GDT141: 9/6/13 - DET (81-59) AT KC (73-67) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (12-7, 2.68 ERA)

Sanchez hasn't lost since the Tigers' last trip to Kansas City in July, and that was a 1-0 loss with six innings of one-run ball. He's 5-0 with seven quality starts in eight starts since, including a win over the Royals in Detroit.



Royals: RHP James Shields (10-8, 3.03 ERA)

The righty matched a season high with nine K's, while walking one and allowing three hits over seven scoreless frames vs. the Jays his last time out. Shields, who baffled Toronto hitters with his changeup, has a 1.53 ERA over his past five starts.





Tigers aren't taking Royals for granted
Coming off fifth straight quality start, Shields starts opposite Sanchez

By Bobby Nightengale / MLB.com | 9/4/2013 11:26 PM ET

There aren't many Tigers remaining from the 2009 team that collapsed down the stretch, ending with a one-game tiebreaker loss to the Twins. That fall began in Kansas City, where Detroit had a 6 1/2-game lead in the division with four weeks to go before they were swept by the Royals.

The Tigers that are still around, however, have made sure that lesson hasn't escaped their memory. With 3 1/2 weeks left in the season, they know better than to overlook games or teams.

"It's all about winning games," Miguel Cabrera said recently, repeating what has become his mantra over the second half.

Anibal Sanchez, who leads the American League with a 2.68 ERA, will take the hill for the Tigers. After giving up two or fewer runs in seven straight starts, he's allowed seven runs on 11 hits in 11 2/3 innings over his past two outings.

The Royals will send out James Shields, who has thrown five consecutive quality starts. In his last outing, he struck out nine over seven shutout innings.

"I started throwing my changeup early," Shields said. "They knew it was coming, and I made a little adjustment at the end of the game and started throwing fastballs later in counts, and tried to get through seven."

Tigers: Miggy's situation unknown
• Cabrera wasn't in the starting lineup on Wednesday, and there was very little clarity when he would be back.

"He's sore today. That's all I can tell you," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday afternoon. "I can't tell you when he's going to play."

Cabrera has been dealing with an abdominal and groin strain for more than a month. In his quest for a second Triple Crown, Cabrera leads the American League in batting average (.355) and RBIs (130), while trailing Baltimore's Chris Davis in home runs (47 to 43).

• Leyland hinted that the Tigers' top prospect, Nick Castellanos, could make his first Major League start in left field this weekend. Castellanos led the International League with 81 runs scored and was second with 147 hits.

Royals: Escobar tops KC list for consecutive steals
Alcides Escobar set a new Royals single-season record with 18 consecutive steals on Monday. It's also the longest active streak in the Major Leagues.

"I didn't even know that until yesterday when it was on the scoreboard," Escobar said. "Being in Kansas City and leading them all-time in the record is good. I am so happy for that."

Escobar eclipsed Gary Thurman's mark of 16 straight in 1989 and has swiped 25 consecutive bases overall dating back to last season. Carlos Beltran owns that Royals record of 33 in a row over three seasons.

The Royals stole nine bases, including one by Escobar, against the Tigers in a recent five-game series last month.

Worth noting
• Cabrera has been dominant against Shields, batting .421 with six doubles, two home runs and six RBIs in 38 career at-bats.

• Shields is 1-1 with a 2.48 ERA in four starts against the Tigers this season. He's allowed eight runs on 24 hits in 29 innings while striking out 17.

Bobby Nightengale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)





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• THU, Sep 5:
OFF DAY


• FRI, Sep 6:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (12-7, 2.68 ERA)) AT
ROYALS: (RHP James Shields (10-8, 3.03 ERA))
8:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Sep 7:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (12-10, 3.59 ERA)) AT
ROYALS: (LHP Danny Duffy (2-0, 1.35 ERA))
7:10  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Sep 8:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (12-7, 3.66 ERA)) AT
ROYALS: (LHP Bruce Chen (6-2, 2.81 ERA))
2:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• MON, Sep 9:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (19-2, 2.88 ERA)) AT
White Sox: (LHP Chris Sale (6-2, 2.81 ERA))
8:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS (career numbers against James Shields)

   Austin Jackson, CF (7-for-22, 3 walks, 6 K’s)
   Torii Hunter, RF (13-for-43, 11 K’s)
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B (16-for-38, 2 HR, 3 walks, 5 K’s)
   Prince Fielder, 1B (5-for-17, 2 walks)
   Victor Martinez, DH (9-for-31, 8 K’s)
   Andy Dirks, LF (2-for-8, HR, walk, K)
   Omar Infante, 2B (3-for-18, walk, 5 K’s)
   Alex Avila, C (4-for-18, HR, walk, 9 K’s)
   Ramon Santiago, SS (7-for-25, walk, 5 K’s)

P: Anibal Sanchez

ROYALS (career numbers off Sanchez)

   Alex Gordon, LF (3-for-12, walk, 2 K’s)
   Emilio Bonifacio, 2B (3-for-10, 3 K’s)
   Eric Hosmer, 1B (3-for-13)
   Billy Butler, DH (3-for-13, 3 K’s)
   Mike Moustakas, 3B (1-for-7, 2 walks, 2 K’s)
   Salvador Perez, C (0-for-7, 2 walks, K)
   David Lough, RF (0-for-1, walk)
   Jarrod Dyson, CF (1-for-10, 3 K’s)
   Alcides Escobar, SS (3-for-13, 3 K’s)

P: James Shields

Detroit - Top of 1st
James Shields pitching for Kansas City
A Jackson grounded out to shortstop.
T Hunter singled to right.
M Cabrera struck out swinging.
P Fielder grounded out to second.
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors

Kansas City - Bottom of 1st
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit 
A Gordon doubled to deep left.
E Bonifacio sacrificed to pitcher, A Gordon to third.
E Hosmer grounded into fielder's choice to first, A Gordon out at home.
E Hosmer stole second.
B Butler singled to center, E Hosmer scored.
KC 1 - 0

M Moustakas grounded out to first.
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors

KC 1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Detroit - Top of 2nd
James Shields pitching for Kansas City
V Martinez fouled out to left.
A Dirks walked.
A Avila singled to center, A Dirks to third.
O Infante singled to left center, A Dirks scored, A Avila to second.
TIED 1 - 1

R Santiago doubled to right, A Avila scored, O Infante to third.
DET 2 - 1

A Jackson doubled to right center, O Infante and R Santiago scored.
DET 4 - 1

T Hunter struck out swinging.

M Cabrera singled to left, A Jackson scored.
DET 5 - 1

P Fielder singled to right center, M Cabrera to second.
V Martinez struck out swinging.
5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors

Kansas City - Bottom of 2nd
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
S Perez struck out swinging.
D Lough flied out to center.
J Dyson singled to right.
A Escobar singled to left, J Dyson to third.
A Gordon struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors

DET 5 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 3rd
James Shields pitching for Kansas City
A Dirks reached on infield single to shortstop.
A Avila singled to left, A Dirks to second.
O Infante singled to right center, A Dirks to third, A Avila to second.
A Dirks picked off third.
R Santiago struck out swinging.
A Jackson struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors


Kansas City - Bottom of 3rd
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
E Bonifacio singled to left.
E Bonifacio picked off first.
E Hosmer struck out swinging.
B Butler walked.
M Moustakas struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors

DET 5 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 4th
James Shields pitching for Kansas City
T Hunter doubled to deep center.
T Hunter to third on wild pitch by J Shields.
M Cabrera walked.
P Fielder singled to right, T Hunter scored, M Cabrera to second.
DET 6 - 1

V Martinez flied out to center.
A Dirks singled to center, M Cabrera to third, P Fielder to second.
A Avila struck out swinging.
O Infante singled to left, M Cabrera scored, P Fielder to third, A Dirks to second.
DET 7 - 1

L Mendoza relieved J Shields.


R Santiago walked, P Fielder scored, A Dirks to third, O Infante to second.
DET 8 - 1

A Jackson singled to left, A Dirks and O Infante scored, R Santiago to second.
DET 10 - 1

T Hunter struck out swinging.
5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors


Kansas City - Bottom of 4th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
S Perez grounded out to shortstop.
D Lough flied out to center.
J Dyson struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors

DET 10 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 5th
Luis Mendoza pitching for Kansas City
G Kottaras catching.
M Cabrera walked.
P Fielder grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Cabrera out at second.
V Martinez singled to center.
A Dirks reached on infield single to third, V Martinez to second.
A Avila walked, V Martinez to third, A Dirks to second.
O Infante doubled to deep left center, V Martinez, A Dirks and A Avila scored.
DET 13 - 1

R Santiago grounded out to second.
3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors


Kansas City - Bottom of 5th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
D Kelly in right field.
A Escobar flied out to left.
A Gordon singled to right center.
E Bonifacio popped out to second.
E Hosmer grounded out to second.
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors

DET 13 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 6th
Luis Mendoza pitching for Kansas City
L Cain in right field.
C Pena at first base.
D Lough in left field.
P Ciriaco at shortstop.
A Jackson flied out to right.
D Kelly flied out to left.
M Cabrera grounded out to third.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors


Kansas City - Bottom of 6th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
D Worth at third base.
B Butler grounded out to shortstop.
M Moustakas flied out to center.
G Kottaras singled to left.
D Lough grounded out to first.
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors

DET 13 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 7th
Luis Mendoza pitching for Kansas City
J Carroll at third base.
P Fielder singled to center.
M Tuiasosopo ran for P Fielder.
V Martinez singled to right, M Tuiasosopo to second.
A Dirks singled to right center, M Tuiasosopo scored, V Martinez to second.
DET 14 - 1

A Avila grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, A Dirks out at second, V Martinez to third.
O Infante singled to left, V Martinez scored.
DET 15 - 1

R Santiago flied out to left.
2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors


Kansas City - Bottom of 7th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
M Tuiasosopo at first base.
J Dyson grounded out to first.
P Ciriaco safe at first on error by third baseman D Worth.
L Cain grounded out to shortstop, P Ciriaco to second.
E Bonifacio grounded out to second.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors

DET 15 - 1 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 8th
Louis Coleman pitching for Kansas
J Giavotella at second base.
L Coleman relieved L Mendoza.
A Jackson singled to right.
D Kelly singled to right, A Jackson to second.
N Castellanos ran for A Jackson.
D Worth grounded into double play, third to second to first, D Kelly out at second, N Castellanos to third.
M Tuiasosopo struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors


Kansas City - Bottom of 8th
Luke Putkonen pitching for Detroit
N Castellanos in left field.
D Kelly in center field.
A Dirks in right field.
H Perez at second base.
L Putkonen relieved A Sanchez.
C Pena struck out swinging.
B Butler grounded out to pitcher.
J Carroll reached on infield single to third.
G Kottaras struck out swinging.
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors

DET 15 - 1 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 9th
Aaron Crow pitching for Kansas City
A Crow relieved L Coleman.
B Holaday hit for V Martinez.
B Holaday grounded out to shortstop.
A Dirks doubled to right.
A Avila doubled to right, A Dirks scored.
DET 16 - 1

H Perez flied out to center.
R Santiago grounded out to second.
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors


Kansas City - Bottom of 9th
Drew Smyly pitching for Detroit
D Smyly relieved L Putkonen.
D Lough doubled to deep right.
D Lough to third on wild pitch by D Smyly.
J Dyson hit sacrifice fly to left, D Lough scored.
DET 16 - 2


P Ciriaco doubled to left.
L Cain flied out to left.
J Giavotella grounded out to third.
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors


TIGERS WIN 16-2

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Sanchez, An
L: Shields

GAME INFO

WP: Smyly, Shields.
Pitches-strikes: Sanchez, An 98-66, Putkonen 14-10, Smyly 21-13, Shields 91-59, Mendoza 67-39, Coleman 16-10, Crow 12-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Sanchez, An 11-4, Putkonen 1-0, Smyly 1-2, Shields 2-2, Mendoza 4-3, Coleman 1-0, Crow 2-1.
Batters faced: Sanchez, An 29, Putkonen 4, Smyly 5, Shields 26, Mendoza 19, Coleman 4, Crow 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Mendoza 3-3.
Umpires: HP: Scott Barry. 1B: Alfonso Marquez. 2B: Ted Barrett. 3B: Mike DiMuro.
Weather: 88 degrees, clear.
Wind: 5 mph, R to L.
T: 3:20.
Att: 21,358.
Venue: Kauffman Stadium.
September 6, 2013
Compiled by MLB Advanced Media