Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers mlb live streaming online baseball feed video highlights opener radio commentary espn 360 gamecast april 10, 2011 Production at the plate from Billy Butler isn't much of a surprise for the Kansas City Royals, but Alex Gordon is finally emerging as a potent offensive threat in 2011.
Butler and Gordon look to continue their hot play as the Royals attempt to take a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday.
Butler has put together a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's batted .444 (12 for 27) with two doubles, two homers, five RBIs and seven runs. The designated hitter's strong start came after he hit a career-best .318 with 15 homers and a team-leading 78 RBIs last year.
1:05 PM ET, April 10, 2011
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
Pitching Matchup
Kansas City Detroit
Luke Hochevar
0-1, 6.17 ERA
Last appearance:
4/05 vs CHW
6.0 IP, 5 ER
Dec = ND Rick Porcello
0-1, 9.00 ERA
Last appearance:
4/04 at BAL
5.0 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss
Gameday Lineups
NO. Kansas City Detroit
1. C. Getz, 2B A. Jackson, CF
2. M. Cabrera, CF W. Rhymes, 2B
3. A. Gordon, LF B. Boesch, RF
4. B. Butler, 1B M. Cabrera, 1B
5. K. Ka'aihue, DH V. Martinez, DH
6. J. Francoeur, RF R. Raburn, LF
7. W. Betemit, 3B J. Peralta, SS
8. M. Treanor, C A. Avila, C
9. A. Escobar, SS B. Inge, 3B
His production shouldn't come as a surprise for the Royals (5-3), but Gordon's .378 average may be proof that he's living up to the lofty expectations after Kansas City drafted him second overall in 2005.
The left fielder hit .244 over his previous four seasons, but was outstanding during spring training by posting a .459 average with six homers and 23 RBIs.
"Honestly, I think I'm looser, I don't think I'm trying to crush the ball every time, I think I'm ready to hit the ball every time instead of getting caught in-between sometimes," Gordon told the team's official website. "That's mainly what I think the difference is."
Manager Ned Yost sees a different change and is showing confidence in Gordon by batting him third while dropping Butler to cleanup.
"His swing's flatter which allows him more time through the strike zone," Yost said. "His bat's in the strike zone longer and he produces more offense."
Gordon and Butler have combined for seven of the Royals 16 hits in this series. They had three of Kansas City's five in a 3-1 victory Saturday after falling in the series opener on Friday.
Butler has a .344 career average against Detroit (3-5), collecting at least one hit in 21 consecutive meetings while compiling a .388 average.
Luke Hochevar (0-1, 6.17 ERA), who gets the start in the finale, may not mind seeing him continue that streak as he tries to show improvement after struggling through his first two appearances, serving up three homers while hitting two batters in 11 2/3 innings.
The right-hander allowed six runs -- five earned -- with seven hits and two walks in six innings of a 7-6, 12-inning win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
Hochevar is 1-1 with an 8.03 ERA while giving up four homers in three games, including two starts, in Detroit.
The Tigers have alternated wins and losses over the last six games, hitting .333 with six home runs and 22 runs in those victories compared to .204 with two homers and seven runs in the defeats.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera, hitting .333 this season, is 6 for 11 with three homers and five RBIs over the last three victories, but just 1 for 10 while driving in one run in those losses.
He went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Saturday, but is 9 for 17 against Hochevar.
Rick Porcello is trying to rebound from a difficult season debut, as he surrendered five runs and nine hits in five innings of a 5-1 loss at Baltimore. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 4.34 ERA over his last six starts against the Royals.
Butler and Gordon look to continue their hot play as the Royals attempt to take a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday.
Butler has put together a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's batted .444 (12 for 27) with two doubles, two homers, five RBIs and seven runs. The designated hitter's strong start came after he hit a career-best .318 with 15 homers and a team-leading 78 RBIs last year.
1:05 PM ET, April 10, 2011
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
Kansas City Detroit
Luke Hochevar
0-1, 6.17 ERA
Last appearance:
4/05 vs CHW
6.0 IP, 5 ER
Dec = ND Rick Porcello
0-1, 9.00 ERA
Last appearance:
4/04 at BAL
5.0 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss
Gameday Lineups
NO. Kansas City Detroit
1. C. Getz, 2B A. Jackson, CF
2. M. Cabrera, CF W. Rhymes, 2B
3. A. Gordon, LF B. Boesch, RF
4. B. Butler, 1B M. Cabrera, 1B
5. K. Ka'aihue, DH V. Martinez, DH
6. J. Francoeur, RF R. Raburn, LF
7. W. Betemit, 3B J. Peralta, SS
8. M. Treanor, C A. Avila, C
9. A. Escobar, SS B. Inge, 3B
His production shouldn't come as a surprise for the Royals (5-3), but Gordon's .378 average may be proof that he's living up to the lofty expectations after Kansas City drafted him second overall in 2005.
The left fielder hit .244 over his previous four seasons, but was outstanding during spring training by posting a .459 average with six homers and 23 RBIs.
"Honestly, I think I'm looser, I don't think I'm trying to crush the ball every time, I think I'm ready to hit the ball every time instead of getting caught in-between sometimes," Gordon told the team's official website. "That's mainly what I think the difference is."
Manager Ned Yost sees a different change and is showing confidence in Gordon by batting him third while dropping Butler to cleanup.
"His swing's flatter which allows him more time through the strike zone," Yost said. "His bat's in the strike zone longer and he produces more offense."
Gordon and Butler have combined for seven of the Royals 16 hits in this series. They had three of Kansas City's five in a 3-1 victory Saturday after falling in the series opener on Friday.
Butler has a .344 career average against Detroit (3-5), collecting at least one hit in 21 consecutive meetings while compiling a .388 average.
Luke Hochevar (0-1, 6.17 ERA), who gets the start in the finale, may not mind seeing him continue that streak as he tries to show improvement after struggling through his first two appearances, serving up three homers while hitting two batters in 11 2/3 innings.
The right-hander allowed six runs -- five earned -- with seven hits and two walks in six innings of a 7-6, 12-inning win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
Hochevar is 1-1 with an 8.03 ERA while giving up four homers in three games, including two starts, in Detroit.
The Tigers have alternated wins and losses over the last six games, hitting .333 with six home runs and 22 runs in those victories compared to .204 with two homers and seven runs in the defeats.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera, hitting .333 this season, is 6 for 11 with three homers and five RBIs over the last three victories, but just 1 for 10 while driving in one run in those losses.
He went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Saturday, but is 9 for 17 against Hochevar.
Rick Porcello is trying to rebound from a difficult season debut, as he surrendered five runs and nine hits in five innings of a 5-1 loss at Baltimore. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 4.34 ERA over his last six starts against the Royals.
