DETROIT (AP) — With the Detroit Tigers in a jam after a close play at first base, Brad Ausmus calmly made his way onto the field.

No histrionics from the rookie manager — not in this situation at least. All he had to do was challenge the call and wait.

“It’s almost awkward when you go out there,” Ausmus said. “Normally the manager would go out there to scream and yell, but it doesn’t make sense to go out there and scream and yell if they know you have a challenge. In essence, I’m really just taking my time getting out there so we can get a determination from our video room as to whether we should use the challenge.”

Baseball’s new instant replay system was popular at Comerica Park on Wednesday, when two calls at first base were overturned in Detroit’s favor. The second reversal ended a Kansas City rally in the 10th, and the Tigers eventually won 2-1 on Ian Kinsler’s single in the bottom of the inning.

Kinsler also hit a solo homer in the fourth, helping Detroit win despite a blown save by new closer Joe Nathan. Max Scherzer pitched eight scoreless innings for the Tigers.

“All I kept thinking about was picking up Max. He was so good all game and you don’t want to waste that kind of performance,” said Kinsler, who was acquired from Texas for Prince Fielder in a November trade. “It was great for Joe, too. We know he’s a great closer, but it is a lot easier to forget about a bad outing when your team wins the game.”

In the top of the 10th, Kansas City’s Norichika Aoki was called safe at first, and it looked like the Royals would have first and third with two outs against Al Alburquerque (1-0). But upon further review, the throw barely beat Aoki. He was called out to end the threat.

There was another overturn in the sixth when Detroit’s Tyler Collins was initially called out at first, giving Kansas City a 4-6-3 double play. The play was reviewed and Collins was ruled safe, although Detroit didn’t score.

“That’s exactly why the system is there — to get the call right,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Both calls went against us, but they were the right calls, so I don’t have any problem with it.”

Scherzer allowed four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts, but Nathan blew a save at Comerica for the first time after 19 straight as a visitor.

Alex Gordon’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the ninth tied it, and Nathan balked the runners ahead when he pulled up in the middle of his motion. Nathan said afterward he stopped because he wasn’t sure he and catcher Alex Avila were on the same page.

“I just didn’t want to cross him up,” Nathan said. “I thought I saw a fastball in, and when I came up to my balance position and looked in, I saw him setting up away.”

After Alburquerque made it through the 10th, Austin Jackson and Nick Castellanos both walked for Detroit. Kinsler won it with a two-out single to left-center off Tim Collins (0-1).

Scherzer can become a free agent after this season, and if he keeps pitching like this he’ll be in line for quite a payday. The American League Cy Young Award winner mostly cruised until the eighth, when Salvador Perez doubled leading off.

Scherzer rebounded to strike out Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain. Ausmus then visited the mound, but he left Scherzer in. Alcides Escobar followed with a flyout on Scherzer’s 110th and final pitch.

Scherzer said Ausmus told him to make a decision about staying in.

“I said, `Give me a second to think about it,” Scherzer said. “I needed to be honest with Brad. I said, `Give me the ball.”

Jason Vargas, who signed a $32 million, four-year contract in the offseason, was sharp in his first start for Kansas City. He allowed a run and five hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out six.

— Associated Press —

DETROIT (AP) — On a day of dandy Detroit debuts, Alex Gonzalez helped Brad Ausmus start his tenure as Tigers manager with a win.

Gonzalez lined an RBI single off Greg Holland in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Tigers a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday in Ausmus’ first game since replacing Jim Leyland. Victor Martinez homered for Detroit, and Justin Verlander was sharp aside from a three-run fourth inning that wasn’t all his fault.

“There’s two things that could have spoiled opening day for me,” Ausmus said. “One, if we lost. And two, if the sun wasn’t out. Because for me opening day, the sun is out, fans are having fun, they’re eating their popcorn, drinking their beer. The energy is higher.”

Kansas City lost its sixth straight opener.

Ausmus was upstaged a bit by another newcomer on a bright, pleasant day in downtown Detroit.

Gonzalez was acquired by the Tigers in late March following an injury to shortstop Jose Iglesias. Detroit is just hoping he can fill in competently, and Gonzalez did not impress at first. His error in the fourth helped the Royals score an extra run, but he made up for that with a tying triple in the seventh.

Gonzalez then singled with men on first and third in the ninth.

“I’ve played on a lot of opening days — I don’t even remember all of them — but this one was special,” Gonzalez said. “I was looking for a pitch that I could elevate, and I got one. I rounded first and all I saw was the whole team coming at me.”

Joe Nathan — another new face on Detroit’s roster — pitched a scoreless ninth. Nathan (1-0) signed with the Tigers to become their closer, but he’ll have to wait a bit longer for a save opportunity.

Holland didn’t have a save chance either after converting 47 of 50 last year. Instead, the right-hander came into a difficult situation in the ninth and couldn’t get out of it. Wade Davis (0-1) yielded a one-out walk to Alex Avila and a single to Nick Castellanos before Holland allowed the single to Gonzalez.

“I get paid to get people out, and I didn’t do it today,” Holland said. “We’re not here to fight and compete. We’re here to win.”

Detroit’s Tyler Collins made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Avila — and ended up scoring the winning run.

Salvador Perez had four hits for Kansas City.

Although there were still a few patches of snow in the Detroit area Monday morning, the game was played under a sunny sky with temperatures in the 50s. With its recently re-sodded field, Comerica Park looked sharp.

But the Tigers, coming off three straight AL Central titles, were sloppy at first.

Right fielder Torii Hunter dropped a routine flyball in the second, and although Verlander pitched out of that jam, he couldn’t escape the fourth. Salvador Perez tied it at 1 with a one-out RBI double off Verlander, and Lorenzo Cain slapped an RBI single through the hole into left field to put Kansas City ahead. After a two-out walk, Gonzalez bobbled Norichika Aoki’s slow grounder for an error that loaded the bases.

Verlander then walked Omar Infante, forcing in Kansas City’s third run of the inning.

Verlander had surgery in January after injuring his groin, but he pitched 20 scoreless innings during spring training. He allowed three runs — two earned — and six hits in six innings Monday, walking three and striking out two.

That was enough for a no-decision. Verlander was making his seventh straight start on opening day, and he’s only 1-1 in those games.

“I never seem to find a win on opening day, but the bullpen shut them down and we got one anyway. That’s all that matters,” Verlander said. “Every opening day is special, but this one meant a little more, because I had to really work and grind to get here for this one after the surgery.”

With Kansas City ahead 3-1 in the seventh, Austin Jackson hit a one-out triple and Avila drew a walk. Aaron Crow replaced starter James Shields and struck out Castellanos, but the third strike was a wild pitch that allowed Jackson to score. Gonzalez followed with a triple to the gap in left-center.

Shields gave up three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

— Associated Press —

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer in his first action at Miller Park since his doping suspension, but Milwaukee lost 5-4 to the Kansas City Royals in an exhibition game Friday night.

Braun’s homer traveled 409 feet over the wall near straightaway center, giving Milwaukee a two-run lead in the third. The hometown crowd showered Braun with overwhelming applause.

The 2011 NL MVP went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. He’s now hitting .412 this spring.

“I feel pretty good, seeing the ball well,” he said. “The key for me is always trying to swing at strikes.”

It was Braun’s first appearance in a game at Miller since striking out as a pinch hitter on July 21. He was suspended the next day for the remainder of the 2013 season, covering 65 games.

The Royals rallied in a three-run fourth inning that was extended following an error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Billy Butler added a solo drive for Kansas City in the fifth.

Salvador Perez doubled and scored twice for Kansas City. The catcher is just fine after getting hit in the head with a pitch in his last game Wednesday against the Padres.

Perez’s double came off a blooper down the right-field line for Braun’s first chance Friday at his new position. He fielded it cleanly after the ball fell out of reach.

Braun moved from left to right field after Milwaukee traded Norichika Aoki to Kansas City in the offseason for left-handed reliever Will Smith.

“Ryan asked me about playing right field but, no, I didn’t have much advice for him,” Aoki said through an interpreter. “I told him he’s talented and he would be fine.”

THUMB UP

Braun looks as if he’s in midseason form at the plate, though manager Ron Roenicke said before the game there could be lingering issues from the right hand injury that also bothered the slugger last season.

“Time to time it will probably flare up, but he should be fine,” Roenicke said.

Braun has apologized several times in the offseason for the doping suspension, and has vowed to become one of the top hitters in the game again.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Braun had the only two hits off left-handed starter Jason Vargas, Kansas City’s big free-agent pitching acquisition in the offseason. Vargas went three innings with two walks and a strikeout in his final spring tuneup.

Vargas had a good spring after entering the night with a 2.14 ERA.

“He lost his command a little bit late, giving up the two walks and then a pitch up to Braun,” manager Ned Yost said. “Besides that, I was pleased with his effort, too.”

Brewers: Like Vargas, Matt Garza was a big free-agent grab for his team. He allowed four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings with two walks and a strikeout. Two runs were unearned following Ramirez’s error.

Garza finished the spring with an 8.80 ERA, though he said he feels ready for first regular-season start Wednesday against Atlanta. The veteran said his timing and mechanics were a little off, but he felt the problem was a quick fix.

TRAINERS ROOM

Royals: Second baseman Omar Infante stayed behind at the team’s spring complex in Arizona as he tries to get over an elbow injury. It was unclear whether he would be ready for the team’s season opener Monday at Detroit.

Brewers: Jean Segura said his sore right shoulder is feeling better, though it’s unclear whether the All-Star shortstop will be ready when Milwaukee’s regular season begins Monday against the Braves.

TIN CUP

A bad day on the golf course this spring left Brewers reliever Brandon Kintzler with a new job Friday night.

Kintzler had to serve as a team batboy after losing a bet over a round of golf to teammate Kyle Lohse, who cruised to an 11-stroke victory.

Garza didn’t waste a chance to poke fun and put Kintzler to work.

“It was just the ball was scuffed, I had to get rid of it, so didn’t want to throw a dirty ball,” Garza deadpanned. “That’s about it.”

— Associated Press —

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — James Shields gave up seven runs in the first inning Wednesday before settling down to throw three scoreless ones in his final start before opening day in the Kansas City Royals’ 9-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.

Shields gave up six hits, walked one and hit a batter as the Padres sent 11 to the plate in the first. Shields allowed only one hit after that and finished with a 4.74 spring ERA.

“They were just hitting groundballs that found some holes,” Shields said. “I was trying to stay aggressive. Walking the first guy didn’t help. But other than the first inning, I thought it was a pretty good effort.”

Shields will start Monday at Detroit as the Royals try to end a 28-year postseason drought, longest in the majors.

Padres starter Ian Kennedy gave up solo home runs to Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez on consecutive pitches in a two-inning stint that included three runs and six hits.

Perez left in the third after he has hit in the head by Johnny Barbato’s curveball. A team spokesman said he didn’t sustain a concussion.

“The one Perez hit was hit hard. The one Gordon hit was a flyball the wind got,” Padres manager Bud Black. “Pitch count (53) was a little high for two innings.”

Robbie Erlin, a candidate to start for San Diego while Josh Johnson (forearm) is sidelined, allowed six hits and struck out six in five shutout innings.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Five times in the first inning, the Padres swung at Shields’ first pitch. it resulted in four hits and a sacrifice bunt.

“Last game of spring training, they’re swinging early,” Shields said.

Padres: It was a mediocre spring for Kennedy, who finished with a 6.33 ERA. He’s scheduled to start San Diego’s second regular-season game Wednesday against the Dodgers.

PEREZ SCARE

Perez was the batter who hit the liner into Cincinnati reliever Aroldis Chapman’s face last week, causing a facial fracture that required surgery.

This time, the catcher was on the other end of a scary incident, being hit in the head with a pitch.

“I’m fine,” Perez said through a team spokesman.

GRANDAL TO DL?

The Padres will decide this weekend whether to carry three catchers or place Yasmani Grandal on the disabled list.

Grandal has made a rapid recovery from right knee ACL surgery in July. He caught nine innings in a minor league game Monday, but is not ready to catch consecutive days.

“I’ll be in San Diego, but I think it’s going to be more of a see what happens in the next five days, see how it feels,” Grandal said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Reliever Louis Coleman, who has a 13.50 ERA this spring while pitching with a bruised right middle finger, will stay behind in Arizona and is expected to start the season on the disabled list. . Second baseman Omar Infante (elbow) went 2 for 5 and played five innings in the field in a minor league game. Manager Ned Yost said he’ll DH in a minor league game Thursday and if that goes well he’ll rejoin the team in Milwaukee.

Padres: Outfielder Carlos Quentin was a late scratch with left knee pain. . Outfielder Chris Denorfia (shoulder) will stay in Arizona and play in a minor league game Thursday. Black said he’s “still optimistic” Denorfia will be ready for the opener. . Outfielder Cameron Maybin (torn biceps) is swinging in the batting cage and playing catch this week. He’s expected to miss another two to four weeks. . Right-hander Joe Wieland had surgery to remove loose cartilage in his elbow and won’t resume a throwing program for six weeks.

PAYROLL BOOST

The Padres’ payroll will surpass $90 million this season for the first time, according to a study of all contracts by The Associated Press.

San Diego ranks 21st among 30 teams, with the Royals 19th at just over $92 million.

UP NEXT

Both teams were leaving Arizona after the game for two final exhibitions.

The Padres return home to play the Indians on Friday and Saturday at the University of San Diego.

The Royals will face the Brewers in Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday.

“I’m excited about taking a good team in there,” said Yost, a former Brewers player and manager.

— Associated Press —