Tigers Edge Royals 4-2
DETROIT — An electric start by lefty Drew Smyly provided just enough spark to propel the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on Friday night.
Smyly (4-3, 4.42 ERA) recorded nine strikeouts before the fifth inning. He would finish with 10 K’s and no walks in 6 innings of work.
Right fielder Quintin Berry gave Detroit (42-42, 20-20 home) a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run RBI triple.
Kansas City (37-45, 23-22 away) tied it up in the fifth on an RBI single by center fielder Jason Bourgeois.
In the sixth, left fielder Delmon Young smashed a go-ahead two-run home run to give Detroit a 4-2 lead.
Detroit’s bullpen held the Royals at bay, and closer Jose Valverde (3.44 ERA) recorded his 16th save.
Royals lefty Jonathan Sanchez looked better than he has in recent starts, but couldn’t outduel Smyly.
Sanchez (1-5, 6.75 ERA) gave up four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking three.
Royals lefty Bruce Chen (7-7, 4.83 ERA) takes the mound against Tigers right-hander Doug Fister (1-6, 4.61 ERA) for game two on Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park.
