Got it done when needed, got stronger as the game went o

DETROIT -- Omar Infante showed the Detroit Tigers what theyre missing. Rashard Lewis Jersey . Infante hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had an RBI single in a four-run fifth against former teammate Justin Verlander, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Tigers 11-8 Monday night. Infante became expendable in Detroit last November when the franchise traded first baseman Prince Fielder to Texas for second baseman Ian Kinsler. The next month, Infante signed a $30.25 million, four-year contract with the Royals, and their manager is glad he did. "I didnt really think much about Omar last year with the lineup that they had," Royals skipper Ned Yost acknowledged. "I would try to pitch around this guy and pitch around this guy to get to Omar, and Omar constantly just beat our brains in offensively. At about the midway point, I started realizing how really good he was." With 90-plus games left this season, the Tigers are finding out how vulnerable they are and how good Kansas City is in the tightly contested AL Central. The Royals have won a season-high eight straight to pull within a half-game of Detroit atop the division. Kansas City has won 11 of 13 since trailing the Tigers by 6 1/2 games at the start of the month. "We got on a nice little run here and weve made up some ground," Yost said. Detroit scored six runs in the ninth inning and pulled within three on J.D. Martinezs two-out grand slam off Donnie Joseph. Michael Mariot struck out Austin Jackson looking for the final out. Jason Vargas (7-2) gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks to win his third straight. Verlander (6-7) allowed seven earned runs in consecutive starts for the first time in his career, giving up a season-high 12 hits and striking out two over six innings. He got off to a good start, retiring the Royals in order on 10 pitches in the first inning, and pitched four scoreless innings before getting roughed up. The Royals took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning when Billy Butler followed Infantes RBI single with a three-run double off Verlander. "Our confidence level is as high as it can get," Butler said. "I dont think it is as much him as it is were going really good right now." Infante cleared the left-field fences with his third homer this year with two on to make it 7-2 in the sixth, leading fans to boo Verlander, who is in the second season of his seven-year, $180 million deal. "I dont blame the fans for booing," Verlander said. "They are frustrated with me, just like Im frustrated with myself. I would have probably booed myself tonight. Theyve cheered me a lot of times, and they will cheer me again." The jeers kept coming in the next inning when Kansas City scored four runs -- one earned -- on four hits and two errors off Evan Reed, who failed to retire any Royals as their lead grew to 11-2. The Royals finished with a season high in runs and hits (17) on a steamy night in the Motor City. Detroit hurt its chances of winning the opener of the four-game series early in the game. Both teams lost a player to cramps. Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter left the game in the fourth with a cramp in his right hamstring. "Its not a strain," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus insisted. Royals catcher Salvador Perez was replaced in the seventh because of cramps in both calves. "Hes fine," Yost said. "They made him drink a bunch of fluids and gave him an IV." NOTES: Kansas City RHP Yordano Ventura (4-5) will start against Detroit RHP Max Scherzer (8-2) on Tuesday night, when the Royals will have a chance to move into first place and push the Tigers to second in the division for the first time this season. ... Kansas Citys winning streak is the longest active streak in the majors and its best since winning nine in a row from July 22 to Aug. 1 last year. Penny Hardaway Jersey . Now he has a complete game. Scherzer tossed a three-hitter in his 179th career start for his first complete game and Victor Martinez hit his 16th homer to lead the Detroit Tigers a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Magic Jerseys 2020 .C. -- When Michael Jordan speaks, people still listen. https://www.cheapmagiconline.com/ . - Quarterback Brady Quinn says he has been released by the Miami Dolphins. Every night of the Stanley Cup playoffs, TSN hockey analyst and former NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan breaks down each goalies performance. Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings (4) – On the early goal, he was late to get to the post and Saad banked it off of him. He activates in reverse VH and it hits his shoulder and banks in. On the second goal, he had no chance at it redirected to Toews for the open net. Third goal was a bad one that skipped and hit the top of his pad, momentum Killer after just battling back to tie the game 12 seconds earlier. It was a tough first period allowing three goals on seven shots. Good saves on Kane, Toews and Keith early in second. And big saves on Kane and Hossa on the 5 on 3 as well as a huge left pad save on Shaw back door. Fourth goal goes off of Muzzin shortside, who was also screening him, after he knocked his stick out of hand. Good saves on Shaw and Kane while down 4 to 3 to keep them in game. Big saves with 4:30 left on Hossa and Toews in tight. Left pad save on Bickell was great but not as great as the pad save on Shaw with five seconds left in the third, based on the timing of it. Jameer Nelson Jersey. Big right pad save on Saad early in OT, and tracked the puck well through traffic as Chicago pressed. Got it done when needed, got stronger as the game went on. Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks (3) – He had a good save on Kopitar early and got some help from a post on Toffoli. The first goal was a bad rebound that Carter bats out of the air. The second goal hits Rozsival in from before the rebound is fired blocker side. He made a good glove save on Williams late in the first to keep it at 3-2. Not tested much early in second, but a good save on Williams side to side play. Toffolis goal was a bounce just like the Toews goal in the first; no chance on the play. Good save early on Pearson, not tested much. The fourth goal, by Gaborik, is a bad rebound that punches out and hits him, then drops on his stick for the open net. Great left pad save on Brown with 33 seconds left to send it to OT. He didnt have much of a chance on the game-winning goal, screened and hits Leddy in front and goes over his right shoulder. Tough way to lose. ' ' '

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