Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Match Player Stats On Jul 26, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 26, 2017

DETROIT -- Eric Hosmer's first career grand slam highlighted a nine-run seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals extended their season-best winning streak to eight games by pounding the Detroit Tigers 16-2 on Wednesday at Comerica Park.

Hosmer matched his career high with five hits while scoring five runs and driving in six as the Royals racked up a season-high 22 hits. The 16 runs and nine-run inning tied season highs for the Royals (53-47).

Both benches cleared after Tigers reliever Bruce Rondon hit Mike Moustakas with a pitch in the ninth inning. Rondon was ejected for the first time in his career.

Whit Merrifield and Moustakas each supplied three hits and drove in a run for Kansas City. Lorenzo Cain also rapped three hits and scored three runs, Alcides Escobar contributed two hits and drove in two runs, and Drew Butera added a two-run single during the seventh-inning outburst.

Ian Kennedy (4-6) held the Tigers (45-55) to one run on three hits over six innings.

Mikie Mahtook stretched his hitting streak to 10 games with a fifth-inning single and scored a run for Detroit.

Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez (2-1) was removed with two out in the fourth inning. He allowed four runs on nine hits, all singles, and issued two walks.

Escobar's RBI single in the second opened the scoring for Kansas City. He brought home Hosmer, who led off the inning with a single and advanced on a stolen base.

The Royals upped their lead to 4-0 in the third with a small-ball attack. They slapped five singles, with Merrifield sparking the uprising with a leadoff infield hit. Jorge Bonifacio, Hosmer and Brandon Moss delivered the runs.

Detroit broke through in the fifth on Jose Iglesias' two-out, RBI double.

NOTES: Royals C Salvador Perez got the night off but he'll be available for the weekend series in Boston. He left Tuesday's game during the fifth inning with right side rib tightness. ... Detroit LHP Daniel Norris received a cortisone shot after undergoing a second MRI to determine the extent of his right quad and left groin injuries. He will begin a light throwing program in a few days and there's no timetable for his return. ... Both teams have Thursday off. The Royals will travel to Boston for a weekend series, while the Tigers remain home to face American League West Division leader Houston. ... Tigers manager Brad Ausmus isn't sweating out the trade deadline despite rumors swirling around his team. "I don't lie awake at night waiting for four o'clock on July 31st to pass," he said.