DETROIT -- The Kansas City Royals began the game by hitting for the cycle as a team, then Whit Merrifield nearly did it by himself.Merrifield hit a triple as part of Kansas Citys four-run first inning, and he later added a single and a double in a 12-9 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The Royals hit four homers to drop the Tigers in the AL wild-card race -- and avoided elimination themselves.I havent played in the playoffs, but that was as close to a playoff atmosphere as Ive been a part of, said Merrifield, a rookie who made his debut for the defending World Series champions in May. (The Tigers are) fighting for a spot, and theyre going to give you your best shot, so youre going to have to play all 27 outs.Kansas City started the game with a single by Billy Burns, a triple by Merrifield and a double by Kendrys Morales before Salvador Perezs two-run homer made it 4-0. It was the first time the Royals first four hitters combined for a cycle since Sept. 30, 2006, also at Detroit.Tigers starter Matt Boyd (6-5) lasted only one more hitter after Perezs homer, giving up another hit before being pulled. The Tigers fell 1 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the second wild-card spot. The loss cut Clevelands magic number to clinch the AL Central to one -- the Indians start a four-game series in Detroit on Monday night.Boyd said he understood 100 percent why he was taken out so quickly.I might have been able to work myself through it, but the margin of error is zero right now, he said. Every run is important right now and so is every game.The Royals led 7-0 after Cheslor Cuthbert and Raul Mondesi hit consecutive homers in the third.Dillon Gee (8-9) got the win in relief, and Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances. Miguel Cabrera came up as the tying run but lined out to shallow left field to end it.Plate umpire Dan Iassogna ejected Cameron Maybin from the Detroit dugout during that final at-bat.Victor Martinez hit a grand slam for Detroit in the third to make it 7-4, and the Tigers loaded the bases again that inning, chasing starter Edinson Volquez in the process. But Andrew Romines bunt attempt with two outs was fielded easily by reliever Peter Moylan, and the force at home ended the inning.Detroit tried several former starters in long relief -- Anibal Sanchez, Shane Greene and Mike Pelfrey all pitched -- in an attempt to keep the game close, but the Royals kept adding runs. Alex Gordons two-run homer in the sixth made it 11-5.Kansas City let the Tigers creep back into it by the end. Justin Upton hit a solo homer in the seventh, and Detroit also scored two runs on wild pitches, the second of which made it 11-9 in the eighth.The Royals held on, though, and theres still a mathematical chance they can catch the Orioles.Maybin had four hits for the Tigers.VERSATILEMerrifield played first base for the first time this season. Hes also played second, third, left field and right field.Its always fun to switch up the angles for me, see the ball from a different perspective, he said. I got a couple balls. I didnt get to pick one.MARATHONSThe 3-hour, 51-minute game was Detroits longest nine-inning contest of the season. The Tigers played 3:50 against the Royals on Saturday.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann, who has been dropped from the rotation as he struggles to come back from neck problems, pitched for the first time since Sept. 10. He pitched the last three innings in relief, allowing one run and four hits.UP NEXTRoyals: After an off day Monday, Kansas City starts RHP Ian Kennedy (11-10) against Minnesota RHP Jose Berrios (2-7) on Tuesday night.Tigers: Detroit sends RHP Buck Farmer (0-0) to the mound Monday against Cleveland RHP Corey Kluber (18-9).---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Cheap Curry Shoes . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Cheap Curry Shoes China . Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. http://www.discountcurryshoes.com/ . 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Thousands are in and out of the corridors of the Wang Theatre at the Boch Center in downtown Boston as upsets brew, thanks to a rally behind Greek team Ad Finem. But behind the scenes, Alex Machine Richardson, an esports host and commentator, is doing his best to direct the desk at his first Dota 2 event.Hes new to Dota 2 hosting, but after making a name for himself in Counter-Strike and Call of Duty, Machine would make you think differently. He has the sign of a good esports host -- of which the ability to switch games is extremely important. He says he had a blast hosting in Boston last weekend, despite it being his first outing in Dota 2.I had zero expectations. I had no idea what to expect, he said to ESPN. I didnt know how the talent would receive me, the community, the fans. Myself, I didnt know if Id enjoy the game; I certainly do [now]. Its been really cool, its been wonderful actually.Machine has experienced some of the biggest esports events, which helps counterbalance his lack of experience in Dota 2.I got to experience Call of Duty XP, which is a huge Call of Duty event. I got to experience the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive majors, the pinnacle of Counter-Strike. And now Im sitting here at the Boston Major ... Im living that story, Im telling that story, Im a very fortunate person, Machine said.Throughout his career, and in 2016 specifically, Machine has gained popularity. After working for ESL for the past few years, the British host left to become a freelancer in November, something many of his peers, such as Paul Redeye Chaloner, Anders Blume and Auguste Semmler Massonnat, have done successfully. For many in other fields, freelancing seems like a step down, but for esports hosts and commentators, it allows them to write the story of their career in a more hands-on environment.Ive been a freelancer since November, just over 40 days of freelance, and its already been completely eye-opening, Machine said. Its very fun to be my own boss. I like that people are coming to me directly; thats quite a new feeling to me. I would say Ive enjjoyed time at home, but Ive nearly paid four months rent now in London and Ive lived there for six days, so thats not great.dddddddddddd But Im traveling the world, talking about games, so what am I complaining about? Its been really good, but Im taking a break after this.His job at the Boston Major wasnt expected by fans of Dota 2. Redeye, for his part, has become one of the most well-known hosts -- running the desk at The International and other recent majors. Machine says his new role was something Valve, Dota 2s developer, made happen.You know if youve played any Valve games, they just like to throw a change and see how its received; Counter-Strike patches and its happened in Dota as well. I think thats what theyre doing here. They wanted to give me a shot. ... And I said, Sure, Ill give it my best shot. And it seems to have gone OK, Machine said.But as he moves into a new game, Machine says hes content with his current slate of games but would never shoot down an opportunity if it presented itself.I have evidently got a set of games that Im personally comfortable with; Dotas becoming one of them where I can feel I can really put on a show in hosting, he said. I dont think Im necessarily looking for another game right now, but I would never turn down or not consider it. I play everything, thats the problem. Im not just a one-gamer.Outside of his hosting ability, Machine and his freelance casting peers recently did stunts for charity at the ESL Pro League finals in October. There, the team of casters -- Semmler, Anders, Machine and James Moses OToole -- did a Movember charity, casually sporting mustaches with crazy donation goals. The experience ended with the group raising over ￡20,000 in a day. Machine, as a donation goal, got a Brazilian wax.I was the butt of almost all of the jokes of the [Counter-Strike casters] Movember fundraiser, Machine said. We did all of these donation goals and it was brilliant. ... We didnt expect that, hence why I was like Ill get a Brazilian wax. It still hurts. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '