Final
Polanco leads Tigers past Royals
Apr 18, 2007 - 3:39 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Placido Polanco is a "baseball player," and Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland is just fine witt that.Polanco had three hits, including a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, and scored three times as the Tigers squandered an early lead before rallying for a 7-6 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.
Magglio Ordonez drove in three runs and Polanco and Marcus Thames belted their first home runs of the season for the Tigers, who improved to 2-0 on a six-game homestand.
"(Polanco's) just a smart, good everyday baseball player," Leyland said. "He's probably the perfect example of what I talk about when people say, "Well, this guy's really athletic or this guy's a tremendous athlete.' Well, that's fine, but I want a baseball player. He's a baseball player."
Omar Infante opened the deciding frame with a base hit to right off David Riske (0-2). He advanced to second on a sacrifice and, after Ivan Rodriguez struck out, Polanco stroked a base hit up the middle on a 2-0 pitch, plating Infante for a 7-6 lead.
"I would say maybe the pitchers are more concerned about who's hitting behind me," Polanco said. "They don't really want to walk me, they want to pitch around someone so I get a better pitch to hit. I guess I put a better swing on the ball."
"You can't fall behind the hitters," Riske said. "You have to get that first strike. I didn't do that today. They say this game is fun, but not when you lose."
Detroit tied the contest in the previous inning, when Polanco tripled off Joel Peralta and scored on a double by Gary Sheffield, who is batting just .146 with five RBI.
"I could feel that the crowd was with me when I hit that double," Sheffield said. "All I need to do is try to relax more at the plate and the hits will come."
Wilfredo Ledezma (3-0) yielded two runs and two hits in 2 1/3 innings for the win and Todd Jones worked around a two-out single to Mark Teahen for his seventh save in as many chances.
"I'm just kind of getting some opportunities early, which I'm thankful for," Jones said. "Try to get a little rhythm. I've got to make better 0-2 pitches to Alex Gordon, that's for sure. (Curtis Granderson) made a nice play to end the game, but I can't be hanging a curveball on an 0-2 count. You can't do that too many times and get away with it.
David DeJesus went 4-for-5 with a homer for Kansas City, improving to 12-for-20 this season against Detroit.
"I don't know what it is," DeJesus said. "I'm just relaxed at the plate and I'm really seeing the ball good and getting the ball on the bat."
His third homer of the season off Detroit starter Mike Maroth cut the deficit to 4-2 in the fifth, and he singled in a run during a four-run sixth that gave Kansas City a 6-5 edge. Reggie Sanders capped the uprising with a two-run double down the right field line.
"It was a tough way to lose," DeJesus said. "We stayed with them but couldn't get it done. It seems we always score runs, but they come back and overtake us. I think our offense is starting to click but we have to be patient and maybe something will start going right for us."
Kansas City starter Jorge De La Rosa yielded five runs - four earned - and eight hits in six innings. He struck out six without a walk.
Maroth was charged with four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 frames.
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 6 10 1
DETROIT 1 0 2 1 1 0 1 1 x 7 12 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA, JOEL PERALTA (7TH), DAVID RISKE (7TH) AND
JASON LARUE
DET - MIKE MAROTH, WILFREDO LEDEZMA (6TH), TODD JONES
(9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
HOME
Apr 17 10:00 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY PLACIDO POLANCO SCORED OMAR INFANTE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, P POLANCO ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6
DETROIT 7 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.149, 1-FOR-4, RBI)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 9:52 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Riske relieved J Peralta.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C GUILLEN ON FIRST, G SHEFFIELD ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6
DETROIT 6 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C Monroe (.188, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 17 9:26 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - PITCHING CHANGE
KAN: DAVID RISKE (0-1, 5.40) IN THE 7TH
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C GUILLEN ON FIRST, G SHEFFIELD ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6, DETROIT 6
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C MONROE (.188, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 17 9:26 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY GARY SHEFFIELD SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G SHEFFIELD ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6
DETROIT 6 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.259, 3-FOR-3, 3 RBI)
Apr 17 9:21 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY GARY SHEFFIELD SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G SHEFFIELD ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6
DETROIT 6 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.259, 3-FOR-3, 3 RBI)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 9:21 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Peralta relieved J De La Rosa.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6
DETROIT 5 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I Rodriguez (.309, 2-FOR-3)
Apr 17 9:12 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - PITCHING CHANGE
KAN: JOEL PERALTA (0-1, 6.14) STARTING THE 7TH
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6, DETROIT 5
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.309, 2-FOR-3)
Apr 17 9:12 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 6 9 1
DETROIT 1 0 2 1 1 0 5 8 0 (BOT 7)
CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA
DET - WILFREDO LEDEZMA
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.309, 2-FOR-3)
P POLANCO (.357, 1-FOR-3, HR, RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.130, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 17 9:11 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY REGGIE SANDERS SCORED DAVID DEJESUS AND ESTEBAN
GERMAN.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, R SANDERS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6
DETROIT 5 TOP, 6TH
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M SWEENEY (.171, 1-FOR-2, BB, RBI)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 8:56 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAVID DEJESUS SCORED JASON LARUE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D DEJESUS ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 4
DETROIT 5 TOP, 6TH
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E GERMAN (.286, 0-FOR-2, SAC)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 8:49 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY TONY PENA JR SCORED ALEX GORDON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J LARUE ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 3
DETROIT 5 TOP, 6TH
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.357, 3-FOR-3, HR, RBI)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 8:45 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY PLACIDO POLANCO (1) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF JORGE DE LA ROSA.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 5
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.133, 0-FOR-2)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 8:28 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DAVID DEJESUS (3) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF MIKE MAROTH.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 4
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E GERMAN (.296, 0-FOR-1, SAC)
Apr 17 8:19 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DAVID DEJESUS (3) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF MIKE MAROTH.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2, DETROIT 4
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E GERMAN (.296, 0-FOR-1, SAC)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 8:19 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Casey at first base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1
DETROIT 4 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DeJesus (.345, 2-FOR-2)
Apr 17 8:16 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 1 0 0 0 1 4 1
DETROIT 1 0 2 1 4 6 0 (TOP 5)
CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA
DET - MIKE MAROTH
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.345, 2-FOR-2)
E GERMAN (.296, 0-FOR-1, SAC)
R SANDERS (.400, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Apr 17 8:15 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MARCUS THAMES (1) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 4TH OFF JORGE DE LA ROSA.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1, DETROIT 4
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: O INFANTE (.500, 1-FOR-1)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 8:11 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED IVAN RODRIGUEZ AND PLACIDO
POLANCO.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ORDONEZ ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1
DETROIT 3 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.265, 0-FOR-1)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 7:56 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 1 0 1 3 0
DETROIT 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)
CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA
DET - MIKE MAROTH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C MONROE (.200, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
M THAMES (.167, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
O INFANTE (.333, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
Apr 17 7:36 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED IVAN RODRIGUEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M ORDONEZ ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1
DETROIT 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.271, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 7:25 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 1 1 2 0
DETROIT 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA
DET - MIKE MAROTH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.288, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
P POLANCO (.358, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.140, 1 HR,
Royals vs. TigersApr 17 7:15 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