=== Detroit Tigers Team Report - September 8 === (My Sportsbook) - Two of the worst teams in the American League square off this evening when the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers continue their four-game set at Comerica Park. In the second game of the series on Tuesday, Calvin Pickering's RBI single snapped a seventh inning tie to help lift Kansas City to a 6-2 win. their last 16 contests. Carlos Pena and Craig Monroe each hit solo homers for the Tigers, who had their brief two-game winning streak snapped. Nate Robertson (12-8) allowed five runs on nine hits in six-plus innings to absorb the loss. The Tigers will pin its hopes tonight on righthander Jason Johnson, who has dropped his last four decisions. Johnson, who is 8-12 on the year, received a no-decision in his last start against the Royals on August 31 and allowed five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Johnson, who has pitched to a 4.58 ERA this season, is 2-0 lifetime versus the Royals with a 4.26 ERA in six starts. On the milestone front, one more home run from Bobby Higginson will make him the 10th Tiger this year with double-digit homers, tying a Major League record. That home run will also tie Higginson with Trammell for 12th in franchise history with 185. Monroe has a nine-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 20 of his last 21 games. The Royals hold a 10-7 edge over the Tigers in the season series and Kansas City is 24-12 against Detroit since the start of the 2003 campaign. Detroit is 33-33 in the Motor City. |
