really well. And Pounders weve seen before up here and is fresh. We just made the moves.Davis, who has been out with flexor strain, is expected to join the Royals on Friday, when they open another crucial series against the wild-card chasing Detroit Tigers.TThe Royals churned through five relievers i

DETROIT -- Batting leadoff because of an injury to Austin Jackson, Detroits Andy Dirks hit a drive to centre field for a double in his first at-bat. Three innings later, the 27-year-old outfielder made an even better impression. Dirks hit his first career grand slam, part of a six-run fourth for the Tigers in their 7-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night. He was at the top of the lineup because Jackson went on the disabled list earlier in the day with a pulled left hamstring. "Ive hit leadoff in college and Ive hit leadoff in the big leagues and in the minor leagues," Dirks said. "Its really nothing different. The way I approach it, I just try to get on base for the big guys." In the fourth, Dirks came to the plate in a good RBI situation -- bases loaded and one out. He drove an 0-2 pitch to right field for his fourth homer of the year. Houston starter Bud Norris said it was a hanging slider. "It was the worst 0-2 pitch of my career," he lamented. The pitch looked just fine to Dirks. "I liked it," he said. "Its just one of those things in baseball. He didnt mean to leave a pitch over the plate like that, and I was fortunate enough to be on time with it and hit it." Victor Martinez also homered for the Tigers, who swept four straight from the Astros in Houston earlier this month and opened this three-game series at Comerica Park with another convincing victory. Anibal Sanchez (4-3) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings for Detroit. He struck out eight with one walk. "I feel good," Sanchez said. "My pitches were working good today. I just had a bad inning. Thats part of the game." Houston scored two runs off Sanchez in the third, shortly after Astros second baseman Jose Altuve left the game with a jaw injury following a collision with right fielder Jimmy Paredes on a popup. Norris (4-4) left with lower back spasms after allowing seven runs and nine hits in five innings. "Altuve came out for precautionary reasons, and hes already told me that hes playing tomorrow," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "Norris wanted to stay out there, but well see how he feels in the next day or two. Thats always the question when it comes to back injuries." Houston has lost five straight and 15 of 18. Detroit trailed 2-1 when Martinez hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Tigers the lead. They werent done. Jhonny Peralta and Don Kelly both singled with one out, and after a walk to Omar Infante, Dirks hit his home run. Dirks finished with three hits. Torii Hunters double in the first scored Dirks to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Altuve left the game after colliding with Paredes, but Houston scored a couple of runs in the third to take the lead. Marwin Gonzalez singled and stole second, then scored on a single by Robbie Grossman. Ronny Cedeno, who came into the game when Altuve left, added an RBI groundout. But Norris, who has pitched well so far amid Houstons struggles, couldnt hold onto the lead, and his start was cut short by back problems. He left the game after a conference at the mound at the start of the Detroit sixth. Martinezs homer was his second of the year after he missed all of 2012 with a knee injury. The Tigers have outscored Houston 44-10 in five games this year. NOTES: Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera had his hitting streak snapped at 11 games. ... Tigers RHP Doug Fister (4-1) takes the mound Tuesday night against Houston RHP Lucas Harrell (3-3).Nike Shoes Australia Outlet . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Sale Air Max 90 Australia .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. http://www.airmax90saleaustralia.com/ . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Cheap Air Max Australia . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Cheap Air Max 90 Shoes Australia . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals placed right-hander Chien-Ming Wang on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis and made a series of roster moves to shore up their taxed bullpen before Wednesday nights game against the Yankees.Kansas City recalled left-hander Scott Alexander and right-hander Brooks Pounders from Triple-A Omaha and optioned infielder Christian Colon to the same club.Colon is likely to return when rosters are allowed to expand Thursday.The Royals would have preferred to bring All-Star closer Wade Davis back from the disabled list, but he just pitched in a rehab game for Omaha on Tuesday night. He was supposed to pitch Monday night but that game was rained out, forcing him to delay his outing and preventing his return to Kansas City.It would have been perfect if they didnt get a rainout Monday. Wade would have been available today, Royals manager Ned Yost said. We just needed arms. Alexander has been throwing really well. And Pounders weve seen before up here and is fresh. We just made the moves.Davis, who has been out with flexor strain, is expected to join the Royals on Friday, when they open another crucial series against the wild-card chasing Detroit Tigers.TThe Royals churned through five relievers in their rain-delayed, extra-inning loss to New York on Tuesday night.dddddddddddd Wang tossed two scoreless innings in the game and did not appear to have any pain.Alexander is joining the Royals for the second time this season and tossed a scoreless inning against the Yankees in his big league debut. Pounders is joining the club for the third time this season.In other news, outfielder Lorenzo Cain got Wednesday night off as he deals with a wrist injury that has plagued him for about two weeks. Cain has been trying to play through the pain.With the off-day tomorrow, we felt lets go ahead and see if we cant give him a day today and a day tomorrow and at least get some of that inflammation out of there, Yost said. Its been pretty sore. Hell take an awkward swing and it takes him a minute or two to recover from that.It just keeps getting sorer and sorer, Yost said. Its not a thing thats going to heal within a week. Its not going to feel better for four weeks after he quits playing. But he can play through it. ' ' '