Game 28

The Tigers head into Kansas City for the second time this season. Both teams are riding season high winning streaks; the Tigers at 4, the Royals at 2 (hey it's the Royals...2 is a streak). The Royals just split a series with the AL West leading Angels, and have yet to be swept in a 3 game series this year, so these next three games can not be taken for granted. Davis DeJesus seems to save his best games for the Tigers, and John Buck has been a thorn in Tigers pitchers sides as well. On the other hand, the Tigers will be missing the two who have been the Royals best two pitchers of the season this far, Gil Meche and Jorge De La Rosa. Meche is third in the AL in ERA, and is tied with De La Rosa for the team lead with 3 wins (Kansas City has 10 overall). Reggie Sanders is also missing with a hamstring injury. The pitchers that the Royals are sending to the mound will be facing a Tigers team that has found their hitting stroke. Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez are crushing the ball. The bottom of the order looks like it has their hitting woes almost solved. Placido Polanco will not go two games in a row without a hit. Lest we forget Pudge Rodriguez, who has hit more home runs off of KC (8) than any other opponent and is batting .397 against the Royals since becoming a Tiger.

Line-ups:
Detroit (16-11)
C Granderson CF
P Polanco 2B
G Sheffield DH
M Ordonez RF
C Guillen SS
I Rodriguez C
S Casey 1B
C Monroe LF
B Inge 3B

Kansas City (10-19)
D DeJesus CF
M Grudzielanek 2B
M Teahen 3B
M Sweeney DH
R Gload 1B
B Butler LF
A Gordon 3B
J Buck C
T Pena Jr. SS

Pitchers:
Tigers - Justin Verlander RHP (1-1, 2.79 ERA)
Royals - Brian Bannister RHP (0-1, 4.91 ERA)

Post-game:

Tigers 6 Royals 3

Justin Verlander finally got some decent run support, but he didn't need it as he pitched seven shutout innings. The bullpen needed it however, as it got into some trouble and gave up three runs (two of the three runs were charged to Verlander) in the 8th. Fernando Rodney looks like he's back to his old self as the stopper, and Todd Jones got a 1-2-3 save in the 9th, with 2 K's. Carlos Guillen looks healed from whatever shoulder problem were ailing him. He went 3 for 4 with his only out was the result of a great play by Royals shortstop Tony Pena Jr. Magglio extended his hit streak to six games with 2 doubles, and apparently I jinxed Polly, because he was hitless again. Sean Casey keeps lifting his average, with two hits today helping the cause. All Tiger runs were scored with two outs tonight.

Tiger Hero:
Carlos Guillen. 3 hits, 2 RBI, and a big part of turning a double play with the bases loaded to get out of an inning.

Tiger Zero:
Pudge. Another 0fer, and was the only tiger batter not to reach base. Also left 6 men stranded.

Tigers Record:
W - L
17 - 11
2nd place AL Central (1 GB)