Detroit (16-22) at Kansas City (16-21)

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det

Tigers will try to pay back Royals

Scott McNeish / MLB.com
Nobody has emerged as the clear leader in the American League Central. It's the closest division in the Majors, with all five teams separated by fewer than four games. The Tigers, after their slow start and all their inconsistencies, are very much within striking distance of first place.
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Tigers probable pitcher

Nate Robertson

  • LHP
  • (1-4) 6.64 ERA
Tigers: Robertson doesn't have a quality start in seven outings so far this year, and he has been inefficient with his pitches in his last two outings. Still, if he can repeat the last five innings of his victory over the Yankees from May 1, he'd be pretty happy, considering he gave up a three-run home run to Bobby Abreu three batters into his outing that night.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 43-59 4.70 873.1 299 600 .275
Season 1-4 6.64 40.2 11 31 .306
May 1-1 6.00 12.0 4 7 .327

Series at a Glance

Standings - 05/13/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Detroit Tigers (AL Central) 16 22 .421 4.5 8-12 8-10
Kansas City Royals (AL Central) 16 21 .432 4.0 7-12 9-9
Stats - 05/13/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
DET .264 180 37 173 18 221 5.09 334.0 346 159 215
KC .257 133 19 129 19 225 4.36 326.0 330 100 251
kc

Royals tab Greinke to shut down Tigers

Max Utsler / Special to MLB.com
Zack Greinke has been the Royals' most consistent starter, and the club will lean on him when he faces Nate Robertson and the Tigers on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. CT in Kansas City. While the Royals have lost six of their last 10, the Tigers have won six of their last 10.
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Royals probable pitcher

Zack Greinke

  • RHP
  • (4-1) 1.80 ERA
Royals: Greinke just keeps grinding along. He won his first three starts, then he took a loss and two no-decisions despite pitching well in his next three. But he got his fourth victory on Wednesday night in a blowout over the Angels. He cruised through seven innings, giving up five hits and three runs and notched eight strikeouts. His ERA was second in the American League only to Cliff Lee's 0.81 mark for the Tribe. Greinke's first win this season came over the Tigers, and he is 7-3 against them in his career.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 25-36 4.35 506.1 130 361 .274
Season 4-1 1.80 50.0 12 36 .213
May 1-1 3.21 14.0 2 17 .180
Vs. Detroit 1-0 1.29 7.0 2 3 .222

Tigers hitters vs Zack Greinke

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Avila, Alex - - - - - - - -
Boesch, Brennan - - - - - - - -
Cabrera, Miguel - - - - .444 9 0 2
Ciriaco, Audy - - - - - - - -
Dlugach, Brent - - - - - - - -
Everett, Adam - - - - .500 2 0 0
Guillen, Carlos .333 3 0 0 .240 25 0 1
Inge, Brandon 1.000 2 1 1 .296 27 2 3
Jackson, Austin - - - - - - - -
Kelly, Don - - - - - - - -
Laird, Gerald - - - - .200 5 0 0
Ordonez, Magglio .333 3 0 0 .148 27 0 2
Raburn, Ryan - - - - - - - -
Ramirez, Wilkin - - - - - - - -
Santiago, Ramon - - - - - - - -
Sizemore, Scott - - - - - - - -
Strieby, Ryan - - - - - - - -
Thomas, Clete .250 4 0 0 .250 4 0 0
Wells, Casper - - - - - - - -

Royals hitters vs Nate Robertson

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Anderson, Brian - - - - .250 12 0 0
Ankiel, Rick - - - - .333 3 0 0
Aviles, Mike - - - - .333 3 0 0
Betancourt, Yuniesky - - - - .500 16 1 3
Bianchi, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Bloomquist, Willie - - - - .267 15 0 0
Butler, Billy - - - - .200 10 1 2
Callaspo, Alberto - - - - 1.000 1 0 1
DeJesus, David - - - - .133 15 0 0
Dyson, Jarrod - - - - - - - -
Fields, Josh - - - - .500 6 1 2
Getz, Chris - - - - - - - -
Gordon, Alex - - - - .250 8 0 4
Guillen, Jose - - - - .400 20 2 10
Ka'aihue, Kila - - - - - - - -
Kendall, Jason - - - - .000 11 0 0
Maier, Mitch - - - - .500 2 0 0
Parraz, Jordan - - - - - - - -
Pena, Brayan - - - - - - - -
Pina, Manuel - - - - - - - -
Podsednik, Scott - - - - .087 23 0 1

Doubled over (16-23) (17-21)

Royals 3, Tigers 2

Strong start spoiled

Jason Beck / MLB.com
Nate Robertson gave up two runs over seven frames in his best start of the season, but nine Tigers hits weren't enough as just two went for extra bases. Detroit has still not won against the Royals this season.

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Series at a Glance

 

Batty vs. Cats

Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
Zack Greinke gave up all nine Tigers hits, but only drew two runs over six innings. The offense combined for 12 hits, and Joakim Soria continued his scoreless streak as the Royals have won four straight over the Tigers.
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Royals 3, Tigers 2

DetroitABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Granderson, CF5000013.229
Polanco, 2B5110001.274
Guillen, 3B-1B4011011.294
Ordonez, RF4000011.306
Cabrera, M, 1B2020200.262
  1-Inge, PR-3B0000000.227
Sheffield, LF3000103.202
Joyce, DH3121102.333
Renteria, SS4010004.266
Rodriguez, I, C4020013.278
Totals342924418 


1-Ran for Cabrera, M in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Guillen (10, Greinke).
HR: Joyce (2, 2nd inning off Greinke, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Polanco; Guillen 2; Cabrera, M 2; Joyce 5; Renteria; Rodriguez, I 2.
RBI: Guillen (16), Joyce (3).
2-out RBI: Joyce.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Granderson; Rodriguez, I 2; Renteria.
GIDP: Sheffield; Renteria.
Team LOB: 9.

FIELDING
E: Renteria (4, throw).
DP: 2 (Polanco-Renteria-Cabrera, M, Polanco-Cabrera, M).
Pickoffs: Robertson (Buck at 1st base).
 
Kansas CityABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
DeJesus, D, LF4110001.311
Grudzielanek, 2B4130000.328
Gordon, 3B4000015.274
Guillen, DH4022002.216
  1-German, PR-DH0100000.091
Butler, 1B3000101.279
  2-Gload, PR-1B0000000.266
Teahen, RF4020010.270
Buck, C4020013.268
Pena, T, SS3010011.165
Gathright, CF3010001.250
Totals3331221414 


1-Ran for Guillen in the 8th. 2-Ran for Butler in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Grudzielanek (9, Robertson), Guillen 2 (13, Robertson, Cruceta), Pena, T (3, Robertson).
TB: DeJesus, D; Grudzielanek 4; Guillen 4; Teahen 2; Buck 2; Pena, T 2; Gathright.
RBI: Guillen 2 (19).
2-out RBI: Guillen 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Guillen 2; Butler; Gathright; Buck.
GIDP: Buck.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
CS: Buck (2, 2nd base by Robertson/Rodriguez, I).
PO: Buck (1st base by Robertson).

FIELDING
E: Pena, T (4, fielding).
DP: 2 (Gordon-Grudzielanek-Butler 2).
 
DetroitIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Robertson 7.010220206.04
Cruceta (L, 0-1)1.02101202.70
 
Kansas CityIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Greinke 6.09222211.93
Ramirez, R 1.10002201.06
Nunez (W, 3-0)0.20000001.72
Soria (S, 9)1.00000000.00

Pitches-strikes: Robertson 82-54, Cruceta 25-14, Greinke 100-62, Ramirez, R 31-17, Nunez 6-4, Soria 11-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Robertson 9-8, Cruceta 1-0, Greinke 9-6, Ramirez, R 2-0, Nunez 0-2, Soria 3-0.
Batters faced: Robertson 28, Cruceta 6, Greinke 27, Ramirez, R 6, Nunez 2, Soria 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Nunez 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Jim Wolf. 1B: Ed Montague. 2B: Jerry Layne. 3B: Phil Cuzzi.
Weather: 68 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, L to R.
T: 2:38.
Att: 11,703.
May 13, 2008

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner