More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

Doesn't everything go better with a hug? Miguel Cabrera and Fernando Rodney embrace as manly men do when they win baseball games and lead their division by four games in late May.

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As long as Zack Greinke isn't pitching, the Detroit Tigers have been doing just fine against the Kansas City Royals.  And they do really well when Rick Porcello is on the mound. 

The rookie won his fifth consecutive start for the Tigers, notching his team-leading sixth victory.  If it's any consolation to the Royals, they became the first team in Porcello's last five games to score more than one run against him.  And Mark Teahen became the first batter to hit a home run off Porcello during that span.  Besides those two runs, Porcello allowed four hits in six innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. 

And with Kyle Davies pitching for the Royals, the Tigers bats got back to pounding the baseball.  Seven of the nine Detroit batters got hits today, and five different players drove runs in.  For the day, Davies allowed eight runs (five earned, thanks to a Teahen error in the sixth) and 10 hits (two of them homers) in 5.2 innings.  Against the Tigers this season, Davies is 0-2 with a 9.81 ERA.  He's given up 18 hits - including four home runs - in 11 innings.

Roar:

The last time Josh Anderson batted leadoff (on Sunday vs. Colorado), he went 0-for-4.  Perhaps he figured he should do better if given such an opportunity again.  A 4-for-5 day, with one RBI and stolen base should make a pretty good case for him.  (Those hits should redeem Anderson for the mental mistake he made in the first inning when he was picked off second base.)  

After going 1-for-11 in his last five games, this seems like a fine time to throw out a Matrix quote: "Mr. Anderson - welcome back.  We missed you."  (It took me until the end of May, but I finally gave in.)

Placido Polanco hit his first home run of the season, as part of a 2-for-5 game with three RBIs.  And Miguel Cabrera is catching up to Brandon Inge (12) and Curtis Granderson (11) for the team home run lead, after hitting his 10th of the year.

Comment of the Day:

anyone watching Champions' League?

sick game going on, barcelona is winning 2 – 0 over Manchester United!! :)

by RudeMood19

And with the series win, the Tigers add a game to their lead over the Royals in the AL Central.