The Tigers learned this lesson last night with the sudden loss of outfielder J.D. Martinez for an estimated four to six weeks to a right elbow fracture. Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain drove in runs in the first inning to give them the lead, and Brett Eibner – fresh of the disabled list – matched Martinez’s first homer by driving in a run in the bottom of the second.
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Rookie Michael Fulmer looks to win his seventh straight decision and extend his impressive scoreless streak when his Detroit Tigers visit the Kansas City Royals on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series.
Duffy, who was making his seventh start, was removed after five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, three of them homers, while throwing 88 pitches.
Before moving into the top 10 of the consecutive scoreless saves hierarchy, Brad Ziegler broke the major league record by not yielding a run in 38 1/3 straight frames during his rookie year at age 29. Kelvin Herrera entered and retired Steven Moya – Whit Merrifield made a marvelous play at second base for a fielder’s choice – and got James McCann for an inning-ending groundout to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Justin Upton hit a two-run homer and Miguel Cabrera a solo shot off Dillon Gee in the ninth.
Ventura (6-4) scattered six hits while striking out five without a walk, ultimately outlasting Fulmer (7-2) in what began as an entertaining pitching duel between two bright young starters.
Martinez was tracking a fly ball in the second inning when he hit the wall.
Not only did the Royals’ five-game winning streak end, so did their nine game home winning streak. Cabrera has 13 home runs and 61 RBIs in 76 games at Kauffman Stadium.
“I’ve got to be aggressive against a guy like that”, Eibner said.
Detroit Tigers starting outfielders were generally playing well before J.D.
But Max Muncy hit a leadoff double in the ninth as Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara reached the ball and the wall at the same time and was unable to make the catch. The Royals optioned OF Reymond Fuentes to Triple-A Omaha.
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The injury slowly slides the Tigers further down their outfield depth chart, with Cameron Maybin already out dealing with left quad tightness.
