Tigers Blast Royals 9-2, ruin Danny Duffy Debut

Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

For the second straight night, the Detroit Tigers hung a crooked score on the Royals in Kansas City. However, the game only got out of hand when rookie Aaron Brooks gave up 6 runs in the top of the 9th to turn a tight 3-1 game into  a 9-2 beat down by Detroit. Danny Duffy took the loss, even though he only allowed 1 run in his 4 innings.

The real story of the night was how the Tigers’ no. 5 starter dominated the Royals lineup. The loss dropped the Royals to 14-15 and 4 games behind Detroit, who is now separating itself from the rest of the Central Division.

On the Mound

Danny Duffy started and only managed to last 4 innings despite going 5 pitches over manager Ned Yost‘s rough pitch limit. Though  he only allowed 1 run, Duffy struggled with his control all evening by giving up 4 walks and throwing a wild pitch. It was not the commanding performance that Duffy wanted to grab onto a rotation spot.

Louis Coleman relieved Duffy in the 5th and worked a 1, 2, 3 inning only because CF Justin Maxwell gunned down Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler attempting to stretch a double into a triple with two outs.

Coleman ran into trouble in the 6th, by surrendering a double to Miguel Cabrera and an intentional walk to Victor Martinez. Coleman then retired Torii Hunter on a fly ball before Yost called on Kelvin Herrera in relief.

Herrera gave up a bases-clearing double to N. Castellano with two outs, allowing both inherited runners to score.

Aaron Crow pitched a clean 7th before Aaron Brooks relieved him in the 8th. Brooks managed to get through the 8th without damage before allowing 6 runs in the top of the 9th—including a 3-run home run to Torii Hunter that capped the scoring.

Not a great night on the mound for KC, or a promising MLB debut for Brooks.

At the Plate

Royals hitters only managed 5 hits and 2 walks on the night and two runs. They’ve pretty much gone to sleep in their 3 game losing streak.

Eric Hosmer had a good night going 2-4 with a double and a run scored.

Alex Gordon went 1-3 with a double, walk, and RBI.

Pretty much everyone else looked bad. KC hitters struck out seven times, and the 3 bottom-of-the-order-hitters went a cumulative 0-9 with no walks and three strikeouts.

This and That

The Royals maintained their 4 run dividing line. The team is now 14-0 when scoring 4 runs, and 0-15 when scoring less. The way things are going, the team is more likely to win a game while scoring less than 4, than losing while scoring 4, because the offense has been running bad.

The Kansas City trio of Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, and Alex Gordon were awarded their trophies from winning Gold Gloves last season before the game. The moment was the high point of the evening for Royals fans.

Ned Yost played his lineup against lefty starters by substituting 3B Danny Valencia for Mike Moustakas, and CF Justin Maxwell for Jarrod Dyson. The two went a combined 1-7, with Valencia getting the only hit.

Brett Hayes started behind the plate, giving C Salvador Perez a much-needed break. Hayes went 0-3

Aaron Crow has yet to allow an earned run through 11.0 IP this season.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Eric Hosmer is the KC Kingdom player of the game with his 2-4 night with a double. He almost wins the nod by default because no Kansas City player distinguished himself on Saturday night.

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• Billy Butler — 2
• Salvador Perez – 2
• Jeremy Guthrie
• Jason Vargas – 4
• Alex Gordon – 3
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 3
• Yordano Ventura – 3
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy
• Omar Infante – 2
• Mike Moustakas – 2
• Alcides Escobar –3
• Eric Hosmer –3
• Michael Mariot

The Tigers

Drew Smyly was impressive. The no. 5 Detroit starter allowed only two hits, two walks and no runs  in 7.0 IP with 6 strikeouts. Smyly’s ERA is now at 2.45 for the season with a 2-1 record.

Torii Hunter hit his 4th home run of the season with a 3-run shot off the beleaguered Aaron Brooks in the 9th.

Overall, the Tigers dominated at the mound and at the plate. The Detroit offense slammed 12 hits and drew 6 walks. For the second straight night, ever Detroit starting position player got at least one hit.

Up Next

The Royals will try to salvage the last game of the 3 game series to avoid a sweep to Detroit. The Royals will send Jason Vargas to the mound (2-0, 2.40 ERA) against Tiger ace Justin Verlander (3-1, 2.48 ERA). Gametime is 1:10 PM CST at Kauffman Stadium.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/4/2014.

2B: V Martinez (6, off D Duffy); I Kinsler (7, off L Coleman); M Cabrera (9, off L Coleman); N Castellanos (4, off K Herrera); A Jackson (7, off A Brooks); D Worth (1, off A Brooks).

HR: T Hunter (4, off A Brooks; 9th inn, 2 on, 1 out to Deep LF).

SF: N Castellanos (3, off D Duffy); I Kinsler (2, off A Brooks).

IBB: V Martinez 2 (5, by L Coleman, by D Duffy).

TB: T Hunter 4; I Kinsler 3; V Martinez 3; M Cabrera 3; A Jackson 2; N Castellanos 2; D Worth 2; B Holaday; R Davis.

RBI: N Castellanos 3 (17); T Hunter 3 (16); D Worth (1); I Kinsler (15); M Cabrera (17).

2-out RBI: N Castellanos 2.

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 4 for 13.

Fielding

Outfield Assists: R Davis (D Valencia at 2nd base).

Baserunning

SB: R Davis (9, 2nd base off A Brooks/B Hayes).

Pickoffs: I Kinsler (1st base by D Duffy).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/4/2014.

2B: E Hosmer 2 (12, 1 off P Coke, 1 off D Smyly); A Gordon (12, off P Coke).

SF: B Butler (3, off P Coke).

TB: E Hosmer 4; A Gordon 2; N Aoki; D Valencia.

RBI: B Butler (12); A Gordon (15).

2-out RBI: A Gordon.

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 1 for 5.

Fielding

Outfield Assists: J Maxwell (I Kinsler at 3rd base).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/4/2014.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/4/2014.

Balks: None.

WP: D Smyly (1); D Duffy (1).

HBP: None.

IBB: L Coleman (1; V Martinez); D Duffy (1; V Martinez).

Pickoffs: D Duffy (2; I Kinsler, 1st base).

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