Final
Tigers edge Royals to move over .500
Jul 8, 2012 - 2:48 AMVideo
So far, they've been one of baseball's disappointments, but they're beginning to show some life. For the first time in two months, Detroit can say it has a winning baseball team.
Delmon Young homered for the second straight game, and Prince Fielder also homered to help the Tigers climb above .500 with a tough 8-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Both homers plated two runs, and Austin Jackson and Gerald Laird contributed three hits apiece, as Detroit won its fourth straight to move to 43-42, the first winning record for the club since 16-15 on May 10.
"It's going to take every guy on this team to get to the ultimate goal and that's go to the postseason and win a World Series," said Laird. "Prince and Miggy (Miguel Cabrera) are going to do their damage, we know that. But we got to set the table for them."
Doug Fister (2-6) was solid yet unspectacular, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks in six-plus innings. It was the Tigers' offense that helped him get the win, the 153rd straight game in which Detroit has not been shut out.
Mike Moustakas homered and drove in three runs for Kansas City, which fell 9 1/2 games out of first with the loss. Bruce Chen (7-8) didn't last long, surrendering six runs and nine hits in only 3 1/3 innings.
Despite a four-run lead heading into the ninth, Jose Valverde found a way to make the ending exciting.
Two walks and a double loaded the bases with nobody out and brought the tying run to the plate. Billy Butler singled to score two and cut Kansas City's deficit from four to two.
Valverde finally settled down and retired the next two hitters, although a run scored when Jackson made a running basket catch for the second out in center.
After a stolen base by pinch-runner Jason Bourgeois, Jeff Francoeur represented the go-ahead run with the tying run at second and two outs, but Francoeur struck out to end the game.
"We just battled back. We don't quit playing until the last out's made and we made it really interesting there at the end," said Royals manager Ned Yost.
The game was tied, 2-2, after only one inning, but Detroit surged ahead in the second.
With runners on second and third and only one out, Laird's first hit of the day went for a two-run double to center, and he scored on the next play when Jackson singled.
Miguel Cabrera's sacrifice fly in the fourth put Detroit ahead by four, but Moustakas answered with his solo shot in the fifth. Yuniesky Betancourt added a sacrifice fly for Kansas City in the seventh, but Young restored the Tigers' four-run lead with a two-run blast off Nate Adcock in the home half.
The Tigers looked to be cruising to a victory before Valverde was less than stellar in the ninth.
Game Notes
Detroit leads the season series, 6-1...Alcides Escobar and Butler both finished with three hits for Kansas City...The Tigers haven't won four straight since doing it twice within the first 12 games of the season.
- KANSAS CITY: 7
DETROIT: 8
Final
Jul 7 7:05 PM - Mike Moustakas sacrifice fly to center scored Eric Hosmer. Runner on first with two out and Jeff Francoeur due up.
Royals 7, Tigers 8 Top 9, 2 OutsJul 7 7:01 PM - Yuniesky Betancourt sacrifice fly to left scored Alcides Escobar. Runner on first with two out and Mike Moustakas due up.
Royals 4, Tigers 6 Top 7, 2 OutsJul 7 6:10 PM - Mike Moustakas two-out, solo Home Run (15) to right. Jeff Francoeur due up.
Royals 3, Tigers 6 Top 5, 2 OutsJul 7 5:32 PM - Billy Butler flied out to right. None on with one out and Yuniesky Betancourt due up.
Royals 2, Tigers 6 Top 5, 1 OutJul 7 5:30 PM - Quintin Berry singled to center. Runner on first with two out and Miguel Cabrera due up.
Royals 2, Tigers 5 Bot 2, 2 OutsJul 7 4:48 PM - Gerald Laird double to center scored Jhonny Peralta and Ramon Santiago. Runner on second with one out and Austin Jackson due up.
Royals 2, Tigers 4 Bot 2, 1 OutJul 7 4:45 PM - Prince Fielder two-out, two-run Home Run (14) to right-center scored Austin Jackson. Delmon Young due up.
Royals 2, Tigers 2 Bot 1, 2 OutsJul 7 4:26 PM - Mike Moustakas single to center scored Eric Hosmer. On the play, Billy Butler advances to second. Runners on first and second with two out and Jeff Francoeur due up.
Royals 2, Tigers 0 Top 1, 2 OutsJul 7 4:15 PM - Yuniesky Betancourt fouled out to catcher. Runners on first and third with two out and Mike Moustakas due up.
Royals 1, Tigers 0 Top 1, 2 OutsJul 7 4:12 PM - KANSAS CITY: 0
DETROIT: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 7 4:05 PM
Related News
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 26, 2023 Dec 26
- Breaking down the Tigers offensive projections for 2024 Dec 26
- Royals Rundown: Recapping moves, MJ Melendez update, and love/hate new MLB rules? Dec 25
- The Royals got me what I wanted for Christmas Dec 23
- Weekend Rumblings - News for December 23, 2023 Dec 23
- Tigers sign RHP Shelby Miller to a one-year contract Dec 22
- Friday Open Thread: Your Tigers Christmas wish Dec 22
- Royals Review Roundtable: The free-spending Royals Dec 22
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 22, 2023 Dec 22
- The Royals’ offense could be better than you think Dec 21
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 21, 2023 Dec 21
- Does the Royals free agent spending spree mean anything for a Bobby Witt extension? Dec 20