Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Match Player Stats On Sep 27, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 27, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alcides Escobar hit a two-run double in a three-run eighth, an inning after Paulo Orlando homered for the first time in more than a year, and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-4 on Wednesday night.

Orlando homered with two outs in the seventh off Drew VerHagen. The blast drove in Escobar, who had tripled.

Escobar's double in the eighth scored Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, who both had walked. The first run of the inning scored on a Chad Bell wild pitch.

Detroit lost its ninth straight.

Scott Alexander (5-4) picked up the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Mike Minor was summoned to get the final two outs, and he collected his fourth save.

Royals starter Jason Hammel did not allow a hit after giving up a RBI double to James McCann in the third inning. Hammel allowed three runs on six hits over six innings, striking out six and walking two.

Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann gave up two runs on four hits over six innings in a no-decision.

The Tigers took an early 3-0 lead.

Ian Kinsler walked on four pitches to lead off the game, and he moved to second on Alex Presley's single. Jeimer Candelario laced a single to center, scoring Kinsler.

The Tigers reeled off four consecutive hits in the third inning to score two more runs. One-out singles by Presley and Nicholas Castellanos started it. Candelario had his second straight run-producing single, and McCann placed a double down the left field line to score Castellanos.

With runners on second and third with one out, Hammel prevented further damage by striking out Efren Navarro and retiring Dixon Machado on a ground ball.

The Royals reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Melky Cabrera's two-out single scored Alex Gordon and Whit Merrifield. Gordon was nearly picked off first base, but after a Tigers' challenge and a 2:25 delay, the call on the field was not overturned.

NOTES: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera said he would seek a second opinion on his two herniated discs once he returns Monday to Florida. He said his back has been bothering him all season after he hurt it lifting heavy weights in spring training. ... Andrew Romine will play all nine positions for the Tigers in their Sunday season finale at Minnesota. Only four big league players have done that in one game. ... The Tigers signed Dominican 3B Pedro Martinez Jr., who is the son of the Hall of Fame pitcher. ... Royals CF Paulo Orlando made his sixth start of the season. ... Tigers LHP Daniel Norris and Royals RHP Danny Duffy are the Thursday probables for the series finale.