Tigers 3 - 1 Royals
Final
  for this game

Royals welcome Tigers to Kauffman Stadium

Jul 7, 2011 - 2:57 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals shoot for a third straight win this evening when they open a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City took two of three from the Chicago White Sox by capturing Wednesday's finale, as Jeff Francoeur drove in two runs and Eric Hosmer belted a solo home run in a 4-1 win.

Bruce Chen (5-2) threw six-plus solid innings for the Royals, who have won three of their last four games overall. The left-hander allowed just one run on four hits but walked three batters.

"Things are starting to go our way a little bit," Hosmer said. "You have to tip your hat to Bruce. He found a way to win."

Getting the call for the Royals tonight will be 22-year-old left-hander Danny Duffy, who is 1-3 with a 5.09 ERA. Duffy lost to Colorado on Friday, as he allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings.

Duffy has never faced the Tigers, who enter this series having lost four of their last six games. Detroit, though, salvaged the finale of its three-game affair with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday, as Miguel Cabrera hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, leading the Tigers to a 5-4 win at Angel Stadium.

Victor Martinez had a two-run single while Andy Dirks knocked in the other run for Detroit, which has stumbled recently with just three wins in its last nine games and has fallen 1 1/2 games back of the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central.

Detroit starter Brad Penny rebounded from a rough beginning and tossed 6 1/3 innings to post his first win since June 5th. Penny (6-6) allowed four runs on six hits and struck out three.

"I wasn't making pitches in the first," Penny said. "But my focus got better and after that I made pitches. The guys did a great job coming back. The offense and the bullpen were responsible for the win today."

Hoping to keep that momentum rolling tonight will be right-hander Max Scherzer, who is 9-4 with a 4.90 ERA. Scherzer, though, is winless in his last three starts and lost his second straight decision on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants, who pounded him for nine runs (six earned) and six hits in just two innings of work.

Scherzer beat the Royals the last time he faced them and is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in six starts against them.

Detroit is 3-2 against the Royals this season.






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