Royals Edge Tigers 2-1, Sweep Series
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Currently one of the hottest teams in baseball, the Kansas City Royals completed a three-game series sweep over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.
In what proved to be another pitchers’ duel in this series, Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie stole the show. Guthrie (3-3, 3.86 ERA) gave up one run on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking none.
Tigers starter Rick Porcello (9-10, 4.57 ERA) was cruising, but ran into some speed bumps in the fifth and sixth innings.
Royals second baseman Johnny Giavotella scored Mike Moustakas on a fielder’s choice in the fifth to make it 1-0. Alex Gordon gave the Royals a 2-0 lead with a mammoth home run to right center in the sixth, his 10th of the season.
An RBI single by Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta cut the deficit to 2-1 in the eighth.
In the ninth, a diving catch by Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain proved to be huge. With two on and one out, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera grounded into a double-play, and reliever Kelvin Herrera (2.49 ERA) recorded his first save.
In their first winning August since 2000, the Royals (59-71, 29-33 home) are 17-11, and 10-1 against the A.L. Central.
The Tigers (69-61, 30-35 away) remain three games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox in the A.L. Central.
Royals lefty Will Smith (4-6, 5.55 ERA) will face right-handed pitcher Cole De Vries (3-5, 4.68 ERA) for game one of three against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
