DETROIT -- Five batters into Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander was starting to wonder if his luck was going to be horrible all night.
Verlander had allowed hits to all five batters, including three straight bloopers, and found himself down 3-0 without recording an out.
"The first two guys hit the ball hard, and that's on me, but the next three were three of the worst-hit balls that I've ever seen go for hits," he said. "You can work around getting three of those in game, but it is disheartening when they come in a row."
He got out of the inning without further damage, then settled down with six scoreless innings where the Royals got four singles and a walk. The Tigers rallied behind homers from J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera for a 5-3 victory.
Three relievers finished for the Tigers, with Justin Wilson pitching the ninth for his seventh save.
The win was Detroit's second straight after an eight-game losing streak.
"Two games isn't a streak, but it is a start," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
Matt Strahm (2-5) gave up five runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings for the Royals.
Whit Merrifield started the game with a ground-rule double over the 420-foot sign in center and the next four batters singled to give Kansas City a three-run lead with no outs in the first.
However, Mike Moustakas grounded into a force at second, Brandon Moss struck out and Alcides Escobar tapped back to the mound.
"If you are going to get to Verlander, you better get him early," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Tonight is another example. We put three on the board and had a chance to tack on a couple more, but we let him settle down."
Martinez led off the bottom of the second with his 12th homer, and Cabrera put the Tigers ahead 4-3 with a three-run, opposite-field homer in the third.
"It was up a little, but that's why he's one of the greatest hitters in the game," Strahm said.
Peter Moylan replaced Strahm with runners on the corners and two outs in the fourth, but Ian Kinsler lined an RBI single up the middle to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead.
Tigers centerfielder Mikie Mahtook received a standing ovation and a hug from Verlander when he ran down Salvador Perez's hit to the deepest part of the park, making a leaping catch against the wall in right-centerfield to end the fifth inning.
"That's an awesome feeling to see a teammate sacrifice his body to make a play," Verlander said.
Mahtook felt that he owed Verlander a play after not getting to Merrifield's first-inning double.
"I felt like I could have had that one, but I pulled up so it wouldn't bounce off the wall and get past me," he said. "When Perez hit his, I decided I was going to keep after it no matter how close I got to the wall."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: RHP Danny Duffy (oblique strain) is expected to throw his second rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Thursday. Duffy, who has been out since May 28, will be aiming for four innings and 60 pitches.
Tigers: DH Victor Martinez (irregular heartbeat) took batting practice before Tuesday's game and is scheduled to be activated from the DL on Wednesday. Ausmus said the Tigers will announce a corresponding move before Wednesday's game.
CASTELLANOS INTERFERES AGAIN
Nicholas Castellanos was called out for running out of the baseline and interfering with a throw in Saturday's loss in San Diego, and the same call was made against him in the second inning on Tuesday. This time, Ausmus didn't argue after Strahm's throw to first hit Castellanos and bounced away.
"The call was right, but I think it is a bad rule, and the umpires probably agree," he said. "If you draw a straight line from the right-handed batter's box to first base, it goes through fair territory, so you are asking those batters to run extra distance to get to the bag."
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (1-6, 4.95 ERA) will start the second game of the series on Wednesday. Kennedy has only beaten the Tigers once in seven career starts, and allowed five runs in three innings in a home loss to Detroit on May 31.
Tigers: RHP Daniel Norris (4-5, 4.66 ERA) pitches for Detroit on Wednesday, looking for his first career win against the Royals in his sixth start. He received a no-decision in Kansas City on May 29, giving up three runs in five innings.
Verlander had allowed hits to all five batters, including three straight bloopers, and found himself down 3-0 without recording an out.
"The first two guys hit the ball hard, and that's on me, but the next three were three of the worst-hit balls that I've ever seen go for hits," he said. "You can work around getting three of those in game, but it is disheartening when they come in a row."
He got out of the inning without further damage, then settled down with six scoreless innings where the Royals got four singles and a walk. The Tigers rallied behind homers from J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera for a 5-3 victory.
Three relievers finished for the Tigers, with Justin Wilson pitching the ninth for his seventh save.
The win was Detroit's second straight after an eight-game losing streak.
"Two games isn't a streak, but it is a start," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
Matt Strahm (2-5) gave up five runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings for the Royals.
Whit Merrifield started the game with a ground-rule double over the 420-foot sign in center and the next four batters singled to give Kansas City a three-run lead with no outs in the first.
However, Mike Moustakas grounded into a force at second, Brandon Moss struck out and Alcides Escobar tapped back to the mound.
"If you are going to get to Verlander, you better get him early," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Tonight is another example. We put three on the board and had a chance to tack on a couple more, but we let him settle down."
Martinez led off the bottom of the second with his 12th homer, and Cabrera put the Tigers ahead 4-3 with a three-run, opposite-field homer in the third.
"It was up a little, but that's why he's one of the greatest hitters in the game," Strahm said.
Peter Moylan replaced Strahm with runners on the corners and two outs in the fourth, but Ian Kinsler lined an RBI single up the middle to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead.
Tigers centerfielder Mikie Mahtook received a standing ovation and a hug from Verlander when he ran down Salvador Perez's hit to the deepest part of the park, making a leaping catch against the wall in right-centerfield to end the fifth inning.
"That's an awesome feeling to see a teammate sacrifice his body to make a play," Verlander said.
Mahtook felt that he owed Verlander a play after not getting to Merrifield's first-inning double.
"I felt like I could have had that one, but I pulled up so it wouldn't bounce off the wall and get past me," he said. "When Perez hit his, I decided I was going to keep after it no matter how close I got to the wall."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: RHP Danny Duffy (oblique strain) is expected to throw his second rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Thursday. Duffy, who has been out since May 28, will be aiming for four innings and 60 pitches.
Tigers: DH Victor Martinez (irregular heartbeat) took batting practice before Tuesday's game and is scheduled to be activated from the DL on Wednesday. Ausmus said the Tigers will announce a corresponding move before Wednesday's game.
CASTELLANOS INTERFERES AGAIN
Nicholas Castellanos was called out for running out of the baseline and interfering with a throw in Saturday's loss in San Diego, and the same call was made against him in the second inning on Tuesday. This time, Ausmus didn't argue after Strahm's throw to first hit Castellanos and bounced away.
"The call was right, but I think it is a bad rule, and the umpires probably agree," he said. "If you draw a straight line from the right-handed batter's box to first base, it goes through fair territory, so you are asking those batters to run extra distance to get to the bag."
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (1-6, 4.95 ERA) will start the second game of the series on Wednesday. Kennedy has only beaten the Tigers once in seven career starts, and allowed five runs in three innings in a home loss to Detroit on May 31.
Tigers: RHP Daniel Norris (4-5, 4.66 ERA) pitches for Detroit on Wednesday, looking for his first career win against the Royals in his sixth start. He received a no-decision in Kansas City on May 29, giving up three runs in five innings.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Kansas City - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Merrifield hit a ground rule double to deep center. | 0 | 0 |
| Bonifacio singled to left, Merrifield scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Cain singled to right, Bonifacio to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Hosmer singled to left center, Bonifacio to third, Cain to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Pérez singled to right, Bonifacio and Cain scored, Hosmer to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Moustakas grounded into fielder's choice to first, Pérez out at second, Hosmer to third. | 3 | 0 |
| Moss struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Escobar grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Moustakas out at second. | 3 | 0 |
| 3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Matt Strahm pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Kinsler fouled out to first. | 3 | 0 |
| Mahtook singled to center. | 3 | 0 |
| Upton struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| Cabrera struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Gordon fouled out to third. | 3 | 0 |
| Merrifield struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Bonifacio struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Matt Strahm pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| J.D. Martinez homered to left center (387 feet). | 3 | 1 |
| Castellanos out on batter's interference to pitcher. | 3 | 1 |
| Hicks flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| McCann flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Cain singled to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Hosmer walked, Cain to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Pérez struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| Moustakas lined out to center, Cain to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Moss lined out to second. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Matt Strahm pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Iglesias singled to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Kinsler fouled out to first. | 3 | 1 |
| Mahtook singled to left, Iglesias to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Upton flied out to right, Iglesias to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Cabrera homered to right (377 feet) , Iglesias and Mahtook scored. | 3 | 4 |
| J.D. Martinez struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Escobar singled to left center. | 3 | 4 |
| Gordon grounded out to first, Escobar to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Merrifield lined out to right. | 3 | 4 |
| Escobar to third on passed ball by McCann. | 3 | 4 |
| Bonifacio struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Matt Strahm pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Castellanos singled to left. | 3 | 4 |
| Hicks struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| McCann hit by pitch, Castellanos to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Iglesias grounded into fielder's choice to second, McCann out at second, Castellanos to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Moylan relieved Strahm. | 3 | 4 |
| Kinsler singled to center, Castellanos scored, Iglesias to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Iglesias to third, Kinsler to second on wild pitch by Moylan. | 3 | 5 |
| Mahtook popped out to first. | 3 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Cain grounded out to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Hosmer flied out to left. | 3 | 5 |
| Pérez flied out to center. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Peter Moylan pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Upton grounded out to first. | 3 | 5 |
| Cabrera safe at first on error by center fielder Cain. | 3 | 5 |
| J.D. Martinez walked, Cabrera to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Castellanos struck out looking. | 3 | 5 |
| Hicks grounded into fielder's choice to third, Cabrera out at third, J.D. Martinez to second. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Moustakas grounded out to pitcher. | 3 | 5 |
| Moss grounded out to first. | 3 | 5 |
| Escobar singled to left. | 3 | 5 |
| Gordon struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Scott Alexander pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Alexander relieved Moylan. | 3 | 5 |
| McCann singled to left. | 3 | 5 |
| Iglesias grounded into fielder's choice to third, McCann out at second. | 3 | 5 |
| Iglesias to second on wild pitch by Alexander. | 3 | 5 |
| Kinsler struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| Mahtook lined out to center. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Merrifield grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| Bonifacio reached on infield single to third. | 3 | 5 |
| Cain grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Bonifacio out at second. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Scott Alexander pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Upton struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| Cabrera struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| J.D. Martinez tripled to deep center. | 3 | 5 |
| Castellanos grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Daniel Stumpf pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Stumpf relieved Verlander. | 3 | 5 |
| Hosmer reached on infield single to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| Rondón relieved Stumpf. | 3 | 5 |
| Pérez struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| Moustakas singled to center, Hosmer to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Moss struck out looking. | 3 | 5 |
| Escobar grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Moustakas out at second. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Neftali Feliz pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Feliz relieved Alexander. | 3 | 5 |
| Avila hit for Hicks. | 3 | 5 |
| Avila lined out to left. | 3 | 5 |
| McCann lined out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| Iglesias fouled out to first. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Justin Wilson pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Romine at third base. | 3 | 5 |
| J. Wilson relieved Rondón. | 3 | 5 |
| Gordon lined out to pitcher. | 3 | 5 |
| Merrifield struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| Bonifacio struck out looking. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City Royals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Merrifield 2B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | .281 | .322 | .442 |
| Bonifacio RF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 28 | .254 | .318 | .467 |
| Cain CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .284 | .357 | .455 |
| Hosmer 1B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | .306 | .364 | .468 |
| Pérez C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | .289 | .320 | .523 |
| Moustakas 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | .268 | .304 | .528 |
| Moss DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .179 | .256 | .370 |
| Escobar SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .214 | .233 | .279 |
| Gordon LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .188 | .290 | .275 |
| Totals | 37 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 151 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Merrifield (11, Verlander) RBI: Bonifacio (27), Pérez 2 (45) GIDP: Cain Royals RISP: 3-13 (Moustakas 0-2, Merrifield 0-1, Hosmer 1-1, Escobar 0-2, Pérez 1-2, Moss 0-3, Bonifacio 1-2) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Cain (4, fly ball) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Attendance | 29,488 (70.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:14 |
| Weather | 72 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 10 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Dan Bellino, First Base - Nic Lentz, Second Base - Dan Iassogna, Third Base - Brian Gorman |
No comments:
Post a Comment