DETROIT TIGERS BASEBALL

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Armando Galarraga carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.

Galarraga retired the first 18 batters before David DeJesus led off the seventh with a single to right on a full-count pitch. To that point, the 26-year-old rookie right-hander had allowed just two fly balls to the outfield and struck out six.

He wound up allowing a run in the seventh on three singles and a walk, but left the bases loaded. Galarraga (8-4) was replaced by Casey Fossum in the eighth, after lowering his ERA to 3.27 while striking out a career-high seven against just one walk.

AP PhotoDetroit's Placido Polanco watches his solo home run leave the park Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers won the game, 7-1.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kenny Rogers frustrated the Kansas City Royals for six innings Tuesday night, and then reliever Fernando Rodney dominated them.

Rogers got the 7-1 win for the Detroit Tigers, but didn't return after the two-hour, 20-minute rain delay that came while he was warming up in the seventh inning.

Rodney warmed up just before midnight as a small band of enthusiastic fans left from the crowd 22,074 chanted, "Let's go Royals!"

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Todd Jones likes to say he gets the job done with "smoke, mirrors and luck." It's the self-deprecating humor he injects with reporters, realizing he doesn't have the blazing fastball or intimidating out-pitch many closers possess.

But Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland knows how Jones has accumulated 320 career saves to rank 14th all time, set the Detroit record with 235 and has converted 18-of-20 opportunities this season.

AP PhotoDetroit's Miguel Cabrera had five hits and six RBIs in the Tigers' 19-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Detroit Tigers became the first team since the 1950 Boston Red Sox to score 19-plus runs in three or more games.

Detroit's 19-4 win Monday night over the Kansas City Royals matched its season-high for runs scored, which had been accomplished twice this season: April 23 against Texas and May 24 against Minnesota.

Those Red Sox of 58 years ago were powered by Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr, first baseman Walt Dropo and shortstop Vern Stephens. They reached 19 runs four times, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

AP PhotoDetroit's Matt Joyce, right, is congratulated by teammate Carlos Guillen after hitting a three-run home against the Kansas City Royals on Monday. Joyce drove in five of the Tigers' 19 runs.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Zach Miner put it all together Monday night. He didn't over-throw his fastball, had command of all his pitches and experienced a triumphant return to the Tigers.

Miner allowed three singles and one walk in six shutout innings, and Detroit scored its most runs on the road this season in a 19-4 win over the Kansas City Royals.

"I saw him stay within himself and not try to do too much," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "He just pitched."

AP PhotoBrandon Inge played a big role in the Tigers' two wins over the Baltimore Orioles this week.

Who's hot: Starter Justin Verlander has won six straight decisions, and hasn't allowed more than three runs in a game since May 31.

Who's not: Starter Nate Robertson gave up seven runs Saturday night while getting only seven outs, and has lost three of his last four starts.

Play of the week: Brandon Inge's Brooks Robinson-like play for the final out in Sunday's win. Or was it Inge's two-out, two-run homer on a 2-2 count that put Detroit ahead for good in Thursday's win?

AP PhotoDetroit's Justin Verlander acknowledges the Tigers fans and some of the family members he had in the stands in Baltimore on Sunday. Verlander has won six straight decisions.

BALTIMORE -- Justin Verlander blew a kiss to family members in the stands and doffed his cap to the Tigers fans giving him a standing ovation as he exited the mound at Camden Yards. Even some Orioles fans stood and cheered.

Verlander, in Detroit manager Jim Leyland's words, had just finished "an unbelievable, tremendous" performance in a 5-1 win.

On a 96-degree Sunday afternoon, after losing two straight to Baltimore and with the bullpen so thin that starter Armando Galarraga was available, Verlander went 8 2/3 innings, allowed only three hits and one run.

BALTIMORE -- Carlos Guillen arrived in the Tigers' clubhouse before Sunday's game to the hugs and handshakes of teammates.

He said his wife, Amelia, was in stable condition and expected to be released from the hospital Monday, after being admitted Tuesday for surgery to correct bleeding problems connected to the birth two weeks ago of their daughter, Camelia.

"She's doing better," Guillen said. "Tuesday morning, she woke up bleeding, and the doctor sent her to the hospital for surgery to stop the bleeding."

AP PhotoDetroit's Placido Polanco, right, argues Saturday with home plate umpire Brian Runge after being called out on a play at the plate.

BALTIMORE — Talk about frustrating.

Detroit squandered a 6-0 lead, appeared to score the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, and then lost it in the bottom of the 10th.

Luke Scott's one-out, solo home run off Freddy Dolsi made Baltimore an 11-10 winner over the Tigers here Saturday night.

Placido Polanco hit a two-out double in the 10th, and replays showed he clearly got in under the tag of Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez after Gary Sheffield singled. Polanco signaled safe as he popped out of his slide and on-deck batter Magglio Ordonez signaled safe, but home plate umpire Brian Runge called him out.

BALTIMORE -- Fernando Rodney's baseball cap is down three sizes. After teammate Freddy "The Barber" Dolsi trimmed nearly three years of hair Friday night, Rodney went from a 7 3/4 to 7 3/8 cap.

He said the heat in Baltimore, where it has been over 90 degrees at game time for night games, got to him.

"No mas long hair," Rodney said, adding that his last hair cut was September 2005. He showed reporters a plastic shopping bag with the trimmings, noting that he was taking it home to show his mother.