Cabrera, Martinez homer to help Tigers beat Royals
DETROIT — Five batters into Tuesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander was starting to wonder if his luck was going to be horrible all night.
Verlander had allowed hits to all five batters, including three straight bloopers, and found himself down 3-0 without recording an out.
“The first two guys hit the ball hard, and that’s on me, but the next three were three of the worsthit balls that I’ve ever seen go for hits,” he said. “You can work around getting three of those in game, but it is disheartening when they come in a row.”
He got out of the inning without further damage, then settled down with six scoreless innings where the Royals got four singles and a walk.
The Tigers rallied behind homers from J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera for a 5-3 victory Tuesday night.
Three relievers finished for the Tigers, with Justin Wilson pitching the ninth for his seventh save.
The win was Detroit’s second straight after an eight-game losing streak.
“Two games isn’t a streak, but it is a start,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
Matt Strahm (2-5) gave up five runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings for the Royals.
Whit Merrifield started
Tigers 5, Royals 3
the game with a groundrule double over the 420foot sign in center and the next four batters singled to give Kansas City a three-run lead with no outs in the first.
However, Mike Moustakas grounded into a force at second, Brandon Moss struck out and Alcides Escobar tapped back to the mound.
“If you are going to get to Verlander, you better get him early,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Tonight is another example. We put three on the board and had a chance to tack on a couple more, but we let him settle down.”
Martinez led off the bottom of the second with his 12th homer, and Cabrera put the Tigers ahead 4-3 with a threerun, opposite-field homer in the third.
“It was up a little, but that’s why he’s one of the greatest hitters in the game,” Strahm said.
Peter Moylan replaced Strahm with runners on the corners and two outs in the fourth, but Ian Kinsler lined an RBI single up the middle to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead.
Tigers centerfielder Mikie Mahtook received a standing ovation and a hug from Verlander when he ran down Salvador Perez’s hit to the deepest part of the park, making a leaping catch against the wall in right-centerfield to end the fifth inning.