DETROIT -- Jarrod Saltalamacchias drive to right field sailed toward the wall, and the Detroit catcher immediately raised his right arm in celebration.Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Tigers a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Those were the only two RBI of the day for Detroit, which scored its first two runs of the game on a balk and a wild pitch.It felt really good, because I was starting to get a little gassed, Saltalamacchia said. Its been seven or eight days since Ive played, so I was ready to get out of there.After Tyler Collins hit a leadoff single, Saltalamacchia won it with a homer off Joakim Soria (3-4) that easily cleared the wall in right. Francisco Rodriguez (1-0) pitched a perfect top of the ninth for the win.Detroit hasnt gotten much offense from its catchers lately. Saltalamacchia is batting .206 even after his big hit Sunday, and James McCann is even lower at .199. Saltalamacchia does have nine homers, though, and his power handed the Royals a tough loss the day before the start of their big series with AL Central-leading Cleveland.That was an inside fastball, right where I wanted it, but hes a professional baseball player, too, and he hit it hard, Soria said. You dont want to lose, but I made the pitch I wanted and he hit it. Nothing you can do about that.Detroit rookie Michael Fulmer allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings. Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings.The Royals led 2-0 when Detroit began chipping away in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Ventura struck out Miguel Cabrera, but with Victor Martinez up, the Kansas City right-hander was called for a balk, allowing a run to score.Ventura struck out Martinez to end the inning, but with two outs in the sixth, he gave up a drive to the gap in right-center by Nick Castellanos that became a triple when the Royals had issues getting the ball back in. Castellanos came home on a wild pitch.Kansas City opened the scoring in the second on an RBI double by Cheslor Cuthbert, and Eric Hosmer added a run-scoring single in the third.STREAK SNAPPEDFulmer allowed more than one earned run for the first time in 10 starts, but he was able to pitch deep into the game after the Tigers used several relievers the previous night. Mike Pelfrey, their starter Saturday, didnt make it out of the second inning.The bullpen was taxed yesterday, Fulmer said. My goal was seven innings, and to run back out for the eighth was pretty cool.SHAKEN UPPlate umpire D.J. Reyburn was hit around the neck when a third strike eluded Saltalamacchia in the eighth. The Tigers caught a break when the ball didnt go to the backstop -- after it hit Reyburn, Saltalamacchia was able to pick it up and throw to first to retire Hosmer.Reyburn stayed in the game after a brief delay.I feel terrible. His kids were in the stands watching, Saltalamacchia said. Yanked changeup. I probably should have done a better job getting to it, but thankfully hes OK.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: RHP Warwick Saupold (right groin strain) made a rehab start Saturday night for Class A Lakeland. He allowed four unearned runs and three hits with three walks in 2 2/3 innings.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Edinson Volquez (8-8) starts against Clevelands Corey Kluber (9-8) on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Indians.Tigers: Detroit starts a three-game set against Minnesota with LHP Matt Boyd (0-2) on the mound against Ricky Nolasco (4-7).---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Cheap Air Max Shoes On Sale . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Air Max Sale Australia . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. http://www.australiawholesaleairmax.com/ . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap Wholesale Air Max Shoes . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. Cheap Air Max Shoes Australia . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Mike Mayers had one of the worst major league debuts ever, and did it on national TV.Mayers became the first pitcher to allow nine or more runs with less than two innings pitched in his first start since at least 1913, and St. Louis lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 on Sunday night.Mayers allowed nine runs on eight hits, including two homers, over 1 1/3 innings in the primetime game. He threw 62 pitches, including 45 during a six-run first. His ERA is 60.75.After a rainout earlier in the week forced a doubleheader, the Cardinals decided not to start Carlos Martinez on short rest and called up Mayers, 24, from Triple-A Memphis for a spot start. St. Louis was the last team in the majors to use a pitcher not in their starting five this season.The outing was derailed by Adrian Gonzalezs first-inning grand slam and Howie Kendricks two-run homer in the second. Mayers had about 35 family members and friends on hand.Its the same game -- 60 feet, 6 inches, Mayers said. I felt like I told myself that over and over but as far as when you get out there its a totally different ballgame. I felt like I kind of started to let my emotions get to me. The game kind of sped up after those first two hits. I felt like I had to be better and thats the situation I have to get a lot better with.Mayers loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the first. Gonzalez crushed a fastball 427 feet to center for his fifth career grand slam. After a double by Kendrick, Mayers struck out Yasmani Grandal and got a nice ovation from the crowd. With two outs, Joc Pederson walked and stole second. Pitcher Scott Kazmir singled up the middle for the final two runs and his first RBI of the year.Los Angeles chased Mayers in the second with three more runs.St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said Mayers should not be too discouraged.Hes had a great season and that was a tough assignment he just walked into, Matheny said.dddddddddddd It could have looked a little different but hopefully he looks at it as a learning experience and he builds off it.The Dodgers had little sympathy for Mayers.Just pile on, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. This league, no one feels sorry for us. Its a big boy league. I hope he throws well his next turn.Kazmir (9-3) pitched five innings to earn the victory. He allowed three runs on six hits.I felt for him, yeah, Kazmir said of Mayers. Its your debut, its hot and its on ESPN. It was a tough draw for him.Matt Holliday doubled home a run in the first. It was the first run scored in the first inning by St. Louis since July 3.Tommy Pham cut the Dodgers advantage to 9-3 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.Four St. Louis relievers combined for 7 2/3 scoreless innings.We were in survival mode at that point just trying to figure out if we were going to get through it, Matheny said. Fortunately we figured out how to get through it and now we just keep moving forward.HOT HOT HOTThe temperature at the start of the game was 96 degrees.TRANSACTIONSCardinals: To make room on the 25-man roster for Mayers, St. Louis optioned RHP Miguel Socolovich to Memphis following Saturdays game. Socolovich made two relief appearances while in St. Louis.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: INF Matt Carpenter is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment this week. Carpenter, sidelined since July 6 with a strained right oblique, took swings in the outdoor batting cage and ran the bases Sunday.UP NEXTCardinals: Martinez (9-6, 2.83) faces the New York Mets Noah Syndergaard (9-4, 2.43). Martinez logged seven innings in a 4-2 win over San Diego in his last start despite suffering a bloody nose. ' ' '