(Sports Network) – Right-hander Max Scherzer makes his 10th career start
against the Kansas City Royals tonight when the Detroit Tigers return to
Kauffman Stadium to wrap up a two-game series.

Scherzer, a 12-game winner last season, boosted a personal-best win total to
14 in 2011 with an 18-2 rout of the Chicago White Sox in Sept. 4.

He’s 0-1 in two starts since, including a 6-1 defeat at Oakland in his last
outing on Sept. 15.

The Tigers, who’ve already clinched the American League’s Central Division,
are 5-5 in his last 10 starts and Scherzer, a 27-year-old native of St. Louis,
is 4-4 in nine meetings with the Royals.

The most recent matchup came Aug. 7 in Kansas City, when the hosts won, 4-3,
after touching Scherzer for four runs on six hits in five innings.

On Tuesday, Eric Hosmer finished 5-for-5 with a three-run homer, powering the
Royals to a 10-2 win.

Hosmer’s 18th home run of the season capped a six-run fourth inning for the
Royals, who had won seven straight games before a loss on Sunday.

Salvador Perez and Melky Cabrera both collected three hits, with Perez
matching Hosmer’s three RBI.

Luis Mendoza (1-0), making his season debut for the Royals after earning
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year honors, gave up two runs — one
earned — on six hits and walked three in seven innings.

Detroit starter Brad Penny (10-11) surrendered seven runs and 10 hits over
four frames.

The Royals counter with righty Felipe Paulino, who seeks his 10th major-league
win in his 85th appearance.

The 27-year-old, who pitched last season with Houston and began this year in
Colorado, earned his third win of 2011 with a 4-2 win at Seattle on Sept. 10,
in which he allowed two hits and two runs — with 11 strikeouts — in seven
innings.

He got a no-decision in a Kansas City win one start later and the Royals are
4-1 in his last five starts.

Paulino, who’s 9-31 in 40 big-league decisions, last pitched against Detroit
and got a no-decision in the Tigers’ 4-3 win on Aug. 5. He is 1-0 with a 2.63
earned run average against them in two career starts.

Detroit is 10-7 against the Royals this season.

The Sports Network

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Tampa Bay Rays’ Desmond Jennings, right, slides home past Kansas City Royals catcher Brayan Pena to score on a double by Johnny Damon during the sixth inning of a baseball game on Saturday, July 23, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo.

Desmond Jennings’ strong season debut was not enough to give the Tampa Bay Rays a victory.
Jennings doubled, singled, walked twice, stole a base, scored two runs and drove in another in a 5-4 loss in 10 innings to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.
Jennings is a highly touted prospect, who was just called up from Triple-A Durham.
“He had a wonderful day,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
The speedy Jennings scored from first on a Johnny Damon double to shallow center in the sixth that gave the Rays a 4-2 advantage.
“That was fabulous,” Maddon said. “That’s the kind of instinctive baserunning we like about him. He made the play happen and gave (third base coach) Tom (Foley) a chance to send him. He put us in a position to do that.”
Said Jennings: “There were two outs when Johnny hit it. I knew I was going to third. I didn’t know what happened with the hit, but I saw him Foley when I got to third and kept going.”
Jennings hit .275 with 12 home runs, 19 doubles and an International League-leading 68 runs when he was promoted.
“It gave me a little confidence,” Jennings said of his production. “I felt good against the lefty.”
Joakim Soria worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 10th and Eric Hosmer doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the inning.
Brandon Gomes (0-1) threw two pitches in the 10th and took the loss. Billy Butler singled to right to lead off the inning. Mike Aviles ran for Butler and scored on Hosmer’s double to left-center.
The Royals have won four straight to match their season-high winning streak.
The Rays loaded the bases in the 10th with none out, but failed to score. Rookie Aaron Crow, the Royals’ representative at the All-Star game, began the inning by walking Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton. He was replaced by Soria, who gave up a single to Matt Joyce to load the bases.
Soria (5-3) got Casey Kotchman on a comebacker, forcing out Longoria at home. He struck out pinch hitter Sam Fuld and Elliot Johnson looking to end the 10th.
Alex Gordon’s two-out double in the bottom of the ninth scored Alcides Escobar to tie the score at 4-4.
Kyle Farnsworth, who pitched for the Royals the past two seasons, blew his fourth save in 23 attempts.
Jennings led off the game with a triple and scored on Ben Zobrist’s one-out double off Royals left-hander Jeff Francis. The Rays could have added more in the first, but left the bases loaded on Kotchman’s ground out to end the inning.
Jeff Niemann left after six innings, holding the Royals to three runs, two earned, and seven hits, while striking out four and walking none. Niemann is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in four July starts.
Johnson tripled to lead off the second and scored on Jennings’ double.
Mike Moustakas, who drove in the first three Kansas City runs, doubled home Butler, who had reached on an Longoria fielding error, and Hosmer, who had singled, to the score at 2-2 in the fourth. Moustakas’ sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Hosmer.
Zobrist and Longoria hit back-to-back doubles in the fifth to put the Rays back on top 3-2.
Francis, who is winless in his past seven starts, allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings, while striking out six and walking two.
Notes: Damon’s double was his 504th, tying him with Roberto Alomar for 49th on the career list. … Escobar, the only Royal to play in all the first 100 games, was back in the lineup Saturday. He left in the sixth inning Friday after being spiked in the right shin by Fuld when he slid into second base to break up a double play. … Jennings became the 13th rookie used by the Rays this season. That’s the most by any big league club. The Royals have played 11 rookies, including eight pitchers, this season. … Rookie RHP Greg Holland struck out six in three innings, matching the Royals high for strikeouts this season by a reliever.

By Matthew Hays

– Staff Writer

Follow , and

Like SB Nation Kansas City on Facebook.

May 19, 2011 – The streak is over.

Former Ranger Jeff Francoeur singled to center in the 10th inning, with a runner on third as the Royals defeated the Rangers 2-1, improving to 1-3 on the current homestand. With the win, the Royals now sit at 21-22. I-70 rivals, the St Louis Cardinals will be in town over the weekend.

You can’t fault the pitching tonight as Luke Hochevar threw 8 2/3 innings, giving up the lone run in the second inning on Chris Davis’ third home run of the season. Texas got two on in the ninth before manager Ned Yost removed Hochevar, giving way to Greg Holland. On the fourth pitch, David Murphy flew out to center to keep the lead at just one run.

Derek Holland had an equally impressive start, throwing eight innings, allowing one run on nine hits.

The Royals had the heart of the order batting in the bottom of the ninth, with Eric Hosmer leading off. On Wednesday evening, Hosmer homered in the ninth of closer Neftali Feliz, and facing Holland tonight he singled up the middle before Holland exited. Feliz entered to face Francoeur. Francoeur promptly singled to right, setting the table for Kansas City with two on and no out, the best scoring chance of the evening.

Billy Butler and Wilson Betemit flew out, then Feliz threw a wild pitch to move the runners up to second and third with Mike Aviles at the plate. Facing a full count, Aviles singled the 11th pitch of the at-bat up the middle to score Hosmer and tie the game. Aviles had been in an 0-for-12 slump, Feliz blew a save opportunity for the second evening in a row. 

The Royals weren’t finished as Feliz walked Brayan Pena to load the bases and Mark Lowe came on for the Rangers to face Alcides Escobar. Feliz had throw 35 pitches in the inning. Escobar grounded out to Lowe, sending the teams in extra innings for the second night in a row.

Kansas City’s Holland sent the Rangers down in order in the 10th, with the top of the Royals order at-bat in the bottom of the 10th.

After Darren Oliver got Alex Gordon out, Melky Cabrera singled, as Hosmer singled on a bullet to right, allowing Cabrera to move up to third. Texas manager Ron Washington again went to his bullpen brining in Cody Eppley to face Francoeur. Francoeur fought off many pitches before coming through with the seventh walk off win of the year, singling to center for the win. 

Greg Holland picked up the win and is 1-0 after his 2011 debut, while Oliver took the loss and falls to 1-5. A full boxscore can be viewed here.

Read More: Billy Butler (DH – KAN), Alex Gordon (LF – KAN), David Murphy (LF – TEX), Melky Cabrera (CF – KAN), Wilson Betemit (3B – KAN), Jeff Francoeur (RF – KAN), Brayan Pena (C – KAN), Luke Hochevar (P – KAN), Chris Davis (1B – TEX), Mike Aviles (3B – KAN), Neftali Feliz (P – TEX), Greg Holland (P – KAN), Eric Hosmer (1B – KAN), Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals

NEW YORK (AP)—Eric Hosmer hit his first career homer then delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, sending the Kansas City Royals to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.

Hosmer’s homer was a soaring shot into the second deck in right field in the fourth inning, hours before the outcome was decided. Wilson Betemit had a tying RBI single in the eighth for Kansas City and Jeff Francoeur drove in a run during the 10th inning.

Joakim Soria (3-0) allowed Curtis Granderson’s matching RBI single in the bottom half of the 10th, picking up the win after blowing his second save in eight tries this season.

Louis Coleman pitched the 11th for his first career save, helping the Royals end a seven-game road skid and win for the sixth time when trailing in the eighth inning or later.

Buddy Carlyle (0-1) walked Chris Getz to lead off the 11th inning, and Luis Ayala came into the game to face Alcides Escobar, who laid down a sacrifice bunt. Jarrod Dyson followed with an infield single and Cabrera was walked before Hosmer’s go-ahead fly to center field.

Granderson also hit a solo homer for the Yankees, and Jorge Posada had a pair of hits and drove in a run. Bu Derek Jeter was 0 for 6 and New York left 15 runners on base.

The Yankees led 2-0 when Hosmer connected off A.J. Burnett in the fourth inning. The fan who grabbed the ball in right field tossed it back onto the field, and it made its way back to the Royals dugout by the time Hosmer had finished rounding the bases.

The Yankees carried their meager 2-1 lead into the eighth, when reliever David Robertson walked Cabrera and Billy Butler. Betemit followed moments later with his tying two-out single.

Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth for the Yankees, who put two aboard in the bottom half of the inning, only to see Posada strike out on a full-count pitch.

The Royals pulled ahead in the 10th when Cabrera walked against his former team and Hosmer grounded into a fielder’s choice. He advanced to second on a wild pitch before Francoeur lined the seventh pitch he saw from Carlyle into the gap in right-center.

All of that, of course, came long after the starters were gone.

Burnett allowed only one hit—Hosmer’s homer—over seven innings. He also walked five and hit a batter, though none of them scored.

Vin Mazzaro started for Kansas City in place of Bruce Chen, who went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his side. The former Oakland A’s starter was just as erratic as Burnett, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks in just four innings.

Oddly, none of the batters he walked came around to score, either.

Royals reliever Nathan Adcock also hit a batter, beaning Robinson Cano above the bill of his helmet with two outs and nobody on base in the fifth inning.

Cano immediately went down in the batter’s box as the ball ricocheted toward the Royals dugout, then sat up as manager Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue came out to check on him. Cano started walking toward first before the Yankees decided to bring in Eduardo Nunez as a pinch runner. He remained in the game to play second base.

Things got a bit testy in the sixth, when Burnett plunked Francoeur in the shoulder with a runner already on base. Although it didn’t appear to be retaliation for hitting Cano, plate umpire Ed Rapuano nonetheless warned both dugouts.

NOTES: Yankees RHP Rafael Soriano had an MRI exam on his ailing right elbow, which revealed minor inflammation. Girardi called him day to day. … The Yankees activated Ayala from the disabled list and optioned RHP Lance Pendleton to Triple-A. … Royals OF Alex Gordon got the day off from the starting lineup.

NEW YORK, May 11 (UPI) — Eric Hosmer completed a big game with an 11th-inning sacrifice fly Wednesday that gave the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees.

Playing in his fourth major league contest after being called up last week, Hosmer hit his first career homer in the fourth, scored a go-ahead run in the 10th and then, after New York had tied it in the bottom of the inning, drove in the game-winner.

The Yankees outhit the Royals 12-4, but could not extend their brief two-game winning streak and fell back into a tie with Tampa Bay for the lead in the American League East.

Hosmer reached on a fielder’s choice grounder in the 10th, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Jeff Francoeur to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

New York came back to tie it on a two-out, RBI single by Curtis Granderson off Joakim Soria.

Kansas City loaded the bases with one out in the 11th against Buddy Carlyle (0-1) and Hosmer then lifted a sacrifice fly to center on an 0-2 pitch.

That gave Soria (3-0) the win and Louis Coleman came on to work a perfect bottom of the 11th for his first save.

The Royals had lost three of their last four.

NEW YORK (AP)—Eric Hosmer’s(notes) family rose from their seats at Yankee
Stadium, watching his first career home run go soaring into the second deck in
right field.

They were probably more excited about his sacrifice fly about three hours
later.

Hosmer drove in Chris Getz(notes) with a shallow flyball in the 11th inning,
capping a late comeback and lifting the Royals to a 4-3 win over the New York
Yankees.

“They’re both big, but winning the game is what we come here for,” Hosmer
said of his two highlight hits. “I fell down 0-2 to a tough pitcher out of the
bullpen, knowing Getz is on third and can run, and just tried to get it out in
play and get him home.”

Wilson Betemit(notes) had a tying RBI single in the eighth inning for the Royals,
and Jeff Francoeur(notes) drove in a run during the 10th inning. Joakim Soria(notes) (3-0)
allowed Curtis Granderson’s(notes) matching RBI single in the bottom half of the 10th,
but still managed to pick up the win after blowing his second save in eight
tries this season.

Louis Coleman(notes) pitched the 11th for his first career save, helping the Royals
end a seven-game road skid and win for the sixth time when trailing in the
eighth inning or later.

Buddy Carlyle(notes) (0-1) walked Getz to lead off the 11th inning, and Luis Ayala(notes)
came into the game to face Alcides Escobar(notes), who laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Jarrod Dyson(notes) followed with an infield single and Cabrera was walked before
Hosmer’s go-ahead fly to center field.

Granderson also hit a solo homer for the Yankees, and Jorge Posada(notes) had a
pair of hits and drove in a run. But Derek Jeter(notes) was 0 for 6 and New York left
15 runners on base.

The Yankees led 2-0 when Hosmer connected off A.J. Burnett(notes) in the fourth
inning. The fan who grabbed the ball in right field tossed it back onto the
field, and it made its way back to the Royals dugout by the time Hosmer had
finished rounding the bases.

“My reaction was elation—and just a giant deflating of a balloon, a sense
of relief,” said Hosmer’s father, Mike. “I can breathe easy again. I can just
sit back and enjoy and watch the game now. Whatever happens from here on out is
gravy.”

The Yankees clinged to their 2-1 lead into the eighth, when reliever David
Robertson(notes) walked Cabrera and Billy Butler(notes). Betemit followed moments later with
his tying two-out single.

Mariano Rivera(notes) pitched a scoreless ninth for the Yankees, who put two aboard
in the bottom half of the inning, only to see Posada strike out on a full-count
pitch.

The Royals pulled ahead in the 10th when Cabrera walked against his former
team and Hosmer grounded into a fielder’s choice. He advanced to second on a
wild pitch before Francoeur lined the seventh pitch he saw from Carlyle into the
gap in right-center.

All of that, of course, came long after the starters were gone.

Burnett allowed only one hit—Hosmer’s homer—over seven erratic innings.
He walked five and hit a batter, though none of those baserunners scored.

“The bottom line is you don’t want to walk guys and put guys on, but you
have to make the pitches,” Burnett said. “I just kept running positive
thoughts through my mind.”

Vin Mazzaro(notes) started for Kansas City in place of Bruce Chen(notes), who went on the
disabled list with a strained muscle in his side. The former Oakland A’s starter
was just as erratic as Burnett, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks in
just four innings.

Oddly, none of the batters he walked came around to score, either.

Royals reliever Nathan Adcock also hit a batter, beaning Robinson Cano(notes) above
the bill of his helmet with two outs and nobody on base in the fifth inning.

Cano immediately went down in the batter’s box as the ball ricocheted toward
the Royals dugout, then sat up as manager Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue
came out to check on him. Cano started walking toward first before the Yankees
decided to bring in Eduardo Nunez(notes) as a pinch runner. He remained in the game to
play second base.

Cano was taken for a CT scan. He’s considered day to day.

“That was an absolute accident,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Things got a bit testy in the sixth, when Burnett plunked Francoeur in the
shoulder with a runner already on base. Although it didn’t appear to be
retaliation for hitting Cano, plate umpire Ed Rapuano nonetheless warned both
dugouts.

“It’s pretty frustrating, considering the way A.J. pitched,” the Yankees’
Brett Gardner(notes) said. “It’s probably the longest game we’ve played all year and
we came up on the short end.”

NOTES: Yankees RHP Rafael Soriano(notes) had an MRI on his ailing right elbow,
which revealed minor inflammation. Girardi called him day to day. … The
Yankees activated Ayala from the disabled list and optioned RHP Lance Pendleton(notes)
to Triple-A. … Royals OF Alex Gordon(notes) got the day off from the starting lineup.