(Sports Network) - Johnny Damon could be playing his final game with Detroit this evening when the Tigers continue their three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park.
Damon was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox on Monday and has until Wednesday to decide if he will waive his no-trade clause to re-join the club he helped win the 2004 World Series title. He has stated, though, that he is leaning towards staying in Detroit.
"At this moment, I'm not sure I want to leave Detroit for that," Damon said. "I enjoy playing here. I enjoy the kids I'm playing for, the coaching staff. But obviously, [Red Sox manager] Terry Francona is amazing. But it's something that I'm going to have to think long and hard over."
Damon's contract requires his approval to be traded to any team except for eight on a list he submitted before the season began. The Yankees and Rays are on that list -- as are the Rangers, Padres, Giants, White Sox and Royals, plus another National League team -- but the Red Sox are not.
On Monday, Damon had two hits and an RBI, while Ryan Raburn went 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead Detroit to a 12-3 rout in the opener with the Royals. Jhonny Peralta added a pair of hits and three RBI, while Brandon Inge also drove in three for the Tigers, who have won four straight after dropping the previous three games.
Jeremy Bonderman (7-9) tossed six effective innings and snapped a three-start slide in the process. He surrendered two runs on eight hits, struck out three and did not issue a walk.
"I dropped my arm angle a little bit and got more life on the ball," Bonderman said of his change in mechanics.
Gregor Blanco and Billy Butler each had two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which had won five of seven entering the series opener.
Bruce Chen (8-7), a winner of three of his last four starts coming in, lasted only 4 1/3 innings in this one. The journeyman righty yielded five runs on as many hits and walked five with a pair of strikeouts in taking the loss.
"I didn't pitch well at all. I was behind hitters and I was just trying to be too fine," Chen admitted.
Detroit will pin its hopes tonight on right-hander Rick Porcello, who has lost seven of his last eight decisions. Porcello's latest setback came on Thursday in New York, as the Yankees battered him for six runs and six hits in five innings, dropping him to 5-11 to go along with a 5.76 earned run average.
Porcello did not get a decision against the Royals the last time he faced them, but is 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA in four starts.
Kansas City will counter with righty Kyle Davies, who is 6-7 with a 5.14 ERA. Davies did not get a decision on Thursday against Cleveland, but pitched well, surrendering three runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings of his team's 7-3 loss.
Davies beat the Tigers back on April 14, but is just 2-6 lifetime against them with a 5.40 ERA in nine starts.
On the milestone watch, Inge has 999 career hits and with one more would become the 29th player to reach the 1,000-hit milestone with the Tigers. Also, Kansas City manager Ned Yost is two wins shy of 1,000 for his career.
The Royals have split their 10 meetings with the Tigers this season.