The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers continue their series at Comerica Park on Wednesday. Victor Martinez hit a solo home run to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the second inning, and Miguel Cabrera hit a sharp ground ball with two runners on in the third.
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Verlander’s first pitch was a 94 miles per hour fastball for a called strike, but the second was a hanging slider and Mondesi drove it just inside the right-field foul pole for his first career homer. He struck out six.
“We just need to win, ” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Bruce Rondon came in from the bullpen and struck out Paolo Orlando, but Cheslor Cuthbert hit a blooper to shallow center that Ian Kinsler got under, but dropped. Reliever Justin Wilson’s first pitch in the eighth was launched into the right field seats by Alex Gordon. In the 9th, Hosmer hit a two-run home run to break the tie and handed the game over to Kelvin Herrera, who earned his sixth save.
Sanchez had a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings when Eric Hosmer doubled to left-center with two outs. Sanchez tossed a no-hitter during his rookie season in 2006 for the Florida Marlins.Sanchez shook off the disappointment quickly, inducing Kendrys Morales to foul out.That was the last batter he faced, and Wilson’s first relief pitch wasted his effort. LHP Jason Vargas, who has missed the entire season after Tommy John surgery, was scheduled to start Wednesday night for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He didn’t look entirely comfortable, shaking his arm after swings, but hit a 112 mph groundball in the third inning, per Statcast. He had been hit by Yordano Ventura’s 99 miles per hour fastball in the sixth, and Ausmus said he’s expected to miss a few games. The Tigers managed three hits and a pair of bases of balls with Ja0rrod Saltalamacchia smacking his 11th long ball. Justin Verlander and Danny Duffy provided the pitcher’s duel that fans hoped for on paper. “So that will make things easier in the clubhouse”.
Cabrera made an early exit from Monday’s series opener against the Royals with a left biceps strain and he was held out of Tuesday’s game.
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Elias Sports Bureau research shows that he became the third Royals pitcher to go 13 straight starts without a loss, joining Rich Gale (14 straight in 1980) and Kevin Appier (13 straight in 1992). Duffy notched his first career complete game on Thursday, a 2-1 victory over the White Sox.
