Royals 2 - 1 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Surging Royals edge Tigers to win 10th straight

Jun 18, 2014 - 11:36 PM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeremy Guthrie spun 6 2/3 solid innings and the Kansas City Royals surged to their 10th straight win with a 2-1 decision against the Detroit Tigers.

Guthrie (4-6) allowed just one run on four hits and a walk while tying a season-high with nine strikeouts to win back-to-back outings for the first time since starting the season 2-0.

"This could be the best game (Guthrie) has thrown all year," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "He just pitched a beautiful game."

Omar Infante connected on a solo home run and Alex Gordon drove in a run for the Royals, who have their first 10-game winning streak since a 14-game run July 23-Aug. 5, 1994. They will go for the four-game sweep Thursday at Comerica Park.

Greg Holland worked around a leadoff base hit to secure the win and capture his AL-leading 21st save of the season.

Drew Smyly (3-6) was the tough-luck loser after tossing seven-plus innings and yielding two runs on seven hits while fanning six.

J.D. Martinez's solo shot was the lone run for the Tigers, who have dropped three straight and 12 of their last 17 contests.

"Every one of us has gone through losing streaks," said Tigers catcher Alex Avila. "It's frustrating because we're not playing well but it's nothing new to us."

The Royals jumped out to an early lead in the first. Eric Hosmer singled to left and swiped second with two outs. Gordon's hit looked like a routine grounder to second baseman Ian Kinsler, but the ball redirected after hitting the bag to plate Hosmer.

Gordon made a diving catch in left field to steal a run-scoring hit from J.D. Martinez in the fourth. Kinsler was on second with two outs.

Infante stretched Kansas City's lead in the fifth with his fourth homer of the year, a shot over the left-field wall with two outs.

Martinez's blast to left in the seventh came with one out. Guthrie's day was done after Nick Castellanos doubled with two outs. Kelvin Herrera held the lead by getting Don Kelly to fly out to center.

Wade Davis struck out the side in the eighth to extend his scoreless innings streak to 21 before handing the ball off to Holland for the ninth.

Game Notes

It's the fifth streak of 10 or more wins in Royals franchise history ... Kansas City's only four-game sweep in Detroit came in August, 1984 ... The Royals have won eight straight road games ... Detroit is 9-20 since May 19 ... Since April 8, Davis has thrown 27 innings, struck out 48, allowed 10 singles and no extra-base hits and posted an ERA of 0.33 ... Prior to the game, the Tigers designated reliever Evan Reed for assignment and purchased the contract of pitcher Chad Smith from Triple-A Toledo ... Royals catcher Salvador Perez extended his hit streak to 12 games, going 1-for-4 ... Royals right fielder Nori Aoki is day-to-day with a groin injury.






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