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Penny helps Tigers blank Royals; Peralta records 1,000th career hit

May 15, 2011 - 3:05 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Brad Penny tossed eight solid scoreless innings and Jhonny Peralta reached a career milestone, as the streaking Detroit Tigers topped The Kansas City Royals, 3-0, to take the first two contests of a three- game set.

Penny (4-3) scattered five hits in the quality start, struck out two and walked none for the Tigers, who have won seven in a row and 10 of the last 11 overall.

"It's nice to get a win and keep going," Penny said. "I really don't look at streaks, we got to go out there and try to win."

Peralta finished 2-for-3 with a RBI while recording his 1,000 career hit with a double in the sixth inning. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez each drove in a run for the victors.

Royals starter Jeff Francis (0-5) never got any help after giving up three runs in the first inning. The former Colorado Rockies pitcher is still in search for his first win in the American League, going eight innings, surrendering seven hits and striking out four in the hard-luck loss.

"It's frustrating to know that I can throw the ball for seven innings and it's just 13 pitches in the first that cost me," Francis said. "That's how baseball is."

Detroit got after Francis in the first inning using some small ball to set up the heart of its lineup.

Austin Jackson had a lead off single and Scott Sizemore surprised the Royals defense with a bunt single down the first base line. Ryan Raburn moved the runners over with a bunt to set up Cabrera's RBI grounder through the left side of the infield.

Martinez kept the rally going and extended his hitting streak to 13 straight games with a single that plated Sizemore. Cabrera then crossed home on Peralta's single to give Detroit an early 3-0 lead.

Neither team found the scoreboard the rest of the way. Kansas City's only threats included Billy Butler's one-out double in the fourth and a Jeff Francoeur double with one out in the seventh. The Royals ended up stranding six runners on base.

Jose Valverde had a shutout ninth with two strikeouts to get his 10th save of the season.

Game Notes

Peralta became the 47th player from the Dominican Republic to record 1,000 career hits...Francis hasn't won since July 20, 2010 when Colorado beat the Chicago Cubs, 17-2.