GDT: 9/21/11 - DET (89-65) AT KC (68-87) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Surging Royals face two of Tigers' best at Kauffman

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 9/21/2011 12:16 AM ET

The Royals would like to give their hometown fans one last winning memory before the team is done playing at Kauffman Stadium this season.

There's no doubt that will be tough, as the Royals have to face two of the American League Central champion Tigers' top pitchers on Wednesday. Right-hander Max Scherzer will get the start, and righty Doug Fister will back him up as Detroit tries to position its rotation for the postseason. The Tigers still has an outside shot at the top seed in the American League.

"I know there are great teams out there, but as the Kansas City Royals, we don't really care who's on the other side," Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas said. "We want to go out and beat whoever it is. ... Our job is to go out and win ballgames."

The Royals enter Wednesday on an offensive hot streak, averaging 7.1 runs in the first seven games in their homestand -- during which they are 6-1 -- and knocking out double-digit hits in each game.

"That little winning streak we had, we played great baseball that whole streak," Moustakas said. "As a team, pitching, hitting, defense, we played great baseball. You can't really take anything away from the fact that we went out there and we played hard and got it done."

Scherzer knows all about Kansas City's potent offense. The Tigers right-hander is 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA in four starts against the Royals this season. Fister has faced the Royals twice this year, compiling a 3.68 ERA in 14 2/3 innings.

Tigers: Betemit improving
• Infielder Wilson Betemit, who tweaked his knee on a slide in Oakland, said he should be able to return to the lineup sooner rather than later.

"I feel much better right now," Betemit said prior to Tuesday's game. "I just did a workout and I feel OK, but I want to go outside and take ground balls."

• First baseman Miguel Cabrera has 102 runs, 97 RBIs and 105 walks and is looking to become only the fifth player in Tigers history to reach the century mark in all three categories in a single season. He would join Hank Greenberg (1937, 1938), Charlie Gehringer (1938), Rocky Colavito (1961) and Norm Cash (1961).

Royals: Opportunities abound
• Closer Joakim Soria is still out with a sore hamstring, but manager Ned Yost said Tuesday that Soria's absence gives youngsters like Greg Holland and Aaron Crow chances to close

"It gives them experience in that situation," Yost said. "It is not a bad thing to give them closing experience even though it's a week, two weeks' worth. Every little bit of experience helps."

• Right-hander Felipe Paulino starts for the Royals on Wednesday having tossed three quality starts in his last four outings. He's 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings against the Tigers.

Worth noting
• Detroit starters have 2.79 ERA and 84 strikeouts in last 17 games, posting 12 quality starts in that stretch.

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (14-9, 4.39 ERA)

After back-to-back solid starts, Scherzer struggled against the A's, giving up seven hits - three of them home runs -- and five runs in just five innings. He had decent command of his fastball, but two of those home runs came on changeups.


Royals: RHP Felipe Paulino (3-6, 4.10 ERA)

Paulino worked six serviceable innings on Friday against the White Sox, holding them to three runs on seven hits in a walk-off win. After 11 strikeouts and no walks in his previous outing of seven innings, he struck out three and walked three.


Game Information



INJURY UPDATE:

• OF Brennan Boesch (right thumb surgery, 15-day disabled list on September 9).
• 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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• Thursday, September 22:
Tigers (RHP Jacob Turner (0-1, 7.45 ERA)) VS
Orioles (?HP TBA (? ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Friday, September 23:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.79 ERA)) VS
Orioles (?HP TBA (? ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Saturday, September 24:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.29 ERA)) VS
Orioles (?HP TBA (? ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS
Austin Jackson, CF
Don Kelly, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Victor Martinez, DH
Alex Avila, C
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Andy Dirks, RF
Ramon Santiago, 2B
Brandon Inge, 3B

P: Max Scherzer/Doug Fister

ROYALS
Alex Gordon, LF
Melky Cabrera, CF
Billy Butler, DH
Eric Hosmer, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Johnny Giavotella, 2B
Salvador Perez, C
Alcides Escobar, SS

P: Felipe Paulino

DET - Top 1st
B:4 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Don Kelly lines out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

With Delmon Young batting, Austin Jackson steals (21) 2nd base.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Delmon Young out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Austin Jackson scores.
1 - 0

B:1 S:3 O:3
Alex Avila out swinging.

KC - Bot 1st
B:1 S:2 O:0
Alex Gordon singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Melky Cabrera out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Billy Butler doubles (40) on a ground ball to left fielder Delmon Young. Alex Gordon scores.
TIED 1 - 1

B:2 S:1 O:2
Eric Hosmer flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jeff Francoeur doubles (47) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Billy Butler scores.
KC 2 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:3
Mike Moustakas pops out to catcher Alex Avila in foul territory.

KC 2 - 1 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:4 S:1 O:0
Jhonny Peralta walks.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Ramon
Santiago ground bunts into a force out, catcher Salvador Perez to third
baseman Mike Moustakas. Jhonny Peralta out at 3rd. Andy Dirks to 2nd. Ramon Santiago to 1st.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson called out on .

KC - Bot 2nd


B:2 S:3 O:1
Johnny Giavotella called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:1
Salvador Perez singles on a line drive to right fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Alcides Escobar grounds into a force out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Salvador Perez out at 2nd. Alcides Escobar to 1st.

With Alex Gordon batting, Alcides Escobar steals (25) 2nd base.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Alex Gordon out swinging.

KC 2 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:2 S:3 O:1
Don Kelly out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Delmon Young singles on a fly ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Victor Martinez out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Alex Avila out swinging.

KC - Bot 3rd
B:4 S:2 O:0
Melky Cabrera walks.

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

B:2 S:2 O:3
Eric
Hosmer grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second
baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Don Kelly. Melky Cabrera out at
2nd.

KC 2 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

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

KC - Bot 4th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Jeff Francoeur out on foul tip.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Mike Moustakas out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Johnny Giavotella flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

KC 2 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a soft ground ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Don Kelly singles on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:3 S:3 O:1
Delmon Young called out on .

B:1 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Austin Jackson scores. Don Kelly to 2nd.
TIED 2 - 2

With Alex Avila batting, throwing error by Salvador Perez on the pickoff attempt, Don Kelly to 3rd.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

KC - Bot 5th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Salvador Perez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Alcides
Escobar grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second
baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Don Kelly. Salvador Perez out at
2nd.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Alex Gordon lines out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

TIED 2 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
Pitcher Change: Tim Collins replaces Felipe Paulino.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Ryan Raburn grounds into a force out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to second baseman Johnny Giavotella. Jhonny Peralta out at 2nd. Ryan Raburn to 1st.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Ramon Santiago out on foul tip.

Pitcher Change: Louis Coleman replaces Tim Collins.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Brandon Inge pops out to third baseman Mike Moustakas in foul territory.

KC - Bot 6th
Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the right fielder.

Pitcher Change: Doug Fister replaces Max Scherzer.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Melky Cabrera doubles (43) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Billy Butler singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Ryan Raburn. Melky Cabrera scores. Fielding error by right fielder Ryan Raburn.
KC 3 - 2

B:0 S:1 O:1
Eric Hosmer lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Jeff Francoeur grounds into a force out, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Billy Butler out at 2nd. Jeff Francoeur to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Mike Moustakas flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

KC 3 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Don Kelly doubles (7) on a fly ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Delmon Young grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

Pitcher Change: Aaron Crow replaces Louis Coleman.

Coaching visit to mound.

With Victor Martinez batting, wild pitch by Aaron Crow, Don Kelly to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Don Kelly scores.
TIED 3 - 3

B:3 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Victor Martinez to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds into a force out, fielded by shortstop Alcides Escobar. Alex Avila out at 2nd.

KC - Bot 7th
B:2 S:0 O:1
Johnny Giavotella pops out to first baseman Don Kelly in foul territory.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Salvador Perez flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Alcides Escobar pops out softly to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

TIED 3 - 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Kelvin Herrera replaces Aaron Crow.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Ryan Raburn hit by pitch.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Miguel Cabrera replaces Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Miguel Cabrera doubles (45) on a soft line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Ryan Raburn scores.
4 - 3

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Danny Worth replaces Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Brandon Inge out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Kelvin Herrera to second baseman Johnny Giavotella. Danny Worth to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Danny Worth scores.
6 - 3

B:0 S:1 O:3
Delmon Young grounds out softly, pitcher Kelvin Herrera to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 8th
Danny Worth remains in the game as the second baseman.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Alex Gordon grounds out, first baseman Don Kelly to pitcher Doug Fister.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Melky Cabrera out swinging.

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

6 - 3 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Greg Holland replaces Kelvin Herrera.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila doubles (32) on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 9th
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Doug Fister.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Eric Hosmer singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

With Jeff Francoeur batting, passed ball by Alex Avila, Eric Hosmer to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Jeff Francoeur out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Mike Moustakas singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Eric Hosmer to 3rd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brayan Pena replaces Johnny Giavotella.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Brayan Pena pops out softly to third baseman Brandon Inge.

With Salvador Perez batting, Mike Moustakas advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Salvador Perez pops out to first baseman Don Kelly in foul territory.