The Detroit Tigers started early Tuesday night in their second of three games hosting the Kansas City Royals when J.D. Martinez hit a sacrifice fly that scored Torii Hunter in the first inning and Rajai Davis hit a two-run bomb in the second inning that gave Detroit an early 3-0 lead. Pitcher Max Scherzer only allowed one run in 6.2 innings pitched and Detroit was able to hold off Kansas City 4-2 to take a share of the AL Central lead.
More from Detroit Tigers
- MLB standings ordered by hard hit rate: Struggling Cardinals still cracking bats
- MLB rumors: Justin Verlander buzz, Astros target All-Star, Reds-White Sox deal
- Tigers young star takes vicious shot at Royals pitcher over sticky stuff allegations
- Immaculate Grid baseball: Answers, connections, hints for Grid 105 (July 16)
- Immaculate Grid baseball: Answers, connections, hints for Grid 102 (July 13)
AL Central is tied! Max Scherzer allows 1 run over 6.2 IP to lead Detroit over Kansas City, 4-2. pic.twitter.com/mzdqWwhDXu
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 10, 2014
Final: Detroit Tigers 4, Kansas City Royals 2. Tigers and Royals now tied in first in AL Central.
— Freep Sports (@freepsports) September 10, 2014
Scherzer allowed seven hits but also had six strikeouts to help lift Detroit in the win. He became the 20th pitcher to record three straight seasons of 16 or more wins and 230 or more strikeouts. And the first since Johan Santana did it 2004-2006
Max Scherzer: 20th pitcher to record 3 straight seasons of 16 or more wins, 230 or more K
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 10, 2014
First since Johan Santana (2004-2006)
Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas gave up four runs and six hits in 5.1 innings pitched. The Royals looked like they may have a chance in the eighth inning with runners in scoring position, but were only able to get one run in on a groundout from Lorenzo Cain that scored Josh Willingham from third. Joe Nathan, who has moderately struggled this season as Detroit’s closer, came in in the ninth inning and got the save. He is tied with Billy Wagner for the fourth most 30 save seasons in MLB history now with at nine seasons.
.@JoeNathan36's nine seasons with 30+ saves are tied with Billy Wagner for fourth most in Major League history. pic.twitter.com/S89MMaYtAo
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 10, 2014
Even long-time Tigers fan Jeff Daniels has high hopes for rest of Nathan’s season.
Kansas City no longer has an outright lead for the AL Central for the first time since Aug. 10.
Tomorrow’s game between the Royals (79-64) and Tigers (80-65) in Detroit will decide who holds the AL Central outright lead.
Add us as a preferred source on Google