(SportsNetwork.com) - The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers pick up where they left off in the second test of a three-game series Saturday when the two AL Central squads duke it out at Comerica Park.
The Tigers recorded the 6-5 win Friday in walk-off fashion as Anthony Gose scored on a throwing error after Ian Kinsler was able to reach first on a bunt attempt. It was Detroit's second win in a row.
Kinsler drove in two runs, as did Andrew Romine. But it was Kinsler's second RBI that proved to be the game-winner for Detroit in the home half of the ninth inning. Kinsler finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate.
David Price was tossed around a bit for the Tigers, lasting 6 1/3 innings and surrendering 13 hits and five runs (four earned). Joakim Soria picked up the win for Detroit, while Yohan Pino was hit with the loss for Kansas City.
Yordano Ventura was roughed up for the Royals. He allowed eight hits and four runs in six innings of work. Catcher Salvador Perez drove in two runs to lead the Royals, while Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon each registered a team-high three hits in defeat.
"It was a tough pitching matchup for both teams," said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. "We were able to jump on Ventura early, but they countered."
The two squads will send out pitchers Saturday looking to improve their stats. Jeremy Guthrie gets the starting nod for Kansas City, while Anibal Sanchez hits the hill for the Tigers.
The 36-year-old Guthrie is 1-2 on the season with a 6.52 earned run average in five starts. He picked up a win in his first start against the Angels, but has lost two and had two no-decisions since. He was tagged with the loss after allowing 11 hits and six earned runs in six innings against Detroit in his most recent start. He'll try to turn it around against the Tigers.
Guthrie has only lasted longer than six innings once this season - his initial start against Los Angeles when he pitched seven innings.
Sanchez is 2-3 on the year with a 5.11 ERA, but he improved his stats with a strong outing against the Royals last Sunday. Sanchez, who has struck out 35 batters and walked only nine in his six starts, went 7 1/3 innings against KC in Detroit's 6-4 victory last weekend. He allowed four hits and three runs while striking out four for his squad.
The win bookends a rough stretch that included three losses and a no-decision for Sanchez. He gets the home advantage against Kansas City this weekend. The last time Sanchez posted an ERA above four was back in the 2008 campaign.
The Tigers lead the season series over Kansas City, 3-2, heading into the weekend.
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