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Infield single lifts Royals past Tigers

May 14, 2008 - 4:23 AM By Patrick Madden PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Mark Teahen's first hit of the night in the eighth inning broke a tie game and allowed the Kansas City Royals to edge the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday.

Teahen's infield dribbler was mishandled by Detroit shortstop Edgar Renteria, allowing pinch runner Esteban German to score from second base with what proved to be the winning run.

The hit made a winner of Royals reliever Leo Nunez (3-0), who pitched two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a hit.

"What's most impressive tonight was that we got behind and didn't panic," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "We came back and got some key hits, especially from Guillen, the last one with two outs, and Mark Teahen gets a big base hit up the middle."

"When I hit it I thought it was going up the middle, but Renteria made a nice play to keep it in the infield, so it worked out," Teahen said.

Renteria made a lunging stop of the ball and attempted to flip the ball behind his back to second baseman Placido Polanco, but the throw was wide of the bag for his fourth error of the season.

"That's the only chance we had," Renteria said. "You take a chance like that. If we win the game, everything's all right. That's a tough play. In that situation you have to take the best chance you have and I thought it was my best chance. You always want to get an out that late in the game. It was just a reaction."

"I think it's one of those in-between plays," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "If the throw's to Polanco, it's a great play. It was just hit in the right spot."

Joakim Soria earned his ninth save in as many opportunities by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

"Soria's been phenomenal," Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek said. "How can you say anything bad about him? Nobody walks, he gets guys out and just continuously goes out there and shuts the door and did it again today. He's been awesome for us."

Francisco Cruceta (0-1) absorbed the loss for Detroit, walking a batter and striking out two in one inning.

Grudzielanek had three hits for the Royals, who moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Tigers for fourth place in the American League Central Division.

Detroit grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Carlos Guillen's one-out double down the left field line in the first inning.

Matt Joyce's second home run of the season, a solo shot to right field in the second inning, increased the Tigers' advantage to 2-0. He finished 2-for-3 and a run scored.

The Royals tied the contest in the third inning on Jose Guillen's two-out, two-run double to left-center field.

Despite not getting a decision, Kansas City starter Zack Greinke logged six innings and allowed two runs to raise his earned run average to 1.93, second in the American League to Cleveland's Cliff Lee. He struck out two and walked two.

"Tonight was good," Greinke said. "If I go six or seven, more than likely we'll win the game. We ended up getting some runs, the bullpen did great and things ended up nice today."

Detroit starter Nate Robertson tossed seven innings, his longest road outing of the season, allowing two runs on 10 hits while striking out two.

"You always want to win, of course," Robertson said. "Basically it came down to them getting a couple of two-out hits, in the third and again in the eighth."

Miguel Cabrera and Ivan Rodriguez each collected two hits for the Tigers, who lost to the Royals for the fourth straight time this season but for only the fourth time in 19 outings at Kansas City.