Gildenberreich » jackal by Noah himself, I accept your hallowed ta

DETROIT -- Max Scherzer figured he had squandered another lead when Alex Gordons fifth-inning drive sailed down the line in right field. "When that came off the bat, I was sure that thing was gone, and I was stunned when I turned around and realized it had gone foul," Scherzer said. After that reprieve, Scherzer walked Gordon and retired the next two batters to escape a bases-loaded jam, and the Detroit Tigers went on to beat Kansas City 4-2 on Tuesday night to pull within percentage points of the Royals atop the AL Central. Rajai Davis and J.D. Martinez homered for the Tigers, who can sweep the three-game series with a win Wednesday night. Scherzer (16-5) allowed a run and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. Kansas City was down 3-1 in the fifth when Gordons deep fly to right went just foul with two on. Gordon walked to load the bases with one out, but Salvador Perez lined out and Eric Hosmer struck out. Joe Nathan worked out of another jam in the ninth to earn his 30th save in 36 chances. He allowed two infield singles to start the inning before closing out the game with two strikeouts sandwiched around a picked-off runner. Pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson was the man who was picked off second. "The hardest part about that play was not getting too fired up and throwing the ball away," Nathan said. "We so clearly had him that the only way it was going to get messed up was if I didnt get the ball to (second baseman Ian Kinsler). As it turned out, I didnt even need to make a great throw, but I made a pretty good one anyway." Kansas Citys Jason Vargas (11-8) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out six and walked three. Scherzer had allowed 14 earned runs over his previous four starts -- not terrible, but below his standards as the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. Hes had a hard time protecting leads lately. On Tuesday, the Tigers led 3-0 in the fifth when Omar Infante hit an RBI single for the Royals -- but Scherzer avoided the big inning. Martinez opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first, and Davis two-run homer in the second made it 3-0. Martinezs 20th homer of the season gave Detroit a 4-1 lead in the fifth. HEAD TO HEAD The Tigers are trying for their fourth straight AL Central title, and the hallmark of this run has been their ability to beat their closest competitors in the division head to head. Last year, Detroit went 15-4 against Cleveland and finished one game ahead of the Indians. The Tigers are 11-4 against the Royals this year, and the race is now in a virtual tie. Detroit has one more win and one more loss than Kansas City -- and the Royals still have to finish a suspended game in which they trail Cleveland 4-2 in the 10th. "You have to be conscious of the standings at this time of the year, but being tied for first doesnt mean a thing when we step on the field (Wednesday)," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. TOO MANY MISTAKES The normally sure-handed Royals made two errors Tuesday after making two in the series opener. Then there was Dysons mistake in the ninth, which eliminated a crucial baserunner. The Royals had men on first and second for the dangerous Gordon, but he struck out. Then Dyson was picked off second. Manager Ned Yost said he was hoping Dyson and fellow pinch-runner Terrance Gore could pull off a double steal. "Dysons the lead runner, Dysons going to find a spot when he can get a jump and go," Yost said. "Gores the tail runner. Hes going to be right behind him." The Tigers arent known for their impressive fielding, but Kinsler made a crucial diving stop to his left on Josh Willinghams grounder in the eighth. The Royals ended up scoring a run that inning, but that was it. TRAINERS ROOM Royals: Yost said he would not have used star closer Greg Holland on Tuesday, but he is close to returning from a triceps injury. ... RHP Liam Hendriks (1-1) is listed as Thursday nights starter against Boston -- LHP Danny Duffy is missing that turn in the rotation because of a sore shoulder. Tigers: Detroit expects RHP Joakim Soria (left oblique strain) to be activated from the disabled list Wednesday. UP NEXT Kansas Citys James Shields (13-7) faces Detroits Rick Porcello (15-10) on Wednesday, although the possibility of rain puts that game in some doubt. Shields is coming off a 1-0 win over the Yankees in New York on Friday. Kris Letang Jersey .The Ottawa Senators winger was relegated to a corner seat in the locker-room to allow Daniel Alfredsson to return to his regular stall one last time. Chad Ruhwedel Jersey . After the loss, White refused to make good on the bet, instead offering Hoyt tickets to a Bears game. http://www.penguinsauthenticofficial.com/justin-schultz-jersey/ . -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat. Paul Coffey Jersey . -- Jonathan Vilmas season is over and his future on the football field is in doubt. Jack Johnson Jersey . Coach Randy Carlyle didnt know the severity of Bozaks injury. Bozak left the bench and went down the tunnel early in the second period, returned to play a handful of shifts and then did play in the third.TSN and the Canadian Curling Association confirmed Sunday that new TSN sportscaster Ron Burgundy will make his Canadian broadcasting debut during the opening day of the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings on Sunday, Dec. 1 beginning at 2pm et/11am pt. The announcement was made during TSNs broadcast of the 101st Grey Cup. Live from Winnipeg, Burgundy will join TSNs fellow "legendary" curling broadcaster Vic Rauter to call live game action during the networks coverage of the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings opening draw. "Marked by the gods of broadcasting and placed into this shimmering green sphere like a golden egg in hay, chosen like an unclean jackal by Noah himself, I accept your hallowed task and sing out with a battle cry worthy of your love and your wisdom," said Burgundy. "And that song is, Winnipeg, get ready to paint the town Burgundy!" "Its an honour to work with such an esteemed colleague," said Rauter.dddddddddddd. "Im a huge fan of his work. Who are we talking about again?" One of the biggest events in Canadian curling, Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings determines which team will represent Canada at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. TSN has complete coverage of Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings from December 1 through to the finals on December 7 and 8. Ron Burgundy is featured in Paramount Pictures Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, opening in theatres everywhere on Dec. 20. About Ron Burgundy Ron Burgundy is an award-winning News Anchorman and poet. He lives with his wife, Veronica, and dog, Baxter, in San Diego, California. When he is not making models of eighteenth-century sailing ships, he can often be found on the deck of his own boat, The Shining MLady, or supervising archeological digs in and around his backyard. ' ' '