Royals 10, Tigers 2
Eric Hosmer went 5-for-5 and homered to cap a six-run fourth inning as the Kansas City Royals crushed the visiting Detroit Tigers 10-2 on Tuesday for their eighth win in nine games.
The Tigers fell into a tie for the second-best record in the American League with the Texas Rangers, who defeated the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Tuesday.
The Royals, leading 1-0, broke the game open against Brad Penny (10-11). Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar each singled in a run with one out, and after a two-out RBI single by Melky Cabrera, Hosmer finished off the outburst with a three-run homer to left field.
Luis Mendoza (1-0) coasted to victory in his first big league appearance of 2011, yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits over seven innings. He struck out three and walked three.
Penny was lifted after four innings after allowing seven runs, 10 hits and a pair of walks.
Alex Gordon led off the first with a home run to center field and Perez added a two-run shot off Tigers reliever Duane Below in the fifth.
Kansas City scratched designated hitter Billy Butler because of flu-like symptoms.