GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (65-86) at DETROIT (83-70)

AL: KANSAS CITY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 2
DETROIT 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 x 7 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA, LUKE HOCHEVAR (2ND), LEO NUNEZ (5TH) AND
JOHN BUCK

DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, BOBBY SEAY (7TH), JOEL ZUMAYA
(8TH) AND MIKE RABELO

HOME RUNS: KAN - BILLY BUTLER (8) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 2ND, 0 ON

DET - MARCUS THAMES (16) OFF JORGE DE LA ROSA IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
MARCUS THAMES (17) OFF LUKE HOCHEVAR IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
RYAN RABURN (4) OFF LEO NUNEZ IN THE 8TH, 0 ON</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 2
DETROIT 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 x 7 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA, LUKE HOCHEVAR (2ND), LEO NUNEZ (5TH) AND
JOHN BUCK

DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, BOBBY SEAY (7TH), JOEL ZUMAYA
(8TH) AND MIKE RABELO


WP - JUSTIN VERLANDER (18-6)
LP - JORGE DE LA ROSA (8-12)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: KAN - BILLY BUTLER (8) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 2ND, 0 ON

DET - MARCUS THAMES (16) OFF JORGE DE LA ROSA IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
MARCUS THAMES (17) OFF LUKE HOCHEVAR IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
RYAN RABURN (4) OFF LEO NUNEZ IN THE 8TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:42 ATT: 40,068

PROBABLES: MIN - CARLOS SILVA (12-14, 4.40)
DET - NATE ROBERTSON (8-12, 4.94)

PROBABLES: KAN - GIL MECHE (9-12, 3.70)
BAL - DANIEL CABRERA (9-17, 5.51)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (2) VS DETROIT (7) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .265
J Gathright lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .307
a-E Brown ph-lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .256
R Gload 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .290
B Butler dh 4 1 1 1 0 0 4 .300
M Teahen rf 4 1 2 0 0 2 0 .282
A Gordon 3b 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .253
J Buck c 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .228
J Smith 2b 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .206
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .257
b-C Brazell ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .500

Totals 35 2 7 2 2 10 16

a-struck out swinging for J Gathright in the 7th; b-struck out swinging for T
Pena Jr in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - M Teahen (29, J Verlander). HR - B Butler (8, 2nd inning off J
Verlander 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - B Butler (52), J Smith (18). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - R Gload 1, T Pena Jr 1, B Butler 2. Team LOB - 10.

FIELDING: E - A Gordon (14, throw); J Smith (5, throw). DP: 1 (A Gordon-J
Smith-R Gload).


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Maybin cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .152
P Polanco 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .342
R Raburn rf 4 2 2 2 0 1 1 .305
C Guillen dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .293
M Thames lf 4 2 2 3 0 1 0 .240
B Clevlen lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
M Hessman 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .213
B Inge 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .238
M Rabelo c 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242
R Santiago ss 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 .288

Totals 31 7 7 6 1 8 7

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (11, J De La Rosa). HR - M Thames 2 (17, 1st inning off
J De La Rosa 1 on, 1 Out, 3rd inning off L Hochevar 0 on, 0 Out), R Raburn (4,
8th inning off L Nunez 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - R Raburn 2 (24), C Guillen (97), M
Thames 3 (51). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 1. GIDP - P
Polanco. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - R Santiago (1, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 010 001 000 -- 2
DETROIT - 411 000 01x -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa (L, 8-12) 1 4 4 4 1 1 1 5.64
L Hochevar 3 1/3 2 2 1 0 3 1 0.93
L Nunez 3 2/3 1 1 1 0 4 1 4.31

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander (W, 18-6) 6 5 2 2 2 6 1 3.68
B Seay 1 1/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 2.35
J Zumaya 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.41

WP - J De La Rosa, L Hochevar. BALK - J Verlander. HBP - D DeJesus (by J
Verlander); R Santiago (by L Hochevar); R Gload (by J Verlander).
Pitches-strikes: J De La Rosa 42-27; L Hochevar 47-29; L Nunez 41-28; J
Verlander 104-69; B Seay 21-18; J Zumaya 25-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J De La
Rosa 0-2; L Hochevar 5-2; L Nunez 1-6; J Verlander 6-6; B Seay 0-2; J Zumaya
0-3. Batters faced: J De La Rosa 8; L Hochevar 13; L Nunez 12; J Verlander 27;
B Seay 6; J Zumaya 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Andy
Fletcher.

T--2:42. Att--40,068.
Weather: 79 degrees, sunny. Wind: 10 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
KANSAS CITY 2
DETROIT 7 FINAL</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (2) AT DETROIT (7) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DETROIT 1ST: C Maybin flied out to right. P Polanco singled to left.
R Raburn doubled to deep left, P Polanco scored. R Raburn to third on wild
pitch by J De La Rosa. C Guillen singled to left center, R Raburn scored.
M Thames homered to left, C Guillen scored. M Hessman walked. B Inge struck
out looking. M Rabelo lined out to right. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, DETROIT 4.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: B Butler homered to left. M Teahen struck out swinging.
A Gordon walked. J Buck grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, A Gordon
out at second. J Smith struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 4.

DETROIT 2ND: L Hochevar relieved J De La Rosa. R Santiago safe at first on
throwing error by third baseman A Gordon. C Maybin struck out swinging.
P Polanco singled to right, R Santiago to second. R Raburn grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, P Polanco out at second, R Santiago to third,
R Santiago scored, R Raburn to second on throwing error by shortstop T Pena Jr.
R Raburn to third on wild pitch by L Hochevar. C Guillen struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 2 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 5.

DETROIT 3RD: M Thames homered to left. M Hessman popped out to third.
B Inge flied out to right. M Rabelo grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 6.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: M Teahen doubled to right. A Gordon walked. J Buck lined
out to center, M Teahen to third. J Smith grounded into fielder's choice to
first, M Teahen scored, A Gordon out at second. T Pena Jr struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 6.

DETROIT 8TH: R Raburn homered to left. C Guillen grounded out to third.
M Thames struck out swinging. M Hessman flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 7.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (2) AT DETROIT (7) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- D DeJesus CF, J Gathright LF, R Gload 1B,
B Butler DH, M Teahen RF, A Gordon 3B, J Buck C, J Smith 2B, T Pena Jr SS,
J De La Rosa LHP.

Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Maybin CF, P Polanco 2B, R Raburn RF, C Guillen DH,
M Thames LF, M Hessman 1B, B Inge 3B, M Rabelo C, R Santiago SS, J Verlander RHP.

Umpires -- Eric Cooper (HP), Mike Reilly (1B), Jeff Kellogg (2B), Andy Fletcher (3B).

Gametime Weather: 79 degrees, Sunny, wind out to center at 10 mph.


KANSAS CITY 1ST: D DeJesus struck out looking. J Gathright grounded out
to pitcher. R Gload popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 1ST: C Maybin flied out to right. P Polanco singled to left.
R Raburn doubled to deep left, P Polanco scored. R Raburn to third on wild
pitch by J De La Rosa. C Guillen singled to left center, R Raburn scored.
M Thames homered to left, C Guillen scored. M Hessman walked. B Inge struck
out looking. M Rabelo lined out to right. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, DETROIT 4.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: B Butler homered to left. M Teahen struck out swinging.
A Gordon walked. J Buck grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, A Gordon
out at second. J Smith struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 4.

DETROIT 2ND: L Hochevar relieved J De La Rosa. R Santiago safe at first on
throwing error by third baseman A Gordon. C Maybin struck out swinging.
P Polanco singled to right, R Santiago to second. R Raburn grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, P Polanco out at second, R Santiago to third,
R Santiago scored, R Raburn to second on throwing error by shortstop T Pena Jr.
R Raburn to third on wild pitch by L Hochevar. C Guillen struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 2 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 5.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: T Pena Jr grounded out to third. D DeJesus hit by pitch.
J Gathright singled to right, D DeJesus to third. R Gload flied out to center,
J Gathright to second. B Butler flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 5.

DETROIT 3RD: M Thames homered to left. M Hessman popped out to third.
B Inge flied out to right. M Rabelo grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 6.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: M Teahen struck out swinging. A Gordon struck out
swinging. J Buck singled to left. J Buck to second on balk by J Verlander.
J Smith reached on infield single to shortstop, J Buck to third. T Pena Jr
grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 6.

DETROIT 4TH: R Santiago hit by pitch. C Maybin grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop, R Santiago out at second. P Polanco grounded into double
play, third to second to first, C Maybin out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 6.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: D DeJesus grounded out to second. J Gathright lined out
to right. R Gload hit by pitch. B Butler lined out to center. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 6.

DETROIT 5TH: R Raburn struck out looking. L Nunez relieved L Hochevar.
C Guillen flied out to center. M Thames popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 6.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: M Teahen doubled to right. A Gordon walked. J Buck lined
out to center, M Teahen to third. J Smith grounded into fielder's choice to
first, M Teahen scored, A Gordon out at second. T Pena Jr struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 6.

DETROIT 6TH: M Hessman fouled out to first. B Inge struck out looking.
M Rabelo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2,
DETROIT 6.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: B Seay relieved J Verlander. D DeJesus struck out looking.
E Brown hit for J Gathright. E Brown struck out swinging. R Gload singled to
right. B Butler flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2,
DETROIT 6.

DETROIT 7TH: E Brown in left field. R Santiago flied out to center.
C Maybin struck out swinging. P Polanco popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 6.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: M Teahen singled to left. A Gordon lined out to right.
J Zumaya relieved B Seay. J Buck flied out to center. J Smith popped out to
third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 6.

DETROIT 8TH: R Raburn homered to left. C Guillen grounded out to third.
M Thames struck out swinging. M Hessman flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 7.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: B Clevlen in left field. C Brazell hit for T Pena Jr.
C Brazell struck out swinging. D DeJesus popped out to third. E Brown safe
at first on throwing error by shortstop R Santiago. E Brown to second on
fielder's indifference. R Gload struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error)
KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 7.</div>

 

Thames supports Verlander as Tigers top Royals

<h3>DETROIT 7, KANSAS CITY 2</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- Justin Verlander kept the Detroit Tigers'fading playoff hopes on life support.


Verlander recorded his 18th win and Marcus Thames belted twohomers as the Tigers posted a 7-2 victory over the Kansas CityRoyals in the finale of a three-game series at Comerica Park onSunday afternoon.


Ryan Raburn also homered for the Detroit (85-71), which is fivegames back of the New York Yankees (89-65) in the AmericanLeague wild card race.


However, New York can clinch at least a tie for the wild cardwith a win on Sunday. The Yankees are playing against theToronto Blue Jays.


The Cleveland Indians already eliminated the Tigers in the racefor first place in AL Central - clinching the division titlewith a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics earlier Sunday.

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year, Verlander(18-6) has been Detroit's most reliable pitcher this season. Inthis one, he allowed two runs and five hits while striking outsix and walking two in six innings.


The hard-throwing righthander has won five of his last sixstarts.


Bobby Seay and Joel Zumaya combined to hurl the final threeframes to finish out the game.


Detroit used a four-run first inning to spark the victory,highlighted by Thames' two-run blast off Royals starter Jorge DeLa Rosa to make it 4-0. The left fielder also led off thethird inning with his second homer of the game to make it 6-1.

Raburn provided the final margin with a solo shot leading offthe eighth.


De La Rosa (8-12) was knocked around, yielding four runs andfour hits in just one inning. He struck out one and walked one.

Rookie Billy Butler homered for Kansas City.

 

Thames supports Verlander as Tigers top Royals

<h3>DETROIT 7, KANSAS CITY 2</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- Justin Verlander kept the Detroit Tigers'fading playoff hopes on life support.


Verlander recorded his 18th win and Marcus Thames belted twohomers as the Tigers posted a 7-2 victory over the Kansas CityRoyals in the finale of a three-game series at Comerica Park onSunday afternoon.


Ryan Raburn also homered for the Detroit (85-71), which is 5 1/2games back of the New York Yankees (90-65) in the AmericanLeague wild card race. The Yankees clinched at least a tie forthe wild card with a 7-5 win on Sunday over the Toronto BlueJays.


"No one here has given up on this season," Thames said. "We'regoing to keep playing and giving it our maximum effort."

The Cleveland Indians already eliminated the Tigers in the racefor first place in AL Central - clinching the division titlewith a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics earlier Sunday.

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year, Verlander(18-6) has been Detroit's most reliable pitcher this season. Inthis one, he allowed two runs and five hits while striking outsix and walking two in six innings.


The hard-throwing righthander has won five of his last sixstarts.


"It's very important for me to finish strong," Verlander said."It proves, too, that all the conditioning over the winter wasworth it, and it builds on next year. The guys in the lineup totoday (non-regulars) played with a lot of passion.

"They really stepped up. This is we've played all season long."

Bobby Seay and Joel Zumaya combined to hurl the final threeframes to finish out the game.


Detroit used a four-run first inning to spark the victory,highlighted by Thames' two-run blast off Royals starter Jorge DeLa Rosa to make it 4-0. The left fielder also led off thethird inning with his second homer of the game to make it 6-1.

"I just hit the ball hard," Thames said. "I wanted to doanything that I could to help the ball club."


Raburn provided the final margin with a solo shot leading offthe eighth.


De La Rosa (8-12) was knocked around, yielding four runs andfour hits in just one inning. He struck out one and walked one.

"Physically I felt really good," De La Rosa said. "I think Ijust threw the ball to hard. My control wasn't there. I justkept getting the ball up and in the middle, and I really paidfor it."


Rookie Billy Butler homered for Kansas City.


"We got down early and we couldn't get it back," Butler said."The pen kept us in, we had the opportunities but we justcouldn't capitalize."