<table> </table> Third baseman Alex Gordon became the fourth Royal in four days to go on the 15-day disabled list. The move was expected after Gordon was diagnosed with a torn right quadriceps muscle on Friday.</p><p>The Royals replaced Gordon on the roster Saturday by activating infielder Alberto Callaspo from the disabled list. Callaspo was three for 16 in four games while on a rehab assignment at Class AAA Omaha.</p><p>Callaspo batted .290 in 42 games before being placed on the disabled list June 28 for unspecified medical reasons one day after being cited for driving under the influence.</p><p>Despite not playing for the Royals for nearly two months, Callaspo was immediately put in the starting lineup for Saturday&#8217;s game.</p><p>&#8220;Hopefully, he will add to our offense,&#8221; Royals manager Trey Hillman said. &#8220;We will see how he does playing second base.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been a long time since AC has been up here. I know he&#8217;s in shape. He&#8217;s been playing a little while at Omaha. It was supposed to last a little longer, but the injury to Gordon necessitated a quicker move back.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Duckworth to start today</span></strong></p><p>Veteran right-hander Brandon Duckworth will start today for the Royals in their series finale against the Tigers.</p><p>Hillman confirmed Saturday that Duckworth&#8217;s contract will be purchased from Class AAA Omaha. The club will make a corresponding roster move today to clear space for Duckworth.</p><p>The Royals needed to add a starting pitcher because of an injury earlier this week to Luke Hochevar in Cleveland. Hochevar was placed on the disabled list after suffering a bone bruise and strained muscle in his rib cage.</p><p>Duckworth, 32, spent parts of the previous two seasons with the Royals before agreeing last winter to a minor-league contract. He has spent the entire season at Omaha, where he was 5-11 with a 4.75 ERA in 27 games.</p><p>&#8220;He (Duckworth) was on schedule and he was one of the guys who was built up,&#8221; Hillman said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a promotion because it&#8217;s a deserved promotion on how he&#8217;s pitched recently.</p><p>&#8220;He also has experience at this level. He&#8217;s been a good soldier in the minor leagues.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Fear of failure</span></strong></p><p>Infielder Mike Aviles plays the game with such obvious enthusiasm that it&#8217;s hard to believe that he has moments that he gets down on himself. Aviles said it&#8217;s the fear of failure that drives him, particularly when he has a bad game.</p><p>&#8220;I kind of take it pretty hard, to tell you the truth,&#8221; Aviles said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like to fail. It&#8217;s a good thing and a bad thing. Sometimes you can put pressure on yourself. But I just don&#8217;t like to fail.&#8221;</p><p>His response after his last poor game has been impressive. Aviles went zero for six a week ago in a 3-2, 13-inning loss to the Yankees. Since that game, Aviles has hit safely in five straight entering Saturday&#8217;s game.</p><p>Aviles is 11 for 21 for a .500 average over that span.</p><p>&#8220;If I have a bad night, I try to turn the page and see what I can do to have a good night whether it&#8217;s getting two hits or making a key baserunning move that wins us a game,&#8221; Aviles said. &#8220;That&#8217;s basically my motivation every time to try to do something to impact the final score.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Baserunning approach</span></strong></p><p>After watching David DeJesus get tagged out at home plate for the final out the night before, Hillman decided it was time for a talk on baserunning.</p><p>DeJesus charged home from third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when a pitch got past Tigers catcher Brandon Inge. But Inge recovered in time to easily tag out DeJesus and preserve the Tigers&#8217; 4-3 victory.</p><p>&#8220;We got to do a better job,&#8221; Hillman told his position players before batting practice Saturday. &#8220;We needed a better primary lead. I was able to look at it on video. We needed a much better primary lead and a better secondary lead.</p><p>&#8220;Once again, it&#8217;s things we should do better that we are not.&#8221;