Tigers Bash Jeremy Guthrie for Eight Runs in Blowout Win

The Royals came home to face Detroit in a 4-game series right before the All-Star break primed to show 3-time A.L. Central Champions that they were in a race. Instead, the TIgers applied a merciless 16-4 beating at Kauffman Stadium Thursday night.

Kansas City played poorly from the first inning when Jeremy Guthrie allowed 3 runs in the game’s opening half-inning. Every phase of the game failed to perform on Thursday, offense, defense, and—in particular—pitching.

As humiliating as such a game seems while it is going on, the Royals need to let it go and get back to business. It’s only one game.

The loss drops Kansas City to 47-44. The Royals are now 5.5 games behind Detroit in the American League Central.

On the Mound

Oh boy. Jeremy Guthrie started off awful, continued to play awful, and finished up with a whimper.. Overall, Guthrie only lasted 4.0 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit batsman, and 8 earned runs with 2 strikeouts.

Guthrie pitched into the 5th inning, allowing a solo home run to Torii Hunter and a single to Nick Casetllanos before manager Ned Yost pulled the plug.

Scott Downs entered the game and gave up 2 consecutive doubles before Don Kelly grounded out. Downs lasted .1 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 2 hits.

Louis Coleman struck out Austin Jackson and then allowed 5 consecutive batters to reach base with a single, walk, 2 singles, and a double before finally retiring the side with a fly out. The Tigers scored 8 runs in the inning, with 4 charged to Coleman.

Francisley Bueno pitched the final 3 frames, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs.

At the Plate

The Royals popgun offense simply could not keep up with Detroit’s double-barrelled barrage Thursday night. The Royals did put up a respectable 9 hits and 1 walk—along with 2 home runs—but it simply was not enough to stay anywhere close to the Tigers. However, the one hopeful sign was that struggling sluggers Eric Homer and Billy Butler hit solo home runs.

Let’s hope this game marks the day they begin their season turnaround. That’s about the only positive a Royals fan can draw from this game.

Eric Hosmer had the best day on the team, going 2-4 with a single, home run (6), 1 run scored, and 2 RBI’s.

Danny Valencia went 2-3 with 2 singles an 1 walk.

Jarrod Dyson also went 2-4, with 2 singles, 1 run scored, and 1 RBI along with his 17th stolen base of the season.

This and That

Jarrod Dyson’s 2 steals on Wednesday night were his 99th and 100th of his career. Dyson kept the 2nd base bag as a memento.

The team put Jason Vargas on the disabled list after his emergency appendectomy Wednesday morning, but kept Alex Gordon on the roster after his MRI in Kansas City indicated his wrist was not broken.

The Royals fell to 3-7 against Detroit this season and 21-23 at home.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Picking a Player of the Game for this debacle feels a little bit like giving out a “good citizenship” award in a maximum security prison, but—hey–someone’s gotta win. I guess I’m going with Eric Hosmer.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Danny Valencia
• Christian Colon
• Raul Ibanez
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 6
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 6
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 5
• Jason Vargas – 6
• Alex Gordon – 9
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 7
• Yordano Ventura – 4
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 6
• Omar Infante – 3
• Mike Moustakas – 5
• Alcides Escobar – 5
• Eric Hosmer – 10
• Michael Mariot

The Tigers

Every Detroit starter got at least 1 hit. Collectively, the team smacked 19 hits and drew 5 walks to score 16 earned runs.

Torii Hunter had the biggest day, going 3-6, with 2 singles, a home run (12), 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI’s.

J.D. Martinez continued to torment the Royals with a 2-3 day that included a single, a double, 1 walk, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI’s.

Up Next

The Royals will send Danny Duffy (5-8, 2.86 ERA) to the mound for the second game of the series against Anibal Sanchez (5-3, 3.18 ERA) for Detroit, Game time is 7:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: M Cabrera 2 (34, 1 off F Bueno, 1 off J Guthrie); A Avila (14, off S Downs); E Suarez 2 (5, 1 off L Coleman, 1 off S Downs); N Castellanos (20, off L Coleman); J Martinez (17, off F Bueno); R Davis (15, off F Bueno).
HR: T Hunter (12, off J Guthrie, 5th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF).
SF: N Castellanos (5, off J Guthrie); I Kinsler (4, off J Guthrie); J Martinez (4, off F Bueno).
HBP: J Martinez (1, by J Guthrie); E Suarez (1, by J Guthrie).
TB: T Hunter 6; M Cabrera 4; E Suarez 4; N Castellanos 3; J Martinez 3; R Davis 2; D Kelly 2; I Kinsler 2; A Avila 2; A Jackson; A Romine.
GIDP: T Hunter (12).
RBI: T Hunter 3 (52); M Cabrera 3 (73); J Martinez 3 (41); N Castellanos 2 (34); E Suarez 2 (11); I Kinsler 2 (49).
2-out RBI: M Cabrera 2; J Martinez; T Hunter; N Castellanos; I Kinsler.
Team LOB: 9.
With RISP: 8 for 23.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

HR: B Butler (3, off D Smyly, 4th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF); E Hosmer (6, off D Smyly, 7th inn, 1 on, 2 outs to Deep CF-RF).
TB: E Hosmer 5; B Butler 4; J Dyson 2; D Valencia 2; A Escobar; C Colon.
RBI: E Hosmer 2 (41); J Dyson (12); B Butler (35).
2-out RBI: E Hosmer 2; J Dyson.
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 2 for 5.
Fielding
DP: 1. D Valencia-O Infante-E Hosmer.
E: J Dyson (3); R Ibanez (1).
Baserunning
SB: A Escobar (22, 2nd base off D Smyly/A Avila); J Dyson (17, 2nd base off D Smyly/A Avila).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: J Guthrie 2 (10; J Martinez, E Suarez).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None