KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Justin Verlander may not be pitching like he did in 2011, when he won the AL Cy Young and MVP awards.
But he's been plenty good for Detroit over the last month.
Verlander threw his fifth consecutive quality start, and Ian Kinsler homered and drove in three runs as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 Tuesday night.
The Tigers, who had lost nine of 10 to drop into last place in the AL Central, snapped a four-game losing streak.
Verlander (3-6) limited the Royals to seven hits and four runs, two unearned, over 6 2/3 innings. He has a 0.76 ERA in his past five starts and the Tigers' lone two victories since Aug. 19, including a one-hit shutout of the Angels in his previous outing.
"It wasn't spectacular, but it's nice to get the win for the team," Verlander said. "My fastball location was really good. When other pitches aren't working as well, fastball location gets you out of trouble."
Verlander's velocity picked up as the game went along. He was throwing 97 mph in his final inning, including 10 straight pitches of 95-plus.
"I'm aware of it," Verlander said.
The last time Verlander faced the Royals was Aug. 4, when he allowed five runs and 10 hits over seven innings. It was his only rough start in his past eight.
"Obviously we adjusted our game plan to have more success," catcher James McCann said.
Johnny Cueto (2-4), who the Royals acquired in a July 26 trade with Cincinnati, allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings. Cueto has given up 38 hits in his past four starts, the most hits he has allowed in his career over a four-start span. He has allowed 17 runs in 17 innings in losing his past three starts.
"This is obviously part of the game," Cueto said with coach Pedro Grifol as his interpreter. "Every player has a streak like this. I'm not concerned because I'm well aware that this is going to turn around and I'm going to help this team."
Cueto, who shut out the Tigers on Aug. 10, yielded six hits and three runs in the first two innings. Miguel Cabrera, who hit .393 in August, singled home Anthony Gose in the first inning.
"He just wasn't real sharp the first three innings," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Miguel Almonte gave up a two-run, seventh-inning homer to Kinsler in his major league debut. Kinsler also hit a two-out RBI single in the fourth.
Kendrys Morales homered in the fourth off Verlander. Alex Gordon, who missed 48 games with a groin injury, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second. Omar Infante and Alcides Escobar had RBI in the seventh.
The Royals cut the lead to one run in the eighth on a Salvador Perez single.
Bruce Rondon worked a scoreless ninth for his third save in four opportunities.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique strain) made 60 throws from flat ground.
Royals: LF Gordon was reinstated after being out eight weeks with a strained left groin. ... RHP Kelvin Herrera and RF Alex Rios have the chickenpox and likely will miss a minimum of two weeks. ... 3B Mike Moustakas (pulled hamstring) did not start, but grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Randy Wolf makes his third start after losing his first two despite a 2.57 ERA.
Royals: Newly acquired OF Jonny Gomes will likely start Wednesday. He is 13 for 23 (.522) with two home runs off Wolf.
But he's been plenty good for Detroit over the last month.
Verlander threw his fifth consecutive quality start, and Ian Kinsler homered and drove in three runs as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 Tuesday night.
The Tigers, who had lost nine of 10 to drop into last place in the AL Central, snapped a four-game losing streak.
Verlander (3-6) limited the Royals to seven hits and four runs, two unearned, over 6 2/3 innings. He has a 0.76 ERA in his past five starts and the Tigers' lone two victories since Aug. 19, including a one-hit shutout of the Angels in his previous outing.
"It wasn't spectacular, but it's nice to get the win for the team," Verlander said. "My fastball location was really good. When other pitches aren't working as well, fastball location gets you out of trouble."
Verlander's velocity picked up as the game went along. He was throwing 97 mph in his final inning, including 10 straight pitches of 95-plus.
"I'm aware of it," Verlander said.
The last time Verlander faced the Royals was Aug. 4, when he allowed five runs and 10 hits over seven innings. It was his only rough start in his past eight.
"Obviously we adjusted our game plan to have more success," catcher James McCann said.
Johnny Cueto (2-4), who the Royals acquired in a July 26 trade with Cincinnati, allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings. Cueto has given up 38 hits in his past four starts, the most hits he has allowed in his career over a four-start span. He has allowed 17 runs in 17 innings in losing his past three starts.
"This is obviously part of the game," Cueto said with coach Pedro Grifol as his interpreter. "Every player has a streak like this. I'm not concerned because I'm well aware that this is going to turn around and I'm going to help this team."
Cueto, who shut out the Tigers on Aug. 10, yielded six hits and three runs in the first two innings. Miguel Cabrera, who hit .393 in August, singled home Anthony Gose in the first inning.
"He just wasn't real sharp the first three innings," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Miguel Almonte gave up a two-run, seventh-inning homer to Kinsler in his major league debut. Kinsler also hit a two-out RBI single in the fourth.
Kendrys Morales homered in the fourth off Verlander. Alex Gordon, who missed 48 games with a groin injury, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second. Omar Infante and Alcides Escobar had RBI in the seventh.
The Royals cut the lead to one run in the eighth on a Salvador Perez single.
Bruce Rondon worked a scoreless ninth for his third save in four opportunities.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique strain) made 60 throws from flat ground.
Royals: LF Gordon was reinstated after being out eight weeks with a strained left groin. ... RHP Kelvin Herrera and RF Alex Rios have the chickenpox and likely will miss a minimum of two weeks. ... 3B Mike Moustakas (pulled hamstring) did not start, but grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Randy Wolf makes his third start after losing his first two despite a 2.57 ERA.
Royals: Newly acquired OF Jonny Gomes will likely start Wednesday. He is 13 for 23 (.522) with two home runs off Wolf.
8:10PM,EDT,September 1,2015
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Detroit - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Gose singled to center, Gose to third on throwing error by shortstop Escobar. | 0 | 0 |
| Kinsler fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Cabrera singled to left, Gose scored. | 1 | 0 |
| J.D. Martinez singled to center, Cabrera thrown out at third, J.D. Martinez to second advancing on throw. | 1 | 0 |
| V. Martínez flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Escobar grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Zobrist grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| Cain flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Castellanos singled to right center. | 1 | 0 |
| Collins doubled to left, Castellanos to third. | 1 | 0 |
| McCann grounded out to second, Castellanos scored, Collins to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Iglesias singled to right, Collins scored. | 3 | 0 |
| Gose struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Kinsler flied out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Hosmer safe at first on error by second baseman Kinsler. | 3 | 0 |
| K. Morales singled to right, Hosmer to third. | 3 | 0 |
| Gordon hit sacrifice fly to right, Hosmer scored. | 3 | 1 |
| Pérez grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, K. Morales out at second. | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Cabrera singled to left. | 3 | 1 |
| J.D. Martinez lined out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| V. Martínez flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Castellanos grounded into fielder's choice to third, Cabrera out at second. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Infante grounded out to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Dyson walked. | 3 | 1 |
| Escobar fouled out to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Zobrist popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Collins doubled to deep left center. | 3 | 1 |
| McCann grounded out to pitcher, Collins to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Iglesias grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Collins out at home. | 3 | 1 |
| Gose hit by pitch, Iglesias to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Kinsler singled to right center, Iglesias scored, Gose to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Cabrera grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Cain struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| Hosmer struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| K. Morales homered to right center (445 feet). | 4 | 2 |
| Gordon struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| J.D. Martinez struck out looking. | 4 | 2 |
| V. Martínez flied out to center. | 4 | 2 |
| Castellanos grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Pérez singled to left center. | 4 | 2 |
| Infante singled to center, Pérez to second. | 4 | 2 |
| Dyson bunt popped out to third. | 4 | 2 |
| Escobar flied out to right, Pérez to third. | 4 | 2 |
| Zobrist lined out to right. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Collins flied out to center. | 4 | 2 |
| McCann grounded out to third. | 4 | 2 |
| Iglesias popped out to pitcher. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Cain grounded out to third. | 4 | 2 |
| Hosmer flied out to center. | 4 | 2 |
| K. Morales grounded out to second. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Miguel Almonte pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Almonte relieved Cueto. | 4 | 2 |
| Gose singled to right. | 4 | 2 |
| Kinsler homered to left (338 feet), Gose scored. | 6 | 2 |
| Cabrera lined out to left. | 6 | 2 |
| J.D. Martinez grounded out to first. | 6 | 2 |
| V. Martínez walked. | 6 | 2 |
| Castellanos grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, V. Martínez out at second. | 6 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Gordon doubled to deep right center. | 6 | 2 |
| Pérez singled to left, Gordon to third, Pérez to second on error by left fielder Collins. | 6 | 2 |
| Infante grounded out to second, Gordon scored, Pérez to third. | 6 | 3 |
| Dyson struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Escobar singled to right, Pérez scored. | 6 | 4 |
| Wilson relieved Verlander. | 6 | 4 |
| Zobrist struck out swinging. | 6 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jeremy Guthrie pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Guthrie relieved Almonte. | 6 | 4 |
| Collins flied out to left. | 6 | 4 |
| McCann struck out looking. | 6 | 4 |
| Iglesias bunt grounded out to pitcher. | 6 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Alex Wilson pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Romine at third base. | 6 | 4 |
| Cain singled to left. | 6 | 4 |
| Hardy relieved Wilson. | 6 | 4 |
| Hosmer flied out to center. | 6 | 4 |
| K. Morales struck out looking. | 6 | 4 |
| Gordon singled to right, Cain to third. | 6 | 4 |
| Orlando ran for Gordon. | 6 | 4 |
| Pérez singled to left, Cain scored, Orlando to third. | 6 | 5 |
| Gore ran for Pérez. | 6 | 5 |
| Feliz relieved Hardy. | 6 | 5 |
| Moustakas hit for Infante. | 6 | 5 |
| Moustakas grounded out to second. | 6 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jeremy Guthrie pitching for Kansas City | DET | KC |
| Zobrist at second base. | 6 | 5 |
| Orlando in left field. | 6 | 5 |
| Butera catching. | 6 | 5 |
| Cuthbert at third base. | 6 | 5 |
| Gose flied out to center. | 6 | 5 |
| Kinsler flied out to left. | 6 | 5 |
| Cabrera flied out to right. | 6 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Bruce Rondon pitching for Detroit | DET | KC |
| Rondón relieved Feliz. | 6 | 5 |
| Dyson struck out swinging. | 6 | 5 |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 5 |
| Zobrist walked. | 6 | 5 |
| Zobrist stole second. | 6 | 5 |
| Cain grounded out to third. | 6 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit Tigers | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Gose CF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .253 | .311 | .363 |
| Kinsler 2B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .306 | .357 | .452 |
| Cabrera 1B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .359 | .460 | .586 |
| J.D. Martinez RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25 | .289 | .349 | .557 |
| V. Martínez DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | .237 | .295 | .358 |
| Castellanos 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .249 | .302 | .422 |
Romine 3B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .302 | .336 |
| Collins LF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .256 | .280 | .397 |
| McCann C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .259 | .294 | .391 |
| Iglesias SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | .302 | .348 | .372 |
| Totals | 37 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 153 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Collins 2 (7, Cueto 2) HR: Kinsler (10, 7th inning off Almonte 1 on, 0 Out) RBI: Cabrera (67), McCann (30), Iglesias (23), Kinsler 3 (64) 2-out RBI: Kinsler Tigers RISP: 3-9 (McCann 0-2, Cabrera 1-2, Iglesias 1-2, V. Martínez 0-1, Kinsler 1-2) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Kinsler (10, ground ball); Collins (4, bobble) DP: 1 (Iglesias-Kinsler-Cabrera). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO |
| Attendance | 30,665 (80.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:12 |
| Weather | 86 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 11 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Gary Cederstrom, First Base - Quinn Wolcott, Second Base - Ryan Blakney, Third Base - Eric Cooper |
No comments:
Post a Comment