC - Bot 8th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Alex Gordon called out on strikes.

On-field Delay.

Kansas City Royals Manager Ned Yost III ejected by HP umpire Rob Drake.

Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon ejected by HP umpire Rob Drake.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Al Alburquerque replaces Duane Below.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Johnny Giavotella out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Billy Butler flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

KC 4 - 3 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Defensive Substitution: Melky Cabrera replaces left fielder Alex Gordon, batting 1st, playing left field.

Pitcher Change: Joakim Soria replaces Greg Holland.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to left fielder Melky Cabrera, deflected by shortstop Alcides Escobar.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Melky Cabrera.