The Sports Xchange
Jul 21, 2017
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Moustakas had three hits and drove in three runs, and Brandon Moss had four RBIs as the Kansas City Royals trounced the Detroit Tigers 16-4 on Thursday night to gain a split of a four-game series.
Eric Hosmer and Whit Merrifield homered for the Royals, who established season highs for runs and hits (19). Hosmer and Alcides Escobar each drove in a pair of runs.
Danny Duffy (6-6) picked up the victory, going five innings plus three batters. He allowed four runs and nine hits to snap his personal two-game losing streak.
Michael Fulmer (10-7) lost for the first time since June 23 and had the briefest outing of his big league career. He allowed eight runs (five earned) and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.
A four-run Kansas City sixth, which included Merrifield's eighth home run, made it 12-4 and led to both managers substituting freely.
The Royals sent 10 men to the plate in a four-run eighth, capped by Moss' two-run single.
Kansas City jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three innings.
In the first inning, the Royals took advantage of three Detroit errors to score four runs, only one earned. Third baseman Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias committed throwing errors, while center fielder Mikie Mahtook was charged with a fielding error. The Tigers have not committed more than three errors in a game this season.
Moustakas and Alcides Escobar had RBIs in the first, while the other two runs came home on errors.
The errors caused Fulmer to throw 37 pitches in the inning.
Fulmer failed to make it through the third inning when he yielded another four runs. Hosmer hit a 444-foot blast off Fulmer for his 14th home run, a solo shot. After Perez was struck by a pitch and Escobar hit a two-out single, Moss doubled to the right-center to bring both home.
Alex Gordon's double brought Moss home and chased Fulmer.
The Tigers got to Duffy for three runs in the fifth. Iglesias' single to right scored Andrew Romine, and Ian Kinsler drove in a pair of runs with a two-out double.
NOTES: Upon a review, the league changed Kansas City CF Lorenzo Cain's game-winning single in the ninth inning Sunday to an error on Rangers RF Shin-Soo Choo, who lost the ball in the sun. ... Detroit's Andrew Romine started in right field for the first time in his career. He finished the game at first base. ... Royals RHP Nathan Karns had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, ending his season. ... Royals C Salvador Perez stole his first base since April 8, 2015, and the third of his career. ... White Sox RHP James Shields and Royals RHP Ian Kennedy are the probables Friday at Kauffman Stadium. ... The Tigers will start RHP Anibal Sanchez on Friday in a series opener at Minnesota. RHP Ervin Santana will pitch for the Twins.