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Tigers look to continue domination of Royals

Sep 22, 2006 - 12:57 PM Detroit (91-62) at Kansas City (58-94) 8:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers have dominated the Kansas City Royals this season and hope that trend continues as they begin their final road series of the season on Friday.

Detroit leads the Minnesota Twins by a half-game in the American League Central Division. The Tigers have won 11 of 12 meetings from the Royals, including all six in Kansas City.

The Tigers won the first 11 meetings in the series before a 9-6 loss in Detroit on July 16. While the Tigers were the best team in baseball at the time, they have fallen 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for the best mark in the AL following Thursday's 4-3 loss in Baltimore.

The Tigers have dropped 16 of their last 26 contests after blowing a three-run lead in the eighth inning Thursday.

Wilfredo Ledezma (2-3, 3.81 ERA) will make his sixth start of the season for Detroit and will hope for better results. Ledezma's last start was vs. Baltimore on Sunday, when he allowed five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Although they are tied with Tampa Bay for the AL's worst record, the Royals will have a chance to play spoiler. Following this series, Kansas City will conclude the season with a seven-game road trip through Minnesota and Detroit.

The Royals will be without manager Buddy Bell, who has taken a medical leave to treat a growth near his tonsil. Bill Doran will manage the team.

Kansas City comes off a two-game sweep to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and managed just five hits in Wednesday's 3-0 loss.

Luke Hudson (7-5, 5.46) takes the mound for the Royals and tries to win for the first time in four starts. Although he has not recorded a decision in his last three outings, Hudson has been rocked for 10 runs and 18 hits in 18 1/3 innings.