Royals 3, Tigers 0
James Shields gave up two hits over seven innings as visiting Kansas City defeated Detroit to take a one-game lead over the Tigers in the American League Central.
Lorenzo Cain went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar also drove in runs as the Royals salvaged the finale of the three-game set. Detroit had its three-game winning streak halted but remained one-half game ahead of Seattle for the AL’s second wild card.
Shields (14-7) struck out eight before his departure, Kelvin Herrera pitched a perfect eighth and Wade Davis struck out two in the ninth for his third save. Tigers starter Rick Porcello (15-11) gave up two runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings to lose for the sixth time in eight starts.
Kansas City strung together three straight one-out singles in the fourth with Perez’s hit making it 1-0, and Cain stroked an RBI single to center later in the inning to make it a two-run margin. Cain tripled in the ninth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Escobar to give the Royals an additional cushion.
First pitch was delayed by 42 minutes due to rain and Shields allowed a single to Ian Kinsler to start the bottom of the first. Shields picked Kinsler off and then retired the next 18 straight until Torii Hunter stroked a one-out single in the seventh.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Shields has tossed 18 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings and has allowed one run and 10 hits in 22 1/3 innings over his last three starts. … Hunter was 6-for-13 in the series. … Perez was 2-for-4 after going hitless in 17 at-bats over his previous four games.