Royals score 4 in big 1st inning, ease past Tigers

Martinez was a man on fire the last time the Tigers and Royals played, slugging three home runs in the series opener. He also struck out 112 times which is only 54 away from his average per season.

In one start this season against the Royals, Verlander picked up a win while allowing four earned runs in seven innings. His only walk led to a run in the third, but after escaping that frame he was almost unhittable. The Tigers caught a break when the ball didn’t go to the backstop – after it hit Reyburn, Saltalamacchia was able to pick it up and throw to first to retire Hosmer.

Royals: Yost said Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) is “progressing” but that the OF feels he’s still somewhere between 75 and 80 percent.

“It’s just tough right now”, Yost said. Kansas City is 46-44 overall, 17-31 on the road and 46-39-5 with the under. Kinsler’s wild relay to third allowed Morales to score, putting Kansas City on top 2-1.NOTES: The Royals are close to getting two key performers back from the 15-day disabled list. These two have hit the over in four of their last six meetings. Ian Kennedy began to lose his command during the bottom of the 6th as he approached 100 pitches, this has been his problem all season. Escobar finished 1 for 4 with a walk while hitting atop the lineup. The Tigers had won two of three before Saturday’s defeat at the hands of visiting Kansas City where the pitching couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Edison Volquez will be on the mound for the Royals and Michael Fulmer gets the start for Detroit. He did walk a season-high four batters in his 5 2/3-innings stint. It may take him one or two starts to recover, but he has the potential to lead the Detroit Tigers into the playoffs. “Obviously we went through that previous year, and it was tough for everybody here, especially when you’ve got a lot of guys in this clubhouse that are used to winning”, Verlander said.

“We put in some good at-bats there in the first inning”, Hosmer said. Although, in two of those starts he went to the the seventh inning or deeper. The terrible offense, couldn’t do anything with the 6 outs they had to work with, despite getting a one out single from Cheslor Cuthbert in the bottom of the 9th inning. Alex Gordon opened the scoring with a bases-loaded single, and Pelfrey then hit Orlando to force in another run.

“I feel awful. His kids were in the stands watching”, Saltalamacchia said.

It was Saltalamacchia’s ninth home run of the season and second career walk-off. He was lifted after 90 pitches when second baseman Rougned Odor dropped what could have been an inning-ending double play. The Royals have been very bad on the road this year (16-30), Detroit has actually been decent (23-16) in home games.

Royals closer Wade Davis pitched a ideal ninth inning in his return from a strained forearm.