Royals, Duffy pick up road win over Tigers
DETROIT -- Danny Duffy struck out seven while winning his fourth straight decision and Christian Colon drove in two runs, leading the Kansas City Royals to an 8-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night at Comerica Park.
Duffy (5-1) became the third pitcher in Royals history with at least seven strikeouts in five consecutive starts. Kevin Appier (1996) and Zack Greinke (2009) were the other Kansas City pitchers to accomplish the feat.
Duffy, who has won three of his last four starts, gave up four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, Cheslor Cuthbert and Jarrod Dyson each scored and drove in a run for the Royals, who scored four first-inning runs and never looked back.
Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer and scored twice for Detroit. Losing pitcher Mike Pelfrey (2-9) lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing five runs and four hits while walking four.
The Royals batted around in the first inning against Pelfrey and grabbed a 4-0 lead.
Kansas City loaded the bases with one out on a double and two walks. Alex Gordon's sharp single brought home the first run. Paula Orlando was hit by a pitch to make it 2-0. The other runs scored on Cuthbert's single and Colon's groundout.
Detroit got one run back in the bottom of the inning on Kinsler's leadoff double and Cameron Maybin's single.
Pelfrey departed with two outs in the second after walking Gordon to load the bases. Reliever Dustin Molleken's wild pitch allowed Alcides Escobar to score for a 5-1 Royals advantage.
Kinsler's two-run homer, his 18th home run of the season, cut Detroit's deficit to 5-3 in the third.
Run-scoring singles by Colon, Dyson and Hosmer extended the Royals' lead to 8-3 in the fifth.
NOTES: The Royals activated RHP Wade Davis (right forearm strain) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHP Brooks Pounders to Triple-A Omaha. Davis had 19 saves prior to the injury. Pounders allowed six runs in four innings over three relief appearances before his demotion. ... Detroit RHP Jordan Zimmermann (right neck strain) threw out to 140 feet on Saturday and is expected to throw a bullpen session on Monday. Zimmermann will likely make one rehab start before he's activated from the disabled list. ... Tigers RF J.D. Martinez (fractured right elbow) said the results of a CT scan were encouraging but there's still no timetable for a rehab stint or return to action. "That's the million dollar question," he said. Martinez was placed on the disabled list June 17. ... Royals CF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) could play right field initially when he comes off the disabled list, according to manager Ned Yost.