isnall at the World Grand Prix The Aussie hit back to claim the second

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kevin Shattenkirk Blues Jersey . -- Despite being only two games above .500 and facing a 6.5-game deficit against first-place Detroit, the Kansas City Royals believe they have their rivals right where they want them. Judging by recent history, maybe they do. A five-run seventh inning keyed by Omar Infantes two-run single and an RBI double from Eric Hosmer enabled the Royals to avoid a demoralizing four-game sweep against the Tigers on Sunday. It also brought to mind the league-best 33-20 mark they logged last season after stumbling into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak. "Were eight games better than we were at this time last year," manager Ned Yost said. "And were a second-half team. Weve always been a second-half team." Exactly why they seem to play better after the break, no one seems to know. "Im not sure," designated hitter Billy Butler said. "The seasons long, It wears on guys as they get older. Were young. And sometimes I think as guys get older ... I dont know." But he does know last years second-half surge makes this years challenge seem less daunting. "Were just better the second half. Its our track record and were starting to count on it." Four of the seventh-inning runs were charged to Justin Verlander (8-, who started the inning with a two-hit shutout but loaded the bases on three straight singles. "Things were going well for us and we ran into the seventh," said Verlander, who lost for just the fifth time in 15 decisions in Kauffman Stadium. "A couple of balls fell in the right spots and Im out of the ballgame. They were able to find some spots." Since June 18 when K.C. beat the Tigers for their 10th straight win and went a season-best seven games over .500, the Royals have gone 9-14 while the Tigers went 17-6. Verlander gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out three and walked one. Yordano Ventura (7-7) pitched 1 2/3 innings in his first career relief appearance and got the win. He allowed one hit and struck out three for the Royals, who beat the Tigers for only the first time in seven tries this year at home. Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 26 opportunities. After Raul Ibanez loaded the bases in the seventh with a single that snapped a 0-for-25 skid, Alcides Escobar brought in a run with a slow-rolling infield single that second baseman Ian Kinsler failed to pick up cleanly. A second run then scored on Jarrod Dysons fielders choice. Ian Krol replaced Verlander and after intentionally walking pinch hitter Salvador Perez, gave up a two-run single to Omar Infante that made it 4-2. "I waited for that pitch and made good contact," Infante said. Hosmers double stretched his career-best hitting streak to 13 games. Rajai Davis and Austin Jackson opened the third with back-to-back singles and the Tigers took a 2-0 lead on Miguel Cabreras sacrifice fly and a two-out bloop single by J.D. Martinez, which fell in between shortstop Escobar and left fielder Ibanez as Jackson came around from first. NOTES: Jackson proved a perfect leadoff hitter in this series, starting all four games with a base hit, three singles and a double. ... Martinez made two nifty running catches in the right-field corner. Martinez was also 3 for 4. ... These were the only home games for the Royals during a 19-game stretch that began on June 30 and runs through July 23. ... The Royals, Dodgers, Yankees and Mariners are the only major league teams with losing records at home and winning marks on the road. ... All nine of Detroits hits were singles. Martin Brodeur Blues Jersey . The German has taken the pole for three straight races -- winning the first two. Hes aiming for a third consecutive win at the Yeongam circuit and, most importantly, a fourth consecutive F1 championship. Patrik Berglund Jersey . The Rainbow FlickNext up is the Rainbow Flick, or as you probably know it, the trick that everybody at soccer camp thought they knew how to do. http://www.officialbluesnhlshop.com/alex-pietrangelo-jersey/ . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night.Raymond van Barneveld continued his return to form at the World Grand Prix with victory over Benito van de Pas, setting up a semi-final with Gary Anderson . The Dutch darting legend came out on top in a battle with his fellow countryman to seal a first World Grand Prix last four spot since 2010.Barney is a two-time runner-up in Dublin, losing to Phil Taylor in 2008 and 2009, but he remains on course for a maiden triumph in the tournament having lost just one leg against Van de Pas who seemed overawed by the nature of a major quarter-final. Van Barneveld, who is yet to drop a set in his three matches this week, raced through the first set before Van de Pas stirred in the second only for Barney to put his foot on the accelerator and seal a semi-final spot with a dominant display. Thursdays Quarter-Final results Dave Chisnall 3-1 Daryl Gurney Benito van de Pas 0-3 Raymond van Barneveld Michael van Gerwen (1) 3-1 Simon Whitlock Gary Anderson (2) 3-1 Kim Huybrechts World Grand Prix recap - as it happened Recap of all the quarter-final action Up next for RVB will be Gary Anderson, the two-time world champion is another who is yet to triumph in the event but he matched his best-ever performance in the unique double-to-start tournament with a win over Kim Huybrechts.The Flying Scotsman reached the last four in 2014 and he will hope to go one better this year, but he will need to improve on a sloppy display against Belgiums Huybrechts, who raced through the opening set 3-0 to seize the initiative.But Anderson has learnt to win despite not being at his best and he reeled off eight of the next ten legs to move to the brink of the match, a run that included brilliant 124 and 141 check-outs. Gary Anderson made hard wwork of beating Kim Huybrechts to set up a semi-final meeting with Raymond van Barneveld at the World Grand Prix Also into the last four is world number one Michael van Gerwen and he remains on course to add to the Premier League, UK Open and World Matchplay titles he has already won this year. Jay Bouwmeester Blues Jersey. MVG lost to Robert Thornton in last years final in Dublin, his third final in the last four years at the Citywest hotel, having claimed the title in 2012 and 2014.And he looks good value to add a third Grand Prix crown to his ever-growing list having averaged a tournament-best 103 to come through a high-quality match against a resurgent Simon Whitlock. Michael van Gerwen beat a resurgent Simon Whitlock 3-1 to set up a semi-final meeting with Dave Chisnall at the World Grand Prix The Aussie hit back to claim the second set having seen Van Gerwen take the opener and despite levelling the match, Whitlock could not quite match Mighty Mikes scoring power and the Dutchman moved into a semi-final clash with Dave Chisnall.Chizzy kicked off the evenings action with an impressive performance to end the hopes of Northern Irelands Daryl Gurney.Chisnall proved too strong for Gurney, who gave a decent account of himself in his second major quarter-final, and having lost the opening two sets, hit back to claim the third set.But Chisnall, Grand Prix runner-up in 2013, kept his cool and eased through the fourth set to move into the last four of a major tournament for the first time this year.You can follow all the action from Fridays semi-finals with our live blog and on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm. World Grand Prix - Semi-Final Top Half Michael van Gerwen (1) v Dave Chisnall Bottom Half Gary Anderson (2) v Raymond van Barneveld Also See: Grand Prix - as it happened Results/Schedule Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '