Tigers 2 - 1 Royals
Final
  for this game

Tigers turn to ace Verlander against Royals

Jul 10, 2011 - 2:43 PM

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(Sports Network) - Justin Verlander may very well be the best pitcher in the American league, and he will take the mound this afternoon in the finale of a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals.

Through 19 starts, the right-handed Verlander is 11-4 with a 2.26 ERA and has racked up 138 strikeouts in 143 1/3 innings of action. Despite allowing just one earned run in 7 2/3 innings of work on Tuesday, Verlander was handed a loss, so he is likely eager to get back to action today.

The Tigers' ace has owned Kansas City in his career, posting an 11-2 record versus the Royals with a 2.47 ERA.

Kansas City will counter with lefty Jeff Francis, who comes in with a lowly 3-9 record and a 4.69 ERA. Francis didn't figure in the decision of his last start against the White Sox on Monday. In that tilt, he allowed just two earned runs in six innings. He has yielded 130 hits in 109 1/3 innings to date.

Francis is 0-1 in his career against Detroit with a 4.50 ERA, and that loss came this season.

On Saturday, Alex Gordon had a three-run homer while Alcides Escobar scored three times and also drove in three runs as the Royals outslugged the Tigers for a 13-6 win.

KC's top four hitters combined for nine hits and eight RBI.

Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler each knocked in a pair of runs for the Royals, who had lost the first two games of the four-game series by two runs each.

Greg Holland (3-1) got the win, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for KC. He allowed just two hits and struck out two while starter Luke Hochevar was roughed up for six runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings.

"Something's happening. My focus, my approach and my execution, I think, really doesn't waver," Hochevar said of his rough outing. "So something's happening, whether it's my mixture, falling into patterns or whatever it is, there's something there and I need to figure it out."

Brennan Boesch had a pair of RBI for Detroit, which had a three-game win streak snapped.

Detroit pitching was far from impressive after giving up 13 runs -- only five earned -- on 12 hits and five walks. Starter Charlie Furbush (1-3) was charged with the loss in his second start of the season, lasting just 2 2/3 innings. He allowed nine runs -- four earned -- on nine hits.

"It's a tough one," Furbush said. "You've just got to tip your cap. They got some hits that found holes and playing some good baseball. You can't do much about it."

The Tigers trail Cleveland by just a half-game for first place in the AL Central, while Kansas City is 11 games back in the division.

Detroit is 5-3 against the Royals this season and has won 11 of the last 17 matchups between the two clubs.






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