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 Lebron James Shoes Cheap . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Discount Lebron Shoes . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. http://www.lebronjamessneakerswholesale.com/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Lebron 16 Shoes Cheap . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. Lebron 14 Shoes For Sale . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State is hoping that history doesnt repeat itself as it prepares to face another Heisman Trophy contender.The 12th-ranked Seminoles had one of their worst games of the Jimbo Fisher era in a thumping against Lamar Jackson and No. 5 Louisville. On Saturday, they face Deshaun Watson and third-ranked Clemson for the third time.You watch the consistency he plays with, he throws the deep ball, the short ball, can run, Fisher said of Watson. Hes a great competitor and always finds ways to make the plays.This will be the third time that Watson has faced the Seminoles. Two years ago he came off the bench and completed 19 of 28 for 266 yards along with a rushing touchdown. Last season he had 404 yards of total offense (297 passing, 107 rushing) as the Tigers beat FSU for the first time in four years.Compared to other Atlantic Division teams, the Seminoles (5-2, 2-2 ACC) have had better success against the Tigers (7-0, 4-0) and Watson. FSU is the only division foe to defeat Watson and the two touchdowns theyve given up to him is the least an Atlantic Division team has allowed against Watson.Florida States defense comes into the game a confident bunch. They held Miami and Wake Forest under 300 yards for the units best performances of the season. Though both of those teams featured conventional pocket quarterbacks.Watson brings back memories of the Seminoles nightmarish start.In FSUs first five games, it allowed an average of 35.4 points and 438.4 yards against mostly dual-threat quarterbacks. It allowed Jackson to compile 362 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in the 63-20 loss to the Cardinals on Sept. 17.Watson is also going into the game beaming with confidence. In three October games, he has completed 68.5 percent of his passes and is averaging 318 passing yards.But Watson said the Louisville game wasnt a good indicator of what he expects from Florida States defense.Each game is a different type of scheme and a different way they want to play, Watson said. Those guys are building their chemistry each and every week, again they trust in each other and theyre trying to get better and help their team win.dddddddddddd.Tigers co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott is another who has noticed a difference from the Louisville game to now.I think they were doing a lot of things on defense early in the season, but you notice the last four games it looks like theyve kind of simplified and allowed their athletes to go out and play, he said.One major reason for Florida States improvement has been better communication among players, but they have continued to struggle when teams go no huddle.Cornerback Tarvarus McFadden, who is tied for the national lead in interceptions with five, said the unit has done a better job of not missing assignments. However, that will be put to the test against Clemson.McFadden also said they need to get pressure on Watson. The Seminoles had a season-high five sacks in the Oct. 15 win over Wake, but has only had three in the previous two meetings against Watson.That sets up a critical matchup between Florida State defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who has 8.5 sacks, and Clemson left tackle Mitch Hyatt.Walker said that the Tigers offensive line does a good job with blocking schemes and that Hyatt should be a tough matchup because he has strong hands and good feet.If Walker and his teammates can force Watson into mistakes, the odds shift in their favor. The only problem is, Watson doesnt make many.Watson has committed only one turnover against Florida State but the Seminoles have done a good job this season of forcing turnovers. They have forced one in eight straight games dating back to last season and already have nine interceptions after having eight all of last year.Something will have to give on Saturday night.---AP Sportswriter Pete Iacobelli contributed to this report from Clemson, South Carolina.---Online:AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '