Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Drew Smyly allowed just two hits over seven scoreless frames to guide the Detroit Tigers to a 9-2 win over the Kansas City Royals in the middle test of a three-game set.
Smyly (2-1) issued just two walks and fanned six in his second start of the season.
"Everything was working, I was throwing strikes with all my pitches. I just tried to get ahead and keep them off-balanced," Smyly said.
Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer, Nick Castellanos drove in three and Danny Worth, Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera added one RBI apiece for the Tigers, winners in four straight and six of their last seven tilts overall.
Danny Duffy (1-2) made his first start of the season for Kansas City and gave up one run on two hits and four walks over four innings to absorb the loss.
Billy Butler and Alex Gordon knocked in one run apiece for the Royals, who have dropped three straight.
"We've gone through this before. It has been like this before when you think you'll never score a run and then 'BAM!' you're on a tear and then slow down again," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "It's the way baseball season goes."
Detroit broke through in the fourth inning. Cabrera walked to open the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. Duffy then issued walks to Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson around a Hunter strike out to load the bases. Castellanos followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Cabrera.
Castellanos clubbed a two-run double in the sixth. With runners on second an third and two outs, Castellanos ripped a double to right field to clear the bases.
Detroit broke the game open with a six-run ninth. Brian Holaday walked, then scored on Worth's double to center. Rajai Davis followed with a bunt single, then stole second to put runners at second and third for Kinsler, who lifted a sacrifice fly to center. Cabrera followed with a single to center to score Davis. Martinez then singled before Hunter clobbered his three-run shot to left to make it 9-0.
Butler had a sacrifice fly and Alex Gordon followed with an RBI double in the home half to account for the final difference.
Game Notes
Detroit was 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position ... The Tigers are outscoring the Royals 17-4 so far this series ... Detroit has 26 hits this series ... The Royals were 1-for-5 with RISP ... The Royals have dropped five straight to the Tigers.
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