last in the majors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Rick Porcello has an AL-leading 12 wins and a 3.39 ERA for the first-place Detroit Tigers. His manager believes thats good enough for the right-hander to be on the All-Star team. However, Porcello, who has a family fishing trip planned for the All-Star break, hasnt been picked for the team yet. "I think he clearly is an All-Star," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said after Porcello pitched seven strong innings in Detroits 5-1 victory over Kansas City on Saturday. "Hes got 12 wins, An ERA in the low 3s. Theres going to be snubs every year at the All-Star break and I think hes clearly a snub." Porcello (12-5) outpitched James Shields as the Tigers won their fifth in a row. He also raised his career record against Kansas City to 8-3 while yielding six hits and one run to help give Detroit a 7 1/2-game cushion over Kansas City in the AL Central. Alex Avila drove in three runs, putting the Tigers in position to go for a four-game sweep on Sunday. Porcello, who has won four of his last five decisions and been key in Detroits taking a big lead in the division, is fine whether or not hes selected for the All-Star game. "Thats not my decision," he said. "I just go out there and pitch and let everybody else take care of that." His teammates clearly believe Porcello deserves to be there when the games elite are introduced. "We all thought he definitely deserved (a selection), but I will say that is a tough group he was in, that final vote," said Avila, who drove in three runs with a single and a ninth-inning homer. "All those guys did deserve it, too. Theres always going to be a guy who gets left out." The Royals have lost six of their last eight and are 0-6 at home against Detroit this year. "To this point, weve underachieved but were still seven games better than we were at this point last year," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "We know were a second-half club. Weve been a second-half club." Shields (9-5) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked none while throwing 121 pitches. The Tigers scored three in the ninth against reliever Aaron Crow, starting with J.D. Martinezs leadoff home run. Nick Castellanos was safe at first after a replay review overturned a call, and Avila hit a 427-foot homer. Ian Kinslers RBI single put the Tigers on top 1-0 in the third. In the fourth, Torii Hunter hit a drive into straightaway centre field over the head of Jarrod Dyson and turned it into his first triple of the season. The relay throw actually beat the sliding Hunter to the bag, but he was safe when third baseman Mike Moustakas failed to get the tag down. Avilas RBI single made it 2-0. Billy Butler had a sacrifice fly in the sixth after the Royals had wasted several scoring chances. Alcides Escobar bounced into an inning-ending double play in the second, Lorenzo Cain did the same in the third and then, with the bases loaded and two out in the fifth, Porcello struck out Cain on a 2-2 pitch. Al Alburquerque pitched a perfect ninth for the Tigers, who held the Royals to one run for the second night in a row. NOTES: Austin Jackson has led off the Tigers first inning with a base hit in all three games of the series. ... Cain made a terrific catch of Miguel Cabreras opposite-field drive in the first, snaring the ball just as he crashed hard into the wall. ... Both starters laboured, but after four innings, Shields had thrown 78 pitches and Porcello 40. ... It was the 12th time in his career that Shields has thrown 121 or more pitches. ... Eric Hosmers first-inning single stretched his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games for the Royals. Juan Gonzalez Jersey . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee. Juan Gonzalez Rangers Jersey . -- The Minnesota Vikings released reserve cornerback A. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/502...ey-rangers.html. Felton pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted he knowingly had a large-capacity ammunition magazine and a semi-automatic pistol without a license. Jeff Russell Jersey . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. Jesse Biddle Rangers Jersey . - Gary Kubiak is John Elways No.MIAMI -- Rafael Furcal will try to make his comeback from elbow surgery with the Miami Marlins. The free-agent infielder and the Marlins have agreed to terms on a contract, two people familiar with the situation said Thursday. Both people confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it hadnt been finalized. In addition, one of the people said, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia passed his physical, and his $21 million, three-year deal with Miami was completed. The 36-year-old Furcal, a three-time All-Star and the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year, sat out this season after undergoing elbow ligament-replacement surgery in March. He made the NL All-Star team as a starter at shortstop in 2012, when he batted .264 in 121 games for the Cardinals. Furcal is a 13-year veteran and a .281 careeer hitter with 314 stolen bases.dddddddddddd Hes expected to compete for a starting job at second base even though he has played only 36 games at the position, most recently in 2004. Miami already has youngster Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop. Earlier in his career, Furcal had one of the strongest infield arms in the game. The Marlins finished last in the majors in 2013 in runs and hitting, and their second basemen combined to bat only .235. Donovan Solano started the most games there and batted .249. With the winter meetings next week, the Marlins remain in the market for help at third base. The speedy Furcal spent his first six seasons in Atlanta and the next 5 1/2 with the Los Angeles Dodgers before they traded him to St. Louis, where he helped the Cardinals win the 2011 World Series. ' ' '