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Verlander strong as Tigers top Royals

Aug 23, 2008 - 5:11 AM By Marc Bowman PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Justin Verlander continued his dominance of the Kansas City Royals and Miguel Cabrera homered twice in leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 victory Friday night.

In 11 career starts against the Royals, Verlander (10-13) is 7-1 with a 2.43 ERA, including a 4-1 mark at Kauffman Stadium.

The 25-year-old righthander held Kansas City scoreless for 6 2/3 innings, allowing eight singles and three walks while striking out six for his second straight win on the heels of a personal four-start losing streak.

"That's the key - when you give up hits, give up singles," Verlander said. "Doubles and home runs are what hurt you and they start to score runs. It's funny how things work out. I went out there without very good stuff."

"He was really good," Tigers catcher Brandon Inge said. "He spotted his fastball as good I've seen. He didn't have as good a curveball early in the game, but he started getting it. Then, when he starting mixing it in later, it made him that much tougher."

Cabrera led off the second inning with his 26th homer and the Tigers added another run in the frame on Matt Joyce's RBI grounder. Placido Polanco extended the advantage to 3-0 with a run-scoring double in the next inning.

Cabrera capped the scoring for Detroit with a two-out blast deep into the left field fountains in the sixth. It was the third multi-homer game of the season and 12th career for Cabrera, who is batting .314 with 11 homers and 42 RBI in 34 games since the All-Star break.

"It's pretty impressive, the numbers he is putting up, especially after he started out a little slow," Verlander said.

"When you see a guy hit one that far to (left) field, then up there by that car (on a display box above the fountains), that's pretty impressive," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He's one of the premier offensive players in the game, and he's young. That's why we traded for him."

After losing its first six meetings with the Royals this season, Detroit has outscored Kansas City, 37-9, in winning four straight - all at Kauffman Stadium.

Fernando Rodney allowed two runs, three hits and a walk but struck out two and tagged out David DeJesus trying to score on a wild pitch to end the game and record his sixth save in 10 opportunities.

"That's not what you figure will happen when you bring in your closer with a three-run lead, but we got it," Leyland said. "He's done a very good job for us, but he was a little shaky tonight.

"If you're a closer, you've got to come to the park figuring you're going to be pitching in the ninth and to close the game. And you have to be prepared and know who you're going to face. There is no such thing as a part-time closer. We've got to close these games out with a little less excitement."

As for Inge chasing down the wild pitch, it was just business as usual for the former third baseman.

"Having played third base, it's not that tough," Inge said. "I always slide to it and try to throw it back across the plate, chest high. That's never an easy play, but if the pitcher is in the right place, you can make that play.

"It's never (a situation) you want to be in, not when you have a three-run lead in the ninth. I'm glad it worked out for (Rodney). He didn't have his best stuff, but we got the victory."

Brian Bannister (7-13) dropped his seventh straight decision. He has not won since June 23, a span of 10 starts during which he has posted an 8.70 ERA.

The 27-year-old righthander tossed eight innings, allowing four runs and five hits - all for extra bases - while walking three and striking out two.

"Today was a major upgrade," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "He threw the ball with a lot more confidence. Obviously, he left some pitches up on balls that were hit out of the ballpark and in the gap. Overall, he was much, much better. Hopefully, that bodes well for his next outing."

"I'm just going to go back to what I am," Bannister said. "I went back to the way I pitched last year. Everything I was trying to do to help me long term, it just made me worse."

Ross Gload tied a career high with four hits and Mike Aviles added three more for Kansas City, who have lost six straight and 13 of 15 since August 4.