oyals: Kansas City C Salvador Perez sat out wioyals: Kansas City C Salvador Perez sat out wi

Supercars championship leader Jamie Whincup says his impressive history at Townsville counts for nothing this weekend.The Holden ace has claimed seven race wins on the streets of the north Queensland city in the 15 races the category has held at the event since 2009.But Whincup says history means nothing as he prepares for the two 200km races on the Reid Park circuit.Ive had a great run in the past but I had a shocker there last year, Whincup told AAP.I didnt piece it together at all.Whincup said he was undeserving of the championship lead after moving to top spot in the standings after last months event in Darwin.Its a belief hes standing by heading into Townsville.Weve got so much potential for Car 88, he said.Ive got some of the best engineers, Ive got the best mechanics and all the resources in the world at Red Bull Racing for us to do a good job. I just dont feel like were really maximising that for one reason or another.I just feel like we havent done a good job so we certainly dont deserve to be in the lead.Defending Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom claimed both races in Townsville last year on his way to a maiden title.Whincup says while championship talk is premature ahead of this years endurance races, this weekends event still represents a crucial juncture in what has been the most competitive Supercars title race in memory.No doubt the other guys will piece it together as well so if we dont piece it together then well get left behind, Whincup said.Its a bit of a turning point for us at the moment. Weve really got to step up, make the most of our year or be prepared for it to dwindle away.The Townsville 400 begins on Friday with two practice sessions before a 200km race each on Saturday and Sunday.Custom Colorado Rockies Nike Jerseys . 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Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December.DETROIT -- Danny Duffys season has taken quite a turn for the worse over the past month.Duffy allowed six runs and was chased in the fourth inning Friday night, and the Kansas City Royals lost 8-3 to the Detroit Tigers. Detroit remained a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the second wild card in the American League.Duffy had won 10 straight decisions before allowing seven runs in a loss at Boston on Aug. 27. Hes won only once since.Duffy (12-3) allowed seven hits in 3 2/3 innings Friday. He walked four and struck out four.I cost my team a chance to win that game, Duffy said. I just didnt have it. There are going to be days like this.Michael Fulmer pitched seven sharp innings for the Tigers in his first win in over a month. Fulmer (11-7) allowed a run and eight hits, striking out nine with no walks.Justin Upton, Victor Martinez and Cameron Maybin went deep for the Tigers, who won their fifth game in a row.I think theres a little bit of a sense of urgency now, Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. This is our last homestand. This is the last chance at home to try and do something in the standings, and were playing against two teams ... in Kansas City and Cleveland, we know very well. Maybe I was the only one that felt it, but I felt there was more energy.The Tigers jumped ahead right away against Duffy. The Royals made two errors in the first inning, and Uptons RBI double made it 2-0.They are fighting for their life and doing everything they have to do to be a playoff team, Duffy said. You could tell there was that kind of hunger there.Martinez and Upton each hit solo shots in the third, and MMaybins two-run homer in the fourth made it 6-0.ddddddddddddUpton has 27 homers on the season, including 14 in his last 29 games.Kansas City has lost nine of its last 12.DISPUTED CHALLENGEKansas Citys only run off Fulmer came after replay overturned the second out of an apparent double play, which would have ended the sixth. Ausmus complained to the umpires, saying the Royals had waited too long before challenging.I said I wanted to protest, which, even going into it, when I said it, I knew instant replay wasnt protestable, Ausmus said.After the review revived the rally, Paulo Orlando hit an RBI single.ON THE BORDERLINEFulmer is the ALs ERA leader at 2.95 -- his 155 2/3 innings are enough to qualify at this point. Hell need to throw 6 1/3 more to qualify for the title at the end of the season.The Tigers have taken steps to limit his workload, and this latest start was a positive sign.I thought Fulmer was really on top of his game, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Really good fastball, down in the zone, really good slider, really good changeup.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: Kansas City C Salvador Perez sat out with what Yost described as a very minor knee issue.UP NEXTRoyals: Kansas City sends RHP Yordano Ventura (11-11) to the mound for Saturdays game at Detroit. Ventura is coming off a complete game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday.Tigers: Detroit starts LHP Daniel Norris (3-2) in the middle game of this series.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '