Neither team threatened in the sixth – Ian Kinsler walked but was promptly picked off of first base – but Eric Hosmer padded the Royals’ lead with a solo homer in the seventh.
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The first two home runs Verlander allowed came off his hybrid slider/cutter.
“I don’t think we’ve swept a series here in my career – we haven’t even won more than a couple”, he said. “He can do more than people realize”.
Royals RHP Yordano Ventura, who is slated to start Wednesday’s contest, has a 6-0 career record against Detroit. “It was just one of those games”. Duffy out-dueled former Cy Young award victor Justin Verlander, who went 7.0 innings while giving up 3 earned runs on three solo home runs.
CINCINNATI – Tucker Barnhart’s grand slam highlighted a five-run first inning, and Anthony DeSclafani gave up two runs over six frames, lifting Cincinnati to a victory over Miami at Great American Ball Park. We only got four hits off him, but somehow, three of them were homers. “You don’t expect that”.
Detroit got a run back in the home half of the fifth when Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a long solo shot to center, breaking up Duffy’s shutout bid and making the score 2-1.
The Tigers lost slugger Miguel Cabrera after four innings to a strained left biceps.
Asked about his concern about Cabrera’s injury, Ausmus said: “I’m certainly not concerned long-term about Miggy”. “Our offense is cold right now, and the opposing pitching has a lot to do with that, but sometimes you just go cold as a group”. Justin Verlander and Danny Duffy provided the pitcher’s duel that fans hoped for on paper. He allowed four hits, five runs (three of which were earned), and he struck out six batters. He struck out six. The blast doubled Kansas City’s lead to 2-0; Gordon has suddenly hit in seven straight games.
Verlander took down the Royals in order again in the 2nd. J.D. Martinez led off the bottom of the second with a double down the left-field line, ultimately being stranded by the next three hitters.
When leading after seven innings, Detroit is 31-24, while Kansas City is 23-29.
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Detroit’s defense fell apart at the start of the eighth. Gordon hit a routine grounder to third, but ended up on second when Saltalamacchia missed Casey McGehee’s throw. Gordon scored from third, Escobar was thrown out at third and the play was ruled an RBI fielder’s choice.
