Royals extend winning streak to 10
DETROIT Alex Gordon’s grounder up the middle looked like a routine out — until it hit second base and took a wacky bounce, allowing the game’s first run to score.
With breaks like that, it’s no wonder the Kansas City Royals have won 10 games in a row.
Omar Infante added a solo home run and Jeremy Guthrie pitched impressively into the seventh inning, helping the Royals extend their longest winning streak in 20 years with a 2-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
Kansas City outpitched, outhit and outfielded Detroit in winning the first three games of this series, so the Royals have no reason to apologize for getting a little luck along the way.
“Baseball’s a funny game — you’ve got to take full advantage of those,” Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer said.
The American League Central-leading Royals have not won this many games in a row since a run of 14 in 1994. They extended their division lead over the Tigers to 1 1⁄2 games.
Guthrie (4-6) allowed four hits and struck out nine in 6 2⁄3 innings. Detroit’s Drew Smyly (3-6) nearly matched him but was victimized by Gordon’s fluky RBI single in the first in- ning and Infante’s homer in the fifth.
J.D. Martinez homered off Guthrie in the seventh, but the Kansas City bullpen got the last seven outs, with Greg Holland pitching the ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances.
Kansas City will try for a sweep of the Tigers today. The Royals began the series by pounding star Tigers right-handers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, then Guthrie took the mound and breezed through the team that has won the last three division titles.
“This could be the best game he’s thrown all year,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “He was fabulous.”
It was Guthrie’s second game in a row with nine strikeouts; he also reached the mark June 13 against the Chicago White Sox. He had help Wednesday from his fielders, as Gordon saved a run in the fourth with a diving catch in left-center field.
“I’m not that fast, but I can turn it on when I want to,” the Kansas City left fielder said.
The Tigers lost for the 20th time in 29 games.