Tigers 2 - 5 Royals
Final
  for this game

Tigers send Fister to hill in finale with K.C.

Sep 8, 2013 - 12:07 PM (Sports Network) - Doug Fister tries to follow up one of his better outings of the season on Sunday when the Detroit Tigers close out a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Fister bounced back from one his worst starts of the season with a gem in Boston on Monday that saw him scatter four hits over seven scoreless innings to improve to 12-7, while lowering his ERA to 3.66. He had given up seven runs over five innings his previous time out.

Fister has faced Kansas City 11 times (10 starts) and is 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA.

Kansas City, meanwhile, will turn to lefty Bruce Chen, who is 6-2 with a 2.81 ERA. Chen did not get a decision on Tuesday against Seattle, but pitched well, as he gave up two runs and six hits in six innings of a 4-3 win.

Chen is 5-8 lifetime versus the Tigers with a 5.42 ERA in 19 games (17 starts).

On Saturday, Salvador Perez stroked a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and Kansas City held on for a 4-3 victory.

Perez's shot snapped a 2-2 tie and the Kansas City bullpen was able to piece together 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball after starter Danny Duffy failed to get through five frames.

"I'm happy with the way I battled, left everything out there," said Duffy. "(Salvador Perez) came up with a bomb, as long as we're winning I'm happy."

Greg Holland closed the door in the ninth for his 39th save, helping the Royals draw even in this three-game set after they were blown out 16-2 in Friday's series opener.

Overall, the Royals have won 10 of their last 14 games and pulled within 3 1/2 of the second wild card spot with Tampa Bay's loss to Seattle on Saturday night.

Extending a career-worst stretch, Justin Verlander (12-11) now hasn't picked up a victory in six consecutive starts. He was tagged for all four runs on eight hits, striking out seven in the setback.

Miguel Cabrera knocked in two runs to push his major league-best RBI total to 133, but the Tigers suffered their fourth defeat in six games. Prince Fielder also had an RBI in the setback.

"We had some guys on, Duffy was a little wild and that's what we were kind of hoping for," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "We had some opportunities but we really couldn't take advantage of it."

The Royals have won eight of 15 meetings with the Tigers this season.






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