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DETROIT -- Its been over a decade since the Kansas City Royals were in first place this late in the season, and try as he might, manager Ned Yost couldnt totally downplay the achievement. He just wants it kept in perspective. "Its nice. Weve got a lot of games to play. We dont get all geeked up," Yost said. "Its better than the alternative, trust me." Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas homered as part of a seven-run second inning, and the Royals displaced the Detroit Tigers atop the AL Central on Tuesday night with an 11-4 victory, their ninth in a row. Kansas City is in first place this late in the season for the first time since 2003, according to STATS. The Royals were leading the division in late August that year, only to finish third at 83-79. They have not made the post-season since winning the World Series in 1985. "A lot of games left, so it really doesnt matter, but to say youre in first place, it feels pretty good," designated hitter Billy Butler said. "Being in first place any time is good -- even if its after the first game." Gordon and Moustakas hit two-run shots off Max Scherzer, and Kansas City has won the first two games of this four-game series emphatically. The Royals, who trailed the Tigers by seven games after a May 20 loss, now lead Detroit by a half-game. Scherzer (8-3) yielded a career high-tying 10 runs in four-plus innings. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner allowed the first eight batters of the second inning to reach base, with Kansas City scoring six runs before making an out. "Im just not putting guys away with two strikes. Thats my problem," Scherzer said. "Ive taken punches on the chin before, and Ive come back. Im not worried about that. I just have to get back to where Im putting guys away." Scherzer did strike out five in the game. Yordano Ventura (5-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings. Ian Kinsler hit a solo homer for Detroit. After winning 86 games in 2013, Kansas City is hoping to unseat the Tigers, who have won the last three division titles. Detroit looked headed for a fourth straight year at the top after a 27-12 start, but now the Tigers are facing a surprising number of questions about their starting rotation, which was expected to be among the best in baseball. Justin Verlander has slumped badly over the last month -- he took the loss in Kansas Citys 11-8 victory in the series opener Monday. Scherzer threw his first career shutout last week, but the Royals tagged him for 10 hits in his next start Tuesday. Gordon opened the scoring with his two-run drive to right field, and Moustakas homer made it 4-0. Omar Infante added a two-run single before Eric Hosmer finally made the first out of the second inning on a tapper to the pitcher. Some fans cheered sarcastically, even though another run came home on the play to make it 7-0. Verlander and Scherzer combined to allow 17 runs in the first two games of this series. Thats the most ever by two teammates with Cy Young Awards in back-to-back team games, according to STATS. Ventura allowed two runs in the second, but that was the first of three consecutive innings in which Detroit hit into a double play. With the Royals ahead 10-2 in the fifth, Ventura walked Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded, but the hard-throwing rookie caught a break when a pitch to Victor Martinez sailed past catcher Salvador Perez. The ball bounced hard off the backstop, right back to Perez, and Detroits Eugenio Suarez was caught between third base and home. Perez threw to third to catch Suarez retreating and end the inning. NOTES: Detroit is out of first place for the first time since taking over the division lead July 3 last year, according to STATS. ... The Tigers agreed to terms with OF Derek Hill, the teams first-round draft pick. ... Perez extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... Royals INF Danny Valencia (left hand) was assigned to Triple-A Omaha for a rehab assignment. ... Detroit OF Torii Hunter, who left Mondays game with a hamstring cramp, did not play. ... Detroit LHP Drew Smyly (3-5) faces Kansas City RHP Jeremy Guthrie (3-6) on Wednesday. Wholesale 76ers Jerseys .com Tour title, closing with a 6-under 64 for a four-stroke victory. The 22-year-old former North Texas player finished at 12-under 268 at Panama Golf Club and earned $112,500 to jump from seventh to second on the money list with $171,500. Philadelphia 76ers Shirts . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. https://www.cheap76ers.com/.Y. - Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did — a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. Philadelphia 76ers Pro Shop . -- Sami Salo joked that as the shootout went on and on, one thing went through his mind: "Youve got to tie up your skates. 76ers Jerseys 2019 . -- Kevin Stadler might be playing in the Masters for the first time, but hes already showing his old man a thing or two.CHICAGO -- Gio Gonzalez delivered another dominant performance, providing more evidence he is finally healthy again. It looks as if the shoulder problem that sidelined him for a month bothered the left-hander about as much as the opposing hitters. Gonzalez pitched two-hit ball over seven innings, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 Saturday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Gonzalez had his way with one of the weakest lineups in the majors in his third start back from the disabled list, outperforming Dallas Beeler in the rightys major league debut. "Obviously coming (off) the DL and trying to work your way back is going to be a process," Gonzalez said. "Its not going to happen overnight. Its good to see little by little using fastball and changeup at the same time. Its good to know when you need them theyll be there." Anthony Rendon had three hits, including a two-out double against Beeler in the sixth before scoring the games first run on a wild pitch. He added an RBI triple off Justin Grimm and came home on a sacrifice fly by Adam LaRoche against Wesley Wright in a two-run eighth. Denard Span chipped in with two hits and scored a run. He also made a leaping catch in front of the centre-field wall after getting turned around on a drive by Justin Ruggiano in the fourth, and the Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak. Gonzalez (5-4) had little trouble against a team that came in with the majors second-worst batting average. He struck out seven and walked two while improving 2-0 in three starts after missing a month because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder. He shut down Chicago after throwing six effective innings in a 3-0 win at Milwaukee on Monday. Tyler Clippard worked the eighth and Rafael Soriano finished for his 19th save in 21 chances. As for Beeler, he was about as good as Gonzalez. Called up from Triple-A Iowa as thhe 26th man, he pitched four-hit ball while allowing an unearned run in six innings.dddddddddddd "I was a lot calmer than what I thought Id be," he said. "I walked out there, took a deep breath, threw my warmup pitches, kind of looked around again, exhaled and I was like, All right, same game Ive been playing for the last 20 years." Beeler also singled in his first at-bat when he lined the first pitch he saw up the middle in the third, drawing big cheers from the crowd. Neither team got an extra-base hit until Rendon doubled to left in the sixth. He moved up on a passed ball by John Baker before Ryan Zimmerman walked, and he scored the games first run when Beeler bounced a changeup to LaRoche. Otherwise, it was quite a debut for the rookie. "He was commanding his pitches," Rendon said. "Sinker and cutter and a pretty good curveball out there." NOTES: The Nationals remain optimistic that OF Bryce Harper will return from a torn ligament in his left thumb early in the week, if not Monday. The 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, who was injured sliding head first into third in a game against San Diego in April, has been rehabbing in the minors. "Hes progressing really well," manager Matt Williams said. "I feel good at some point this coming week (he will return), Monday is a possibility." ... Washington recalled Game 2 starter Blake Treinen and reliever Xavier Cedeno from Triple-A Syracuse while optioning RHP Taylor Hill to the minor league club. ... Chicago OF Junior Lake was back in the lineup for Game 1 after sitting out Friday. He slid hard into a metal door in the outfield wall and left Thursdays game. ... The Cubs have their first scheduled Sunday off in 82 years because of the annual Pride Parade in Chicago. The last one was on June 19, 1932. Chicago played the Giants in New York on a Saturday and then visited Philadelphia on a Monday. ' ' '