Royals Defeat Tigers 2-1 For 10th Straight Win, Have 1 1/2 Game Lead Over Detroit

The red-hot Kansas City Royals won their 10th straight game Wednesday, defeating the Tigers 2-1 giving them a 1 1/2 game lead over Detroit leading the American League Central division.

Jeremy Guthrie (4-6) allowed one run, four hits and struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Wade Davis struck out the side in the eighth, and Greg Holland picked up his 21st save in 22 chances reported kansascity.com.

The ball bounced the right way for the Royals in the top of the first inning. Eric Hosmer singled, then stole second for his second stolen base this season. With two outs, Alex Gordon hit a slow grounder up the middle. Tigers shortstop Eugenio Suarez and second baseman Ian Kinsler converged on the ball around second base, but the ball bounced off the bag towards first base. With Kinsler’s momentum carrying him the wrong way, Hosmer came all the way around to score.

Gold Glove left fielder Gordon saved a run in the fourth. Kinsler led off with a single, Guthrie, on a pickoff attempt threw the ball away advancing Kinsler to second base. Guthrie then struck out Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. J.D. Martinez then looped a ball into short left-center, Gordon made a sparkling diving catch to end the inning.

Detroit starter Drew Smyly (3-6) took the tough luck loss, pitching seven innings allowing the two runs, giving up seven hits, striking out six and walking none. Smyly’s record does not show how he has pitched, he lowered his ERA to 3.48.

J.D. Martinez homered in the seventh for the only Tigers run, chasing Guthrie after 105 pitches. Nick Castellanous nearly followed with a home run, just hitting the top of the fence that was just out of Gordon’s reach. Kelvin Herrera got Don Kelly on a lineout to center.

Former Tiger Omar Infante homered in the fifth for the Royals other run.

The 10 wins in a row is the most the Royals have had since 1994, when they won 14 straight according to mlb.com.

As previously reported in The inquisitr, the Tigers are in a funk, having lost 20 of their last 29 games.

“These guys have won 10 in a row,” Cabrera said. They’re playing at a high level right now. You have to give credit to these guys. They play awesome. They play aggressive. When you’re doing good, you close your eyes and you swing and get hits.”

Kansas City will try to sweep the four game series Thursday as Danny Duffy goes up against Anibal Sanchez.

[Image via bing.com]