DETROIT -- Max Scherzer figured he had squandered another lead when Alex Gordons fifth-inning drive sailed down the line in right field. "When that came off the bat, I was sure that thing was gone, and I was stunned when I turned around and realized it had gone foul," Scherzer said. After that reprieve, Scherzer walked Gordon and retired the next two batters to escape a bases-loaded jam, and the Detroit Tigers went on to beat Kansas City 4-2 on Tuesday night to pull within percentage points of the Royals atop the AL Central. Rajai Davis and J.D. Martinez homered for the Tigers, who can sweep the three-game series with a win Wednesday night. Scherzer (16-5) allowed a run and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. Kansas City was down 3-1 in the fifth when Gordons deep fly to right went just foul with two on. Gordon walked to load the bases with one out, but Salvador Perez lined out and Eric Hosmer struck out. Joe Nathan worked out of another jam in the ninth to earn his 30th save in 36 chances. He allowed two infield singles to start the inning before closing out the game with two strikeouts sandwiched around a picked-off runner. Pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson was the man who was picked off second. "The hardest part about that play was not getting too fired up and throwing the ball away," Nathan said. "We so clearly had him that the only way it was going to get messed up was if I didnt get the ball to (second baseman Ian Kinsler). As it turned out, I didnt even need to make a great throw, but I made a pretty good one anyway." Kansas Citys Jason Vargas (11-8) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out six and walked three. Scherzer had allowed 14 earned runs over his previous four starts -- not terrible, but below his standards as the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. Hes had a hard time protecting leads lately. On Tuesday, the Tigers led 3-0 in the fifth when Omar Infante hit an RBI single for the Royals -- but Scherzer avoided the big inning. Martinez opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first, and Davis two-run homer in the second made it 3-0. Martinezs 20th homer of the season gave Detroit a 4-1 lead in the fifth. HEAD TO HEAD The Tigers are trying for their fourth straight AL Central title, and the hallmark of this run has been their ability to beat their closest competitors in the division head to head. Last year, Detroit went 15-4 against Cleveland and finished one game ahead of the Indians. The Tigers are 11-4 against the Royals this year, and the race is now in a virtual tie. Detroit has one more win and one more loss than Kansas City -- and the Royals still have to finish a suspended game in which they trail Cleveland 4-2 in the 10th. "You have to be conscious of the standings at this time of the year, but being tied for first doesnt mean a thing when we step on the field (Wednesday)," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. TOO MANY MISTAKES The normally sure-handed Royals made two errors Tuesday after making two in the series opener. Then there was Dysons mistake in the ninth, which eliminated a crucial baserunner. The Royals had men on first and second for the dangerous Gordon, but he struck out. Then Dyson was picked off second. Manager Ned Yost said he was hoping Dyson and fellow pinch-runner Terrance Gore could pull off a double steal. "Dysons the lead runner, Dysons going to find a spot when he can get a jump and go," Yost said. "Gores the tail runner. Hes going to be right behind him." The Tigers arent known for their impressive fielding, but Kinsler made a crucial diving stop to his left on Josh Willinghams grounder in the eighth. The Royals ended up scoring a run that inning, but that was it. TRAINERS ROOM Royals: Yost said he would not have used star closer Greg Holland on Tuesday, but he is close to returning from a triceps injury. ... RHP Liam Hendriks (1-1) is listed as Thursday nights starter against Boston -- LHP Danny Duffy is missing that turn in the rotation because of a sore shoulder. Tigers: Detroit expects RHP Joakim Soria (left oblique strain) to be activated from the disabled list Wednesday. UP NEXT Kansas Citys James Shields (13-7) faces Detroits Rick Porcello (15-10) on Wednesday, although the possibility of rain puts that game in some doubt. Shields is coming off a 1-0 win over the Yankees in New York on Friday. Nike Free Clearance . Moors, from Cambridge Ont., landed a double-twisting, double somersault in the layout position, en route to a score of 14.600 points in the womens floor exercise, more than a full point ahead of runner-up Pia Tolle of Germany. Cheap Nike Free Shoes Canada . Fourteen players were suspended last summer by Major League Baseball as part of the Biogenesis drug scandal, ranging from All-Stars to also-rans. http://www.cheapnikefreecanada.com/ .J. Barea during a three-game shooting slump that was getting him booed off his home court with regularity. Nike Free Canada Online . Wayne and Cindy Tuck of Ilderton, Ont., closed out round-robin play earlier in the day with a 7-3 win over Finland but needed a win over Austria to reach the final eight. Nike Free Canada . - The New York Rangers have momentum, a unified locker room and Henrik Lundqvist.OAKLAND, Calif. - One after another, the starting pitchers for the Oakland Athletics are shutting down opponents and making up for most of the clubs shortcomings. Especially the back of the bullpen. Jesse Chavez struck out seven and came up an inning short of his first complete game, and the As held on to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Monday night for their season-high fifth straight win. "We all feed off of each other," Chavez said. "And I think thats what makes a good staff." Chavez (3-1) gave up five hits and walked two for the AL-West leading As, who have outscored opponents 28-8 during the winning streak. The former reliever allowed only solo home runs to Dayan Viciedo and Jose Abreu, whose major-league leading 14th long ball in the ninth chased the right-hander. Josh Donaldson hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth, and Josh Reddick hit a tying triple in the second off John Danks (3-3) during Oaklands win. Jed Lowrie added a two-run double in the seventh that proved pivotal after the White Sox scored three runs in the ninth and nearly forced extra innings. Left-hander Sean Doolittle recorded the final three outs, striking out pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers and Leury Garcia to strand the tying runner on second. "Didnt want it to get to that point, but thats how it got there," As manager Bob Melvin said. Danks gave up six hits and three runs in six innings, striking out five and walking two. Chicago, which has lost four of five, came up just short and too late. "It wasnt a lack of trying. Sometimes you hit it and its right at people," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura, who was agitated after a 5-1 home loss to Arizona on Sunday, calling it "uninspired" effort. After Abreus homer, Fernando Abad walked Adam Dunn. Then struggling Jim Johnson gave up a double to Viciedo and an RBI single to Alexei Ramirez, setting off another shower of boos. Pinch-hitter Paul Konerkos sacrifice fly sliced Oaklands leead to 5-4 before Doolittle struck out the final two batters for his second save this season.dddddddddddd "I think it was important for me tonight not getting caught up in the moment of trying to get the save and stop the bleeding," Doolittle said. The AL-West leading As, coming off a home sweep of Washington, added another layer of frustration for a Chicago team beginning a nine-game road trip that also stops in Houston and Kansas City. The White Sox spent about eight hours on a plane Sunday night because of storms in Chicago that delayed their flight to the Bay Area, then they played a late game on the West Coast. They still started strong but wasted an opportunity to retake the lead when they advanced runners to second and third on Chavezs wild pitch in the fifth. Conor Gillaspie hit a hard line drive with two outs — but right into centre fielder Craig Gentrys glove. Then came Donaldsons drive in the fifth, lining a 2-0 fastball into the seats in left for his eighth home run. Lowrie added a two-run double off reliever Daniel Webb in the seventh to stretch Oaklands lead to 5-1. Chavez kept inducing quick outs and nearly finished the game himself. He had never completed more than seven innings, which he has done three times this year. Chavez has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his eight starts this season. The As are a 7-1 when he pitches. "We faced him in the spring. Hes good," Dunn said. :Hes going to be around the strike zone. When a guy has that many pitches, you try to get him early. It didnt work out." NOTES Athletics CF Coco Crisp took swings in batting practice before sitting out for the fifth straight game with a strained neck. He is day to day. ... White Sox LHP Chris Sale, out since April 17 because of a strained muscle near his left elbow, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. ... LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-1, 1.45 ERA) makes his second start for the As opposite Chicagos Scott Carroll on Tuesday. 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