DETROIT -- The crowd cheered Michael Fulmer and booed the decision to pull him.
That was the only real drama at the end -- after the talented right-hander had shut down Kansas City for almost the entire game.
Fulmer came within one out of a shutout, and the Tigers hit three home runs in a 7-3 victory over the Royals on Thursday. A late Kansas City rally cost Fulmer a complete game after he'd faced only one batter above the minimum through eight innings.
"Just one out short," Fulmer said. "It happens. I felt like, stuff was good all game, and then, even in that ninth inning, get two quick outs. Wasn't trying to overdo anything. I felt like they fouled off some great pitches, and ultimately just found holes that one inning."
Fulmer (7-6) appeared headed for his second big league shutout. He was at only 88 pitches after Alex Gordon grounded out for the second out of the ninth, but then Ramon Torres and Jorge Bonifacio singled, and Drew Butera drove them in with a double.
Justin Upton dropped Eric Hosmer's soft liner to left field for an error, allowing another run to come in. By that point, Fulmer was up to 104 pitches, and the crowd booed when manager Brad Ausmus came out and removed him.
"I just felt like the momentum was shifting and I didn't really want to bring it down to the wire where all of a sudden the tying run's at the plate," Ausmus said. "Trust me, I wanted to see Michael Fulmer go nine innings, too, but I also don't want to give the other team any hope."
Justin Wilson struck out Brandon Moss to end it.
Upton, Ian Kinsler and Andrew Romine went deep for the Tigers. Jakob Junis (2-2) allowed a three-run homer to Upton in the first, as well as a solo shot by Kinsler in the third and a two-run drive by Romine in the fourth.
Fulmer retired his first nine hitters. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year allowed seven hits, with seven strikeouts and no walks.
The first four batters reached base off Junis. Upton opened the scoring with his 15th home run of the year. Kinsler made it 4-0 with his ninth.
Romine's drive to right was his third home run of the year, a career high. He hit two in each of the previous three seasons.
J.D. Martinez battled through a 15-pitch at-bat against reliever Kevin McCarthy in the seventh, finally hitting an RBI single to make it 7-0.
"I was just trying to give it to him, like, `Put it in play," McCarthy said. "After a couple, it was like, `Damn.' I didn't know what else to do."
Junis allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
SOLID DEFENSE
Part of the reason Fulmer was able to keep his pitch count down was because the Tigers turned double plays following three of Kansas City's first four hits.
"Middle infield did awesome," Fulmer said. "I try to get them as many groundballs as I can, especially with a guy on first. They all know how to turn it well."
SNAPPED
The Royals lost two of three in this set, failing in their bid for a sixth consecutive series victory.
"We just didn't pitch good today, and matched up against a really, really good pitcher," manager Ned Yost said. "Had the opportunity to win the series, but Fulmer was just too much for us."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Gordon hit a single in the sixth that bounced off Fulmer and through the left side of the infield. Detroit's trainer came out to check on Fulmer's right leg, but he was able to stay in the game. ... Martinez appeared to foul a pitch off his right foot during his long at-bat in the seventh. He was removed for a pinch-runner after his single.
UP NEXT
Royals: Kansas City returns home to host Minnesota on Friday night. Royals LHP Jason Vargas (11-3) tries to become the AL's first 12-game winner when he takes on RHP Ervin Santana (10-4).
Tigers: Detroit hosts Cleveland, with RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0) taking the mound for the Tigers against RHP Josh Tomlin (4-9).
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
---
Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister
That was the only real drama at the end -- after the talented right-hander had shut down Kansas City for almost the entire game.
Fulmer came within one out of a shutout, and the Tigers hit three home runs in a 7-3 victory over the Royals on Thursday. A late Kansas City rally cost Fulmer a complete game after he'd faced only one batter above the minimum through eight innings.
"Just one out short," Fulmer said. "It happens. I felt like, stuff was good all game, and then, even in that ninth inning, get two quick outs. Wasn't trying to overdo anything. I felt like they fouled off some great pitches, and ultimately just found holes that one inning."
Fulmer (7-6) appeared headed for his second big league shutout. He was at only 88 pitches after Alex Gordon grounded out for the second out of the ninth, but then Ramon Torres and Jorge Bonifacio singled, and Drew Butera drove them in with a double.
Justin Upton dropped Eric Hosmer's soft liner to left field for an error, allowing another run to come in. By that point, Fulmer was up to 104 pitches, and the crowd booed when manager Brad Ausmus came out and removed him.
"I just felt like the momentum was shifting and I didn't really want to bring it down to the wire where all of a sudden the tying run's at the plate," Ausmus said. "Trust me, I wanted to see Michael Fulmer go nine innings, too, but I also don't want to give the other team any hope."
Justin Wilson struck out Brandon Moss to end it.
Upton, Ian Kinsler and Andrew Romine went deep for the Tigers. Jakob Junis (2-2) allowed a three-run homer to Upton in the first, as well as a solo shot by Kinsler in the third and a two-run drive by Romine in the fourth.
Fulmer retired his first nine hitters. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year allowed seven hits, with seven strikeouts and no walks.
The first four batters reached base off Junis. Upton opened the scoring with his 15th home run of the year. Kinsler made it 4-0 with his ninth.
Romine's drive to right was his third home run of the year, a career high. He hit two in each of the previous three seasons.
J.D. Martinez battled through a 15-pitch at-bat against reliever Kevin McCarthy in the seventh, finally hitting an RBI single to make it 7-0.
"I was just trying to give it to him, like, `Put it in play," McCarthy said. "After a couple, it was like, `Damn.' I didn't know what else to do."
Junis allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
SOLID DEFENSE
Part of the reason Fulmer was able to keep his pitch count down was because the Tigers turned double plays following three of Kansas City's first four hits.
"Middle infield did awesome," Fulmer said. "I try to get them as many groundballs as I can, especially with a guy on first. They all know how to turn it well."
SNAPPED
The Royals lost two of three in this set, failing in their bid for a sixth consecutive series victory.
"We just didn't pitch good today, and matched up against a really, really good pitcher," manager Ned Yost said. "Had the opportunity to win the series, but Fulmer was just too much for us."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Gordon hit a single in the sixth that bounced off Fulmer and through the left side of the infield. Detroit's trainer came out to check on Fulmer's right leg, but he was able to stay in the game. ... Martinez appeared to foul a pitch off his right foot during his long at-bat in the seventh. He was removed for a pinch-runner after his single.
UP NEXT
Royals: Kansas City returns home to host Minnesota on Friday night. Royals LHP Jason Vargas (11-3) tries to become the AL's first 12-game winner when he takes on RHP Ervin Santana (10-4).
Tigers: Detroit hosts Cleveland, with RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0) taking the mound for the Tigers against RHP Josh Tomlin (4-9).
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
---
Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Kansas City - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Torres struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Bonifacio fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Cain grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Kinsler singled to right center. | 0 | 0 |
| Avila walked, Kinsler to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Upton homered to left center (434 feet), Kinsler and Avila scored. | 0 | 3 |
| Cabrera singled to shallow center. | 0 | 3 |
| J.D. Martinez struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| V. Martínez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Cabrera out at second. | 0 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Hosmer grounded out to third. | 0 | 3 |
| Pérez struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Moustakas fouled out to shortstop. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Castellanos grounded out to third. | 0 | 3 |
| Mahtook flied out to center. | 0 | 3 |
| Romine lined out to left. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Soler lined out to center. | 0 | 3 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Gordon struck out looking. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Kinsler homered to left center (376 feet). | 0 | 4 |
| Avila struck out looking. | 0 | 4 |
| Upton flied out to center. | 0 | 4 |
| Cabrera singled to right. | 0 | 4 |
| J.D. Martinez walked, Cabrera to second. | 0 | 4 |
| V. Martínez grounded out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Torres singled to left. | 0 | 4 |
| Bonifacio grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Torres out at second. | 0 | 4 |
| Cain flied out to right. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Castellanos flied out to right. | 0 | 4 |
| Mahtook reached on infield single to shortstop. | 0 | 4 |
| Romine homered to right (388 feet), Mahtook scored. | 0 | 6 |
| Kinsler grounded out to third. | 0 | 6 |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 0 | 6 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Hosmer reached on infield single to third. | 0 | 6 |
| Pérez struck out swinging. | 0 | 6 |
| Moustakas grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Hosmer out at second. | 0 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Upton struck out swinging. | 0 | 6 |
| Cabrera grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 6 |
| J.D. Martinez grounded out to first. | 0 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Soler grounded out to third. | 0 | 6 |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 6 |
| Gordon reached on infield single to shortstop. | 0 | 6 |
| Torres struck out swinging. | 0 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| V. Martínez flied out to left. | 0 | 6 |
| Castellanos walked. | 0 | 6 |
| Mahtook struck out swinging. | 0 | 6 |
| Romine grounded out to first. | 0 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Bonifacio grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 6 |
| Cain grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 6 |
| Hosmer grounded out to first. | 0 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Kevin McCarthy pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Moss in left field. | 0 | 6 |
| Butera catching. | 0 | 6 |
| Gordon in center field. | 0 | 6 |
| McCarthy relieved Junis. | 0 | 6 |
| Kinsler walked. | 0 | 6 |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 0 | 6 |
| Upton singled to center, Kinsler to second. | 0 | 6 |
| Cabrera lined out to center. | 0 | 6 |
| J.D. Martinez singled to left, Kinsler scored, Upton to third. | 0 | 7 |
| den Dekker ran for J.D. Martinez. | 0 | 7 |
| V. Martínez grounded out to second. | 0 | 7 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| den Dekker in right field. | 0 | 7 |
| Moss struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| Moustakas singled to right. | 0 | 7 |
| Merrifield ran for Moustakas. | 0 | 7 |
| Soler grounded into double play, third to second to first, Merrifield out at second. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Neftali Feliz pitching for Kansas City | KC | DET |
| Merrifield at third base. | 0 | 7 |
| Feliz relieved McCarthy. | 0 | 7 |
| Castellanos lined out to right. | 0 | 7 |
| Mahtook grounded out to third. | 0 | 7 |
| Romine struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | KC | DET |
| Machado at shortstop. | 0 | 7 |
| Romine at first base. | 0 | 7 |
| Escobar popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 7 |
| Gordon grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 7 |
| Torres singled to left. | 0 | 7 |
| Bonifacio singled to right, Torres to third. | 0 | 7 |
| Bonifacio to second on fielder's indifference. | 0 | 7 |
| Butera doubled to deep left center, Torres and Bonifacio scored. | 2 | 7 |
| Hosmer safe at first on error by left fielder Upton, Butera scored. | 3 | 7 |
| J. Wilson relieved Fulmer. | 3 | 7 |
| Hosmer to second on fielder's indifference. | 3 | 7 |
| Moss struck out swinging. | 3 | 7 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Kansas City Royals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Torres 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23 | .320 | .370 | .400 |
| Bonifacio RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .250 | .319 | .456 |
| Cain CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .283 | .354 | .452 |
Butera C
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .242 | .254 | .394 |
| Hosmer 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .305 | .363 | .462 |
| Pérez C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .289 | .319 | .532 |
Moss LF
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | .177 | .253 | .366 |
| Moustakas 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .272 | .310 | .540 |
Merrifield PR-3B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .279 | .320 | .437 |
| Soler DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .159 | .274 | .254 |
| Escobar SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .219 | .238 | .286 |
| Gordon LF-CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | .195 | .294 | .284 |
| Totals | 32 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 109 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Butera (2, Fulmer) RBI: Butera 2 (7) 2-out RBI: Butera 2 GIDP: Bonifacio, Moustakas, Soler Royals RISP: 1-3 (Butera 1-1, Hosmer 0-1, Moss 0-1) Team LOB: 2 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Torres-Escobar-Hosmer). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Attendance | 33,681 (81% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:33 |
| Weather | 78 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 16 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Dan Iassogna, First Base - Brian Gorman, Second Base - Dan Bellino, Third Base - Nic Lentz |
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