Tigers 4 - 3 Royals
Final
  for this game

Fielder helps Tigers finish sweep of Royals

Apr 19, 2012 - 6:56 AM

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Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder went 2-for-4 with two RBI and drove in the eventual game-winning run in the seventh inning to help the Tigers defeat the Royals, 4-3, to finish off a three-game sweep.

Kansas City has lost its first six home games of the season for the first time in franchise history.

Max Scherzer (1-1) earned the win with a quality start, as he allowed three runs on seven hits over six-plus frames for Detroit, which went 4-2 on its six-game road trip.

"We go on the road and come home 4-2, that's pretty good. Two good clubs and I'm glad we're getting out of here because that club's (Kansas City) is ready to break lose." Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

Alcides Escobar blasted a two-run homer for the Royals, but grounded into a game-ending double play against Jose Valverade.

Jonathan Sanchez, starting on three days' rest, was effective through five innings, but the Royals bullpen couldn't hold a 3-2 lead in the seventh.

"Still struggling to command his fastball, but his off-speed stuff he commanded better and got him through the game," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.

Jose Mijares relieved Kelvin Herrera with one on and one out, and Miguel Cabrera punched a single to center to put runners on the corners with two away.

Gerald Laird, who started the inning with single, raced home on a wild pitch with Fielder at the plate. With the shift now on, Fielder followed with a base hit through the left side, knocking in Cabrera as the go-ahead run.

Phil Coke and Joaquin Benoit maintained the one-run lead with scoreless innings of relief, and Valverade got out of a jam in the ninth to record his third save of the young season.

With one out and runners on first and second, Escobar hit a ball down the third base line directly to Cabrera, who stepped on third and threw over to first to end the game and send the Royals to a seventh straight loss.

Jhonny Peralta drove in the game's first run, giving Detroit a 1-0 in the second when he singled in Ryan Raburn, who walked with two away and stole second to get in scoring position.

Scherzer set down the first seven hitters he faced before walking Mitch Maier and serving up Escobar's first home run of the year, a no-doubter into the bullpen beyond the left-field wall.

The Royals extended their lead to 3-1 on Humberto Quintero's RBI double in the fourth, though Maier struck out to strand runners on second and third.

Fielder cut the deficit in half with a run-scoring double of his own in the fifth.

Game Notes

Kansas City's Billy Butler and Cabrera each celebrated birthdays on Wednesday, with the former turning 26 and the latter turning 29. Each had two hits...Fielder stole second base in the third inning. He had just one steal in each of his final two seasons in Milwaukee...Sanchez, who yielded two runs on four hits, was moved up in the rotation as a result of Luke Hochevar getting an extra day to rest his sore ankle...The Tigers open a seven-game homestand on Thursday when they begin a four-game set against the Rangers, while the Royals have a day off before starting a four-game series against Toronto.






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