GDT: 8/25/10 - DET (63-63) VS KC (53-73) - 1:05 p.m. ET

Tigers look to continue win streak against Royals

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

For legendary gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, there was "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." For the Tigers, there now is fear and lionization in Detroit.

The fear is of Miguel Cabrera by opposing pitchers when they accost him with key runners on base. The lionization is of Johnny Damon, whose rejection of the opportunity to return to Boston has made him the most popular guy in town since Lee Iacocca.

While Detroit speculates about which automaker will be the first to roll out the Damon Coupe -- returning some love for his affection for Motown -- the Tigers will be preoccupied on Wednesday with climbing above .500 for the first time since the end of July.

So instead of returning to one of his former teams, Damon will again be in the lineup against his original team, hoping to help the Tigers complete their sweep of the Royals in the afternoon matinee series finale.

Yes, Damon has been around, and he's been around for a long time: his teammates on the 1995 Royals included Gary Gaetti and Wally Joyner.

Damon, now 36, has visited the postseason will all of his subsequent teams (the A's, Red Sox and Yankees) and has re-dedicated himself to eventually getting the Tigers there, too.

Detroit will be out to stretch its season-best winning streak against AL competition to six games. The Tigers had won seven straight, on June 11-18, but that was over NL teams during the Interleague phase of the schedule.

Sean O'Sullivan, who is still 0-for-5 as a starter for the Royals but did sneak his first victory in relief over the weekend, matches up with Armando Galarraga.

If O'Sullivan also matches up with Cabrera with men in scoring position, chances are Kansas City manager Ned Yost will wave four fingers from the dugout. That's been a popular aversion tactic in the American League: Cabrera has received 25 intentional walks, more than double anyone else in the league (Joe Mauer, Robinson Cano and Ichiro Suzuki have 12 each) and more than the total of eight other AL teams.

Cabrera having your back is always a good thing, but Galarraga will go to the mound without his security blanket, otherwise known as the Cleveland Indians. In two starts and 16 shutout innings against the Tribe this season, Galarraga has allowed four hits and no walks while fanning 11. Against everyone else, he has allowed 94 hits in 81 2/3 innings, with a 2-5 record and an ERA of 5.03.

Royals: Meche working his way back
Gil Meche tossed 1 2/3 innings for Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday afternoon, allowing two hits and one earned run while fanning two. The lone run he allowed came on a home run. Meche is preparing to come back to the Royals' bullpen after deciding against shoulder surgery. Luke Hochevar, out since mid-June with a strained right elbow, came through a simulated game with flying colors. Yost said Hochevar threw with good stuff and the his arm felt fine. Next, Hochevar is due to begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Saturday.

Tigers: Ka'aihue spoils Detroit's shutout
The Tigers, who have the sixth-lowest shutout total among the 30 Major League pitching staffs, were one out away Tuesday night from No. 6 when the Royals' Kila Ka'aihue took Ryan Perry deep. Detroit's streak of scoring in the first inning of six straight games is the club's longest since doing it seven straight times from May 14-22, 1984.

Worth noting
Kansas City may not lead the Majors in wins by rookie pitchers -- the Reds do with 18, and the Mets are right behind with 17 -- but the Royals have set a pace with six different rookies having logged their first wins in 2010: Bryan Bullington, Kanekoa Texeira, Anthony Lerew, Blake Wood, Victor Marte and Dusty Hughes; in addition, John Parrish, Jesse Chavez, Josh Rupe and O'Sullivan have also notched their first wins as Royals this season.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Armando Galarraga (4-5, 4.21 ERA)
Galarraga has never lost to the Royals, but he hasn't faced them this season. He's coming off seven scoreless innings against the Indians last Friday, which improved his home record to 3-3 with a 3.26 ERA at Comerica Park.

ROYALS: RHP Sean O’Sullivan (0-4, 6.75 ERA)
After pitching one inning of a rainout on Friday night, O'Sullivan wasn't brought back for doubleheader duty and was kept in his regular rotation spot. He's still looking for his first victory after going 0-4 in five official starts for the Royals.




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).


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Thursday, August 26,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (9-9, 3.73 ERA)) AT BLUE JAYS (LHP Ricky Romero (10-7, 3.50 ERA)), 7:07 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Friday, August 27,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (14-8, 3.65 ERA)) AT BLUE JAYS (RHP Shaun Marcum (11-7, 3.70 ERA)), 7:07 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Saturday, August 28,
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (7-9, 5.27 ERA)) AT BLUE JAYS (RHP Brandon Morrow (9-6, 4.39 ERA)), 1:07 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, August 29,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (6-11, 5.43 ERA)) AT BLUE JAYS (LHP Marc Rzepczynski (1-2, 6.31 ERA)), 1:12 p.m. ET (FS-D HD & / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gregor Blanco grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Mike Aviles flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Willie Bloomquist doubles (7) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Billy Butler out on foul tip.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Mike Aviles.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
With Will Rhymes batting, Austin Jackson steals (21) 2nd base.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, third baseman Willie Bloomquist to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
With Johnny Damon batting, Austin Jackson advances to 3rd on a balk.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Mike Aviles to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Kila Ka'aihue walks.


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


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brayan Pena grounds into a force out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to
second baseman Will Rhymes. Kila Ka'aihue out at 2nd. Brayan Pena to
1st.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Mitch Maier flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jai Miller singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Brayan Pena to 2nd.


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



Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Brennan Boesch doubles (24) on a line drive to center fielder Gregor Blanco.


B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to right fielder Mitch Maier. Brennan Boesch to 3rd.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge out swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Mitch Maier. Brennan Boesch scores. Ryan Raburn scores.

DET 2, KC 0




B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird doubles (8) on a ground ball to left fielder Jai Miller. Ramon Santiago scores.

DET 3, KC 0




B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Gerald Laird to 3rd.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Will Rhymes flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.

DET 3, KC 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Gregor Blanco called out on .


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


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Willie Bloomquist flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.



Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Johnny Damon grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Mike Aviles to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch pops out to catcher Brayan Pena in foul territory.

DET 3, KC 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Billy Butler flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Kila Ka'aihue grounds out, pitcher Armando Galarraga to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brayan Pena pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.



Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to shortstop Mike Aviles.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Willie Bloomquist to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

DET 3, KC 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mitch Maier grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jai Miller out swinging.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Chris Getz walks.


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



Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to shortstop Mike Aviles.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Will Rhymes flies out to left fielder Jai Miller.

DET 3, KC 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mike Aviles flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Willie Bloomquist lines out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Billy Butler grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.



Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Johnny Damon reaches on fielding error by third baseman Willie Bloomquist.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera lines out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch grounds into a force out, shortstop Mike Aviles to
second baseman Chris Getz. Johnny Damon out at 2nd. Brennan Boesch to
1st.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Ryan Raburn batting, Brennan Boesch steals (4) 2nd base.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to catcher Brayan Pena in foul territory.

DET 3, KC 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Kila Ka'aihue homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.

DET 3, KC 1




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


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


B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Mitch Maier singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch. Brayan Pena to 2nd.


B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Jai Miller strikes out swinging.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Armando Galarraga.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Chris Getz out swinging.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Gregor Blanco out swinging.

DET 3, KC 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Mike Aviles to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jai Miller. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.


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


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Willie Bloomquist to first
baseman Kila Ka'aihue. Ramon Santiago to 3rd. Gerald Laird to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Will Rhymes flies out to left fielder Jai Miller.

DET 3, KC 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Phil Coke.


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


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Willie Bloomquist called out on .


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Billy Butler flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Ryan Perry.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Kila Ka'aihue batting, Mike Aviles steals (6) 2nd base.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Kila Ka'aihue doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch. Mike Aviles scores.

DET 3, KC 2




B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brayan Pena doubles (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Kila Ka'aihue scores.

KC 3, DET 3




B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Mitch Maier batting, wild pitch by Jose Valverde, Brayan Pena to 3rd.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Mitch Maier flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


KC 3, DET 3 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Dusty Hughes replaces Sean O'Sullivan.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Johnny Damon lines out to shortstop Mike Aviles.


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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Jesse Chavez replaces Dusty Hughes.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (39) on a fly ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, first baseman Kila Ka'aihue to pitcher Jesse Chavez.

KC 3, DET 3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brad Thomas replaces Jose Valverde.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jai Miller lines out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Chris Getz flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Gregor Blanco grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


KC 3, DET 3 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Philip Humber replaces Jesse Chavez.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago called out on .


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.

KC 3, DET 3 after 9 innings

Inning 10
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Alfredo Figaro replaces Brad Thomas.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Mike Aviles out swinging.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Willie Bloomquist grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Billy Butler singles on a pop up to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Alex Gordon replaces Billy Butler.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
With Kila Ka'aihue batting, wild pitch by Alfredo Figaro, Alex Gordon to 2nd.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Alfredo Figaro intentionally walks Kila Ka'aihue.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Brayan Pena grounds out, pitcher Alfredo Figaro to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


KC 3, DET 3 after 9.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Alex Gordon remains in the game as the designated hitter.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson out swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Will Rhymes singles on a line drive to center fielder Gregor Blanco.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Johnny Damon grounds out to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue. Will Rhymes to 2nd.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Philip Humber intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.

KC 3, DET 3 after 10 innings

Inning 11
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Mitch Maier singles on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jai Miller ground bunts into a force out, catcher Gerald Laird to
shortstop Ramon Santiago. Mitch Maier out at 2nd. Jai Miller to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Chris Getz lines out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Gregor Blanco pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

KC 3, DET 3 after 10.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to second baseman Chris Getz.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge walks.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a soft ground ball to second baseman Chris Getz. Brandon Inge to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds into double play, third baseman Willie Bloomquist
to second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue. Ramon
Santiago out at 2nd.

KC 3, DET 3 after 11 innings

Inning 12
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Mike Aviles flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn in foul territory.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Willie Bloomquist homers (3) on a fly ball to left field.

KC 4, DET 3




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


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Kila Ka'aihue pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Brayan Pena pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

KC 4, DET 3 after 11.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joakim Soria replaces Philip Humber.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson out swinging.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, shortstop Mike Aviles to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Johnny Damon out swinging.

KC 4, DET 3 FINAL AFTER 12 INNINGS >CLICK FOR BOX SCORE<