Royals Can’t Decide How To Lose Games and Fall 2-1

Missed chances everywhere.

The Tigers struck right off the bat. Austin Jackson doubled to lead off the game and Ian Kinsler followed up with a single to score him and suddenly it looked like the Tigers were going to pick up where they left off last night and score 13o more runs. Luckily Danny Duffy was able to settle down and get out of the inning by striking out Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez,  and Torii Hunter consecutively.

The Royals were able to tie things up in their half of the first when Eric Hosmer hit a two-out double and was then singled home by Salvador Perez. Unfortunately, that was the only run the Royals would score in the game despite eleven hits and a walk.

The only other run the Tigers scored came in the third. After back to back singles from Rajai Davis and Austin Jackson. Danny Duffy threw the ball away in a pickoff attempt that allowed both runners to advance from first and second to second and third. Danny set Kinsler down swinging before giving up a sacrifice fly to Cabrera and then striking out J.D. Martinez again.

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That unearned run would prove to be the difference however as the Royals couldn’t get any timely hitting and fell 2-1. Duffy went six innings giving up one earned run, one unearned run, and five hits while registering six strikeouts and no walks. Three scoreless relief innings were provided by Kelvin Herrera, Aaron Crow, and Wade Davis who, as a whole, garnered three strikeouts and no walks.

Annibal Sanchez went seven innings for the Tiger giving up one earned run and eight hits while striking out three and walking none. Joba Chamberlain and Joe Nathan provided two innings of relief and gave up three hits while striking out and walking one apiece.

The Royals ensured that no matter what they do in the next two days, the best-case scenario is that they enter the all-star break the same 4.5 games back of the Tigers that they were at the beginning of the series. If they can’t win these next two games they are really going to end the first “half” of the season on a sour note.