The Sports Xchange
Sep 29, 2017
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Nicholas Castellanos hit a three-run double in the fifth inning as the Detroit Tigers downed the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Thursday night.
The victory ended the Tigers' season-worst nine-game losing streak.
Left-hander Daniel Norris (5-8) gave up two hits over five shutout innings to log his first victory since June 16. Danny Duffy (9-10) absorbed the loss.
Paulo Orlando homered for the second consecutive night for Kansas City. Orlando hit a 2-1 Warwick Saupold pitch out to left to lead off the sixth inning.
Shane Greene worked a scoreless ninth to collect his eighth save, coaxing Melky Cabrera to ground into a game-ending double play.
After a scoreless first four innings, the Tigers sent eight men to the plate in a four-run fifth.
Andrew Romine drew a walk to lead off the inning. He moved to second on Alex Presley's single and scored on JaCoby Jones' ground ball single to left.
After Jose Iglesias' infield popup, Dixon Machado walked to load the bases. Castellanos cleared them with a double off the left-field wall.
That finished the night for Duffy, who gave up four runs on six hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He threw 51 strikes in 86 pitches. Duffy finishes the season with a 3.81 ERA.
The Royals got one man past first base the first five innings. Orlando doubled with one out in the third and advanced to third on Alex Gordon's fly out to right. Whit Merrifield flied out to center to end the threat.
Lorenzo Cain singled in the Kansas City fourth for the only other base runner Norris allowed, but was erased when Eric Hosmer grounded into a double play.
Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez was removed in the fourth inning with left groin soreness. He was replaced by Drew Butera.
NOTES: Switch-hitting Tigers 3B Jeimer Candelario did not start because of a sore left wrist, which bothers him when he swings right-handed. Andrew Romine started at third. ... With the Twins wrapping up a wild-card berth Wednesday, that cleared the final hurdle for Romine playing all nine positions Sunday in Minnesota. ... Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler, who is a career .300 hitter at Kauffman Stadium, was given the night off. ... Cheslor Cuthbert made his 28th start of the season at third base for the Royals with Mike Moustakas rested. Cuthbert, who has played only 55 games this season, said he will play winter ball. ... Tigers LHP Matthew Boyd will be the starter for the series opener Friday at Minnesota. ... Royals RHP Ian Kennedy and Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke will start Friday at Kauffman Stadium. Greinke was a 2002 first-round draft pick of the Royals.