Flu-like symptoms keep Gordon out of lineup

DETROIT -- Left fielder Alex Gordon dressed slowly and deliberately as if every move was an effort after the Royals' 2-1 loss on Thursday. He was a late scratch from Kansas City's lineup because of a bout with the flu.

Gordon, who hadn't missed a game all season, had been listed in his usual fifth spot in the batting order against the Tigers. And he was sick enough that he wasn't available to pinch-hit or anything else.

Jarrod Dyson took over in left field, his first career start at that position.

"Alex got sick. He came in today, had the flu, gave it a valiant effort," manager Ned Yost said. "We pumped two bags of IV fluid into him, he felt better and started to get in the weight room and do his stuff. He was going to give it a shot and went in the cage and took like three swings and started throwing up again."

Gordon was 6-for-14 in the first three games of the Detroit series, all Royals wins. He's reached base on a hit or a walk in 27 of his past 29 games.

Asked how he was feeling, Gordon said: "Sick." Feeling any better? "No."