DETROIT -- Max Scherzer figured he had squandered another lead when Alex Gordons fifth-inning drive sailed down the line in right field. Cheap Air Max Sale . "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. Air Max 1 Australia Online . The Broncos quarterback earned the offensive award Wednesday after passing for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 win over the Raiders Monday night. Manning completed 32-of-37 passes and had a passer rating of 135. Cheap Air Max 1 Australia .Y. - The New York Rangers have reached a one-year contract extension with goalie Cam Talbot, keeping Henrik Lundqvists backup away from unrestricted free agency. http://www.cheapaustraliaairmax1.com/ . Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc Spears says that the Boogie Smooth album may have been an elaborate April Fools prank. MONTREAL -- With veteran Henry Burris at quarterback, maybe the Ottawa Redblacks wont be quite the pushovers most expansion clubs have been. Burris threw for 247 yards in one half of a game -- on pace for a nearly 500-yard outing -- as the Redblacks downed the woeful Montreal Alouettes 26-10 in CFL pre-season play Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium. Former Hamilton Tiger-Cat Chevon Walker ran in two touchdowns and caught a five-yard pass for another to lead the Redblacks, who will be on a bye when the regular season opens next weekend and wont make their debut until July 3 in Winnipeg. "We knew we had to play well," said Burris, who signed as a free agent with Ottawa. "The fact that we dont play next week, we had to have a good feeling coming out of this game because now we have a few days off. "We know we made an improvement from last week (a 21-17 loss at Saskatchewan) and we wanted to carry the momentum of playing good football into the Winnipeg game in a couple of weeks." Brett Maher added a fourth-quarter field goal for Ottawa when Thomas DeMarco was in at quarterback. The Ottawa defence held Montreal without a touchdown, although some of that had to do with Troy Smiths struggles to find his receivers. Delbert Alvarado had a pair of field goals and Sean Whyte had another for Montreal, which went 0-2 in the pre-season under new coach Tom Higgins, and looked shaky on both sides of the ball heading into their season opener June 28 in Calgary. "It was definitely a pre-season game," said Smith, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who has the tall order of replacing future Hall of Famer Anthony Calvillo as the Alouettes starting quarterback. "You understand things arent going to be as good as you want them to be all the time. "We did some positive things, we just werent able to capitalize on any drives." The less-than sellout crowd of 18,141 got their first look at former NFL star Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson, who is on a comeback after last having played in 2011. He made a 13-yard catch on the Alouettes first play from scrimmage but that was all. "Hopefully the timing with the guys will get better," said Smith. "Youve got to give Ottawa some credit. They played defence and came out with the win. Its very premature. Were embarking on something great. I can feel it in my bones. Air Max 1 Wholesale Australia. But you have to go through trials and tribulations." A lot of Ottawa players made it difficult for coach Rick Campbell to make his final cuts on Saturday, when all nine CFL teams have to trim rosters to 46 players. Burris had six players make at least two catches, while the defence held Montreal to 290 yards in net offence. "When the decisions are easy, its not good," said Campbell. "We had some guys make some big plays, but it is a pre-season game. Well watch film and evaluate it. "Were not going to pat ourselves on the back too much. Well get back to work and try to get better." Burris couldnt get a first down on Ottawas first three possessions, but adjustments were made. Then he couldnt be stopped the rest of the first half. He completed 17 of 22 passes, all against Montreals first-string defence. The Redblacks led 22-7 at the intermission. Smith completed nine of 17 for 122 yards in the opening 30 minutes and gave way to the equally ineffective Tanner Marsh early in the second half. Alex Brink also saw action. The Alouettes got on the board first with Alvarados punt single, but then Burris threw 28 yards to Dobson Collins to set up Walkers three-yard TD 12:16 into the game. Montreal answered with a field goal, but Kierrie Johnsons 36-yard catch to the Montreal one set up Walkers second TD of the night 44 seconds into the second quarter. Just before the intermission, Burris led an eight-play 85-yard drive capped by Walkers five-yard TD catch. With second and third stringers on in the second half, neither team was able to move the ball very far and spectators were streaming out by the end of the third quarter. Unusually for the pre-season game, there were relatively few penalties called and there were no fumbles or interceptions. Last week, Montreal blew a lead in a 28-23 setback at Hamilton. Their bright spots were Alvarados powerful kicking and some long returns by Larry Taylor, who returned to Montreal from Calgary in the off-season. Notes: The Alouettes were missing running backs Brandon Whitaker (sore leg) and Tyrell Sutton (hamstring). Their replacement Brandon Rutley had a quiet game 29 yards on nine carries. Linebacker Kyries Hebert didnt dress, but he has returned to practice after suffering a concussion June 7. ' ' '