GDT: 8/23/10 - DET (61-63) VS KC (53-71) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Chen eyes first win at Comerica vs. Tigers

By John Barone / MLB.com

The Royals have developed a habit of playing close games.

How close? Consider this: Kansas City tops the Major Leagues with 47 one-run contests in 2010, 23 of which have produced victories.

But the trend runs even deeper, as 54 percent of the Royals' tilts have been decided by two or fewer runs. It's a tendency that certainly doesn't benefit Bruce Chen, who will take the mound for manager Ned Yost's club Monday night in the opener of a three-game series with the Tigers.

Though Chen owns a 7.36 ERA across four winless appearances at Comerica Park, he's positioned himself to reverse those fortunes with a string of solid efforts this month. In four August starts, the 33-year-old left-hander is 3-1 with a 3.97 ERA.

"That's what I see Bruce being capable of -- a guy who stays on the attack with his stuff and changes speeds," Yost said. "Someone who's crafty, deceiving and making quick decisions -- not going to a 3-2 count against every hitter who comes up."

August hasn't been nearly as kind to Jeremy Bonderman, who enters Monday's outing embroiled in a three-game losing streak that's hiked his ERA from 4.84 to 5.37.

The Yankees chased Bonderman after five innings at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, when the 27-year-old righty surrendered seven runs, three of which were home runs.

"I thought he battled," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He didn't have real good stuff, obviously. He just couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark."

Royals: Betancourt looking grand
Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt's three grand slams tie him with Alex Rodriguez for the Major League lead.

... Closer Joakim Soria hasn't allowed a run in 12 innings of work since July 28.

Tigers: Valverde continues to close door
Closer Jose Valverde has converted 24 consecutive save opportunities, the third-longest single-season streak in club history.

... Third baseman Brandon Inge is two hits shy of becoming the 29th player to collect 1,000 knocks with Detroit.

... Outfielders Brennan Boesch and Austin Jackson represent the first pair of Tigers rookies to amass 100 hits in the same season since 1978, when Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker accomplished the feat.

Worth noting
The Royals roughed up Bonderman for seven runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings in their June 6 victory at Kauffman Stadium.

... Chen tossed five-plus frames of two-run ball against the Tigers on June 4 en route to his first win of the season as a starter.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (6-9, 5.37 ERA)
Bonderman has lost his last three starts, giving up 16 earned runs on 17 hits over 15 1/3 innings combined, including a three-homer barrage from the Yankees last Wednesday. He gave up seven runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings to the Royals June 6.

ROYALS: LHP Bruce Chen (8-6, 4.61 ERA)
Although Chen doled out 11 hits in 5 2/3 IP, he made enough good pitches when he needed them to hold the Indians to four runs and earn the win. In 15 starts since taking over for Gil Meche, he's 7-6 and has won three of his last four outings.


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 8-1 victory yesterday at Comerica Park. Justin Verlander (14-8) limited the Indians to one run on seven hits in eight innings to earn the victory. Will Rhymes led the Tigers with four hits, while Brennan Boesch doubled and drove in two runs and Jhonny Peralta added three RBI. The Tigers continue a six-game homestand with the first game of a three-game series against Kansas City this evening. Following the series against the Royals the club hits the road for 10 games, featuring stops in Toronto, Minnesota and Kansas City.

WELLS RECALLED, GONZALEZ DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT: The Tigers today announced that the contract of outfielder Casper Wells has been recalled from Triple A Toledo. To make room for Wells on the active roster, the club has designated the contract of righthanded pitcher Enrique Gonzalez for assignment. Wells is in his second stint with the Tigers this season and is batting .233 (90x387) with 22 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs and 46 RBI in 103 games with the Mud Hens. He is currently fifth in the International League with 21 home runs. Gonzalez posted a 0-1 record and 3.81 ERA (26.0IP/11ER) in 18 games with the Tigers.

RHYMES GIVES TIGERS MORE ROOKIES WITH FOUR: Will Rhymes collected a career high four hits yesterday against the Indians, marking the fourth time a Tigers rookie has collected four-or-more hits in a game this season. Austin Jackson has accomplished the feat twice, while Brennan Boesch has one and Rhymes has one. It marks the most four-or-more hit games by Tigers rookies in a single season since the 1954 club posted six such games. Bill Tuttle accomplished the feat three times in 1954, while Frank Bolling, Frank House and Al Kaline all posted one such game.

POSTING A DOUBLE-DIGIT HIT TOTAL: The Tigers finished with 12 hits yesterday versus the Indians, marking the 53rd time during the 2010 season the club has finished with 10-or-more hits in a game. Detroit has compiled a 38-15 record in the 53 games in which the club has posted a double-digit hit total, including a 24-5 mark in 29 games at Comerica Park.

MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE ROYALS: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game versus the Kansas City Royals hitting .350 (63x180) with nine doubles, 14 home runs and 41 RBI in 46 games against the club. He is fourth among all active major league players with a .350 batting average against the Royals, while he is fifth with a .633 slugging percentage.

INGE HEADED TOWARDS 1,000 HITS: Brandon Inge enters tonight’s game with 998 hits during his major league career, two shy of reaching 1,000 hits. He would become the 29th player in Tigers history to collect 1,000 hits with the club.

PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has converted each of his last 24 save opportunities for the Tigers, the third-longest such single-season streak in club history. He is second among American League relievers with a .157 batting average against this season, while he is tied for seventh with 24 saves.

RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters tonight’s game versus Kansas City hitting .305 (18x59) with five doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI over his last 16 games dating back to August 5. He is tied for second in the American League with five home runs during that stretch, while he is fourth with a .644 slugging percentage and ninth with 12 RBI.

JACKSON IN A RARE CLASS OF TIGERS ROOKIES: Austin Jackson enters tonight’s game versus Kansas City with 74 runs scored, 144 hits, 28 doubles, seven triples and 19 stolen bases for the Tigers this season. He is just the third player in Tigers history to reach those totals in those categories during his rookie season, joining Roy Johnson (1929) and Barney McCosky (1939) in accomplishing the feat.

COKE PROVIDES RELIEF: Phil Coke enters tonight’s game versus the Royals with a 4-2 record and 1.27 ERA (28.1IP/4ER) over his last 34 outings dating back to June 3. He is second among all American League relievers with seven wins this season.

AUSTIN ADDING UP THE HITS: Austin Jackson finished with two hits yesterday versus the Indians to bring his season hit total to 144. His 144 hits mark the most in a single season by a Tigers rookie since Jake Wood collected 171 hits during the 1961 season.

TIGERS SURPASS TWO MILLION MARK: The Tigers sold 35,104 tickets yesterday to bring the season total to 2,004,237 tickets sold. It marks the 13th time in franchise history the Tigers have surpassed the two million mark in tickets sold, including the seventh time in the 11-year history of Comerica Park. It also marks the sixth straight season in which the club has surpassed the two million mark in tickets sold.

INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25),
• LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4)
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).


To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official Press Pass game notes

On television

•

On radio

• ,
• XM Channel Schedule
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Tuesday, August 24,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (5-11, 5.76 ERA)) VS ROYALS (RHP Kyle Davies (6-7, 5.14 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Wednesday, August 25,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (4-5, 4.21 ERA)) VS ROYALS (RHP Sean O’Sullivan (0-4, 6.75 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Kansas City AVG
Blanco, G, CF .285
Kendall, C .261
Ka'aihue, DH .153
Butler, 1B .308
Betemit, 3B .346
Gordon, A, LF .223
Maier, RF .252
Betancourt, Y, SS .268
Getz, 2B .230
Totals .275

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .308
Rhymes, 2B .310
Damon, DH .270
Cabrera, M, 1B .341
Raburn, LF .234
Peralta, J, SS .236
Inge, 3B .261
Wells, C, RF .222
Laird, C .198
Totals .268

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Gregor Blanco singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Kendall lines out softly to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Kila Ka'aihue singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Gregor Blanco to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Billy Butler singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Gregor Blanco scores. Kila Ka'aihue to 3rd.

KC 1, DET 0



B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Wilson Betemit out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Jeremy Bonderman. Billy Butler to 2nd.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Alex Gordon grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 1, DET 0 AFTER .5 INNING

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Austin Jackson walks.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Will Rhymes out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Bruce Chen to first baseman Billy Butler. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Johnny Damon singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to third baseman Wilson Betemit. Austin Jackson scores. Johnny Damon to 2nd.

KC 1, DET 1



B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Johnny Damon to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta walks. Johnny Damon scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

DET 2, KC 1



B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds into double play, third baseman Wilson Betemit to
second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Billy Butler. Jhonny Peralta
out at 2nd.

DET 2, KC 1 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Mitch Maier grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Yuniesky Betancourt singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Chris Getz grounds into a force out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to
shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Yuniesky Betancourt out at 2nd. Chris Getz to
1st.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Gregor Blanco flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

DET 2, KC 1 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Casper Wells flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to first baseman Billy Butler.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Austin Jackson lines out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.

DET 2, KC 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Kendall grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Kila Ka'aihue out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Billy Butler doubles (36) on a line drive to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Wilson Betemit pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

DET 2, KC 1 AFTER 2.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to first baseman Billy Butler.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to first baseman Billy Butler.

DET 2, KC 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Alex Gordon grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Mitch Maier singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Yuniesky Betancourt pops out to second baseman Will Rhymes.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Chris Getz grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 2, KC 1 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn walks.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Jhonny Peralta doubles (25) on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Ryan Raburn scores.

DET 3, KC 1



B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Brandon Inge walks.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Casper Wells out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Jhonny Peralta to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Wilson Betemit to first baseman Billy Butler.

DET 3, KC 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Gregor Blanco doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson, deflected by left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Kendall out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Gregor Blanco to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Kila Ka'aihue grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Gregor Blanco scores.

DET 3, KC 2

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Billy Butler out swinging.

DET 3, KC 2 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Will Rhymes doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Mitch Maier.
Will Rhymes advances to 3rd, on fielding error by right fielder Mitch
Maier.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Johnny Damon out on foul tip.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Bruce Chen intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Jesse Chavez replaces Bruce Chen.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn doubles (17) on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Will Rhymes scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

DET 4, KC 2




B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Jesse Chavez intentionally walks Jhonny Peralta.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Mitch Maier. Miguel Cabrera scores. Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

DET 5, KC 2



B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brennan Boesch replaces Casper Wells.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Billy Butler.

DET 5, KC 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brennan Boesch remains in the game as the right fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Wilson Betemit flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Alex Gordon flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Mitch Maier singles on a soft ground ball to pitcher Jeremy Bonderman.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Yuniesky Betancourt flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET 5, KC 2 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.


B:4 S:2 O:1 - Austin Jackson walks.


B:2 S:1 O:1 - Will Rhymes singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Austin Jackson to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:1 - Johnny Damon singles on a ground ball to right fielder Mitch Maier. Austin Jackson scores. Will Rhymes to 3rd. Johnny Damon advances to 2nd, on throwing error by right fielder Mitch Maier.

DET 6, KC 2

B:4 S:0 O:1 - Jesse Chavez intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Will Rhymes scores. Johnny Damon scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd on the throw.


DET 8, KC 2


B:1 S:0 O:1 - Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Miguel Cabrera scores. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

DET 9, KC 2


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:0 O:1 - With Brandon Inge batting, wild pitch by Jesse Chavez, Ryan Raburn to 3rd. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:1 - Brandon Inge doubles (25) on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Ryan Raburn scores. Jhonny Peralta scores.

DET 11, KC 2


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Greg Holland replaces Jesse Chavez.


B:2 S:2 O:2 - Brennan Boesch flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.


B:2 S:0 O:2 - Gerald Laird singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Brandon Inge scores.

DET 12, KC 2


B:4 S:0 O:2 - Austin Jackson walks. Gerald Laird to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - Will Rhymes grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Billy Butler.

DET 12, KC 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brad Thomas replaces Jeremy Bonderman.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Chris Getz grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Gregor Blanco grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brayan Pena replaces Jason Kendall.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Brayan Pena flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET 12, KC 2 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brayan Pena remains in the game as the catcher.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Mike Aviles replaces third baseman Wilson Betemit, batting 5th, playing third base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Jai Miller replaces left fielder Alex Gordon, batting 6th, playing left field.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Johnny Damon walks.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago replaces Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago lines out softly to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.


DET 12, KC 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago remains in the game as the shortstop.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Daniel Schlereth replaces Brad Thomas.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Kila Ka'aihue flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Billy Butler grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Mike Aviles pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

DET 12, KC 2 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge out on foul tip.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Gerald Laird flies out to left fielder Jai Miller.

DET 12, KC 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces first baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 4th, playing first base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Eddie Bonine replaces Daniel Schlereth.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Jai Miller singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Mitch Maier grounds into a force out, first baseman Don Kelly to
shortstop Ramon Santiago. Jai Miller out at 2nd. Mitch Maier to 1st.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Yuniesky Betancourt singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn. Mitch Maier to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Chris Getz singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Mitch Maier to 3rd. Yuniesky Betancourt to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Gregor Blanco out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Austin Jackson. Mitch Maier scores.

DET 12, KC 3



B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brayan Pena grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Don Kelly.

DET 12, KC 3 FINAL >CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE<