Unless shortstop Edgar Renteria kicks it into gear soon, the Tigers might find themselves in the market for a shortstop again next year.

Detroit hoped Tuesday night was a sign the turnaround could be starting. Renteria went 2-for-4 with a soft single and a liner to left.

The Tigers shipped a promising young pitcher, Jair Jurrjens, and a center field prospect, Gorkys Hernandez, to Atlanta last winter for the .300-hitting Renteria. The idea was to move Carlos Guillen off shortstop to a position less demanding on his legs and knees.

But Renteria, after a promising beginning, has stopped hitting. And now he's plagued by a hamstring that limits his range in the field and what he can do on the bases.

In his last 64 games, including Tuesday night when he broke an 0-for-12 streak with a bloop single to center, Renteria is hitting under .230. Worse, 48 of his 52 hits have been singles.

This from a player with a history of big hits with men on base.

Detroit can buy him out of his expensive contract for $3 million after the season. He's got a little more than two months to show the club why it shouldn't.

TIGERS 7, ROYALS 1: LHP Kenny Rogers checked Kansas City on four hits over six-plus innings Tuesday night, and five Detroit players each drove in a run or more to help extend the Tigers' winning streak to three games. RHP Fernando Rodney relieved Rogers following a 2-hour, 20-minute rain delay in the bottom of the seventh and fanned four in two innings. RHP Joel Zumaya finished up.

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