Tigers Vs. Royals: Detroit Falls To .500 With 3-2 Loss To Kansas City

Chris Getz drove in the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning for the Kansas City Royals Wednesday at Comerica Park in a 3-2 defeat of the Detroit Tigers.

Brenna Boesch hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eight inning to tie the game, but Joaquin Benoit surrendered the run in the ninth inning and took the loss. Justin Verlander (2-1, 2.38 ERA) pitched eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven batters.

Detroit dropped to 12-12 on the season, while Kansas City improved to 7-16, with all of their wins coming on the road. The Tigers host the Chicago White Sox Friday as Drew Smyly goes up against Jake Peavy.

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Andy Dirks Injury: Outfielder Taking Batting Practice Before Wednesday's Game

During Tuesday's 9-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals, the Detroit Tigers got some bad news when their 26 year old outfielder Andy Dirks was forced to leave with a tight hamstring.

Fortunately, it looks like Dirks might be getting back in action from the injury sooner rather than later. Tom Gage of the Detroit News tweeted on Wednesday morning that Dirks has been taking batting practice and was able to get some good contact on the ball while doing so.

#TIgers Dirks (tight left hamstring) taking BP - hit second pitch over the wall in right - good sign obviously

— Tom Gage (@Tom_Gage) May 2, 2012

So far this season, Dirks has hit an impressive .314 with a home run and five runs batted in, and played well in the first game of the series against the Royals before leaving with the injury. The Tigers will face the Royals in the second and final game of their shortened series Wednesday at 1:05 p.m.

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Tigers Vs. Royals: Justin Verlander Takes Mound For Detroit In Final Game Of Series

The first game in the three game series between the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals pushed up Justin Verlander to Wednesday night's game, and the Royals are most likely dreading the prospect. After losing the first played game of the series 9-3 on Tuesday night in Detroit, the Royals will just try to avoid the sweep in the shortened two game series.

History indicates that they'll find it difficult with the ace on the mound for Detroit, though.

Verlander has pitched as well as ever so far in 2012 with a 2-1 record on a 2.41 ERA, notching 35 strikeouts already in the young season. He has won his last six games pitched against Kansas City, adding to 14 of the Tigers' last 19 games against KC being wins. Jonathan Sanchez will be his opposition, holding far less impressive numbers with a 1-1 record and 6.75 ERA, along with more walks than strikeouts so far in the young season.

Offensively the Tigers also look a lot more together than KC has been so far in 2012, with them putting up five runs in the first inning of that 9-3 win on Tuesday being a prime example.

The game will be at Comerica Park at 1:05 p.m.

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Andy Dirks Injury: Tigers' Outfielder Exits Game Vs. Royals Early With Bum Hamstring

The Detroit Tigers' designated hitter on Monday night, Andy Dirks, was forced to leave the game early due to tightness in his left hamstring. It's the same hamstring that forced Dirks to miss about a week recently and he is once again considered day-to-day.

Dirks appeared to tweak the hammy when rounding first on his way to second on a fly ball that Royals' outfielder Alex Gordon misplayed. After catcher Alex Avila grounded out, Tigers trainer Kevin Rand and Jim Leyland came out onto the field to check on Dirks and he was subsequently removed. Recently called up Brad Eldred replaced Dirks for the rest of the game.

Dirks was 2-for-3 before leaving with the injury, raising his batting average to .314 on the season.

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Tigers Vs. Royals Final Score: Rick Porcello Back On Track As Offense Also Comes Alive In 9-3 Win

Rick Porcello made the necessary adjustments after a couple of really poor outings and the Tigers provided him with plenty of run support in Tuesday night's 9-3 win.

After a 1-2-3 top half of the first, the Tigers put five on the board in the bottom half thanks to six hits. The first four Tigers reached, two scored on a double by Miguel Cabrera and two more scored on an error by Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer. Andy Dirks and Jhonny Peralta each singled in another run off Royals starter Luke Hochevar in the inning to make it 5-0.

That's all the Tigers would really need as Porcello, who tinkered with his delivery, threw eight strong in only allowing three earned runs while striking out three opposite no walks in picking up his second win of the season.

Austin Jackson had his third four-hit game of the season and Cabrera, Dirks and Peralta each had two hits in the contest.

The rain shortened two-game series will continue on Wednesday with first pitch slated for 1:05 p.m. ET. Justin Verlander gets the start for the Tigers.

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Tigers Vs. Royals: Starting Lineups For Tuesday Night

Following a rainout on Monday, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals will kick off an abbreviated two-game set on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. The Tigers have lost six of their last seven and will look to get themselves on the right track against a Kansas City team who had lost 12-games in a row at one point in this early season.

Here are what the team's lineups will look like, courtesy of their respective twitter accounts:

Detroit:

1.) Austin Jackson - Center Field

2.) Brennan Boesch - Right Field

3.) Miguel Cabrera - Third Base

4.) Prince Fielder - First Base

5.) Andy Dirks - DH

6.) Alex Avila - Catcher

7.) Jhonny Peralta - Short Stop

8.) Ramon Santiago - Second Base

9.) Don Kelly - Left Field

Projected Starter: Rick Porcello

Kansas City:

1.) Jarrod Dyson - Center Field

2.) Alex Gordon - Left Field

3.) Billy Butler- DH

4.) Eric Hosmer - First Base

5.) Jeff Francoeur - Right Field

6.) Mike Moustakas - Third Base

7.) Yuniesky Betancourt - Second Base

8.) Humberto Quintero - Catcher

9.) Alcides Escobar - Short Stop

Projected Starter: Luke Hochevar

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Tigers Vs. Royals: Detroit, Rick Porcello Try To Shake Cold Streak

Rick Porcello will try to let some air out of his ERA Tuesday when the Detroit Tigers take on the Kansas City Royals.

Porcello started the season with a pair of gems but has gotten shelled in his last two outings. After two games Porcello was 1-0 with an ERA of 1.84 and eight strikeouts and one walk.

No such luck in the two games since. Porcello is 0-2 and has let his ERA balloon to 6.45. The April 21 loss to the Texas Rangers could perhaps be rationalized away because, well, it's Texas. But the April 26 loss to the Seattle Mariners is tougher to explain away. Against Seattle, Porcello gave up three runs in the first inning -- the same inning Texas tagged him for eight runs.

Kansas City will start Luke Hochevar, 2-1, who is 4-4 in his career against the Tigers with a 5.25 ERA. So far this season Hochever has a 4.98 ERA. Last time out he pitched 6.2 innings and gave up just two earned runs.

First pitch is set for 7:05 ET.

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Tigers Vs. Royals: Detroit Announces How Rain Out Will Affect Rotation

As a result of the mother nature induced off-day on Monday, Jim Leyland and the Tigers had to decide how they would operate their rotation going forward. I inaccurately guessed they might push the rotation back a day so that Justin Verlander would get an extra couple days off and pitch against the better Chicago White Sox on Friday night, but that's not how the Tigers will play it:

Porcello vs. Hochevar Tues., Verlander vs. Sanchez Wed. Below back to bullpen. By time they need 5th starter, Fister should be ready.

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) May 1, 2012

Due to Thursday's off-day, it appears Leyland doesn't want to give Verlander and co. too many days off before their next start. Even though Below has pitched very well out of the pen, this means he is no longer needed to start and he can continue to focus on being a shutdown reliever.

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Tigers Vs. Royals: First Game Of Series Postponed Due To Rain

Monday night's game between the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals has been postponed due to rain. The game started in a mere delay, but with rain on the radar until at least 8:30 p.m. ET, the decision was made to just postpone it and make it up at a later date:

Tigers-Royals game tonight has been postponed due to rain. Game has been rescheduled for Monday, September 24 at 7:05 p.m. #tigers

— Brian Britten (@BBritten_Tigers) April 30, 2012

September 24 was originally scheduled to be an off-day for both teams, but they agreed to play then rather than play a doubleheader during the first weekend of July, Kansas City's other visit to Detroit.

The Tigers haven't announced how the rotation will shake out as a result, but my guess is that everyone will get pushed back a day and Duane Below will still make his first start of the season tomorrow.

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Tigers Vs. Royals: Rain Delay At Comerica Park In Detroit

The Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals have had their game--scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET-- delayed due to rain Monday night.

We are currently in a rain delay at Comerica Park. #Tigers

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 30, 2012

Left-hander Duane Below is schedule to get his first start of the season, taking injured Doug Fister's place in the starting rotation. Fister will make a rehab start on Wednesday in Triple-A Toledo and is hopeful to return to the mound Monday in Seattle.

Below has pitched 12 innings in relief this season without surrendering an earned run. He will face off against Luke Hochevar, who is pitching for the Royals.

Here is the Tigers' lineup, via the Detroit Tigers Twitter account:

4/30 lineup vs Kansas City: Jackson CF, Boesch RF, Cabrera 3B, Fielder 1B, Dirks DH, Avila C, Peralta SS, Kelly LF, Santiago 2B. Below P.

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Tigers Vs. Royals Preview: Duane Below To Make First Start

The Detroit Tigers are looking to rebound against a struggling Kansas City Royals team. For more on the Tigers, go to Bless You Boys,