Hosmer's homer caps Royals' rally against Tigers
DETROIT -- Eric Hosmer broke up Anibal Sanchez's no-hit bid in the seventh, then hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the ninth to give the streaking Kansas City Royals a 4-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday at Comerica Park.
Hosmer blasted reliever Shane Greene's 0-1 pitch into the right field stands following Lorenzo Cain's one-out single. The first baseman's 17th home run of the season lifted the Royals to their ninth win in 11 games, getting the defending champions back to .500.
Alex Gordon extended his hitting streak to eight games with a tying home run in the eighth inning off Justin Wilson. Drew Butera added an RBI single after Hosmer's homer.
Royals starter Yordano Ventura limited Detroit to one run on five hits while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings. Rookie Matt Strahm (1-0) collected his first major league victory with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Kelvin Herrera recorded his sixth save.
Sanchez held the Royals hitless through 6 2/3 innings prior to Hosmer's double. Sanchez, who struck out eight, departed after the seventh.
Greene (2-3) allowed three runs in his lone inning as the Tigers lost for the eighth time in 10 games.
Detroit left fielder Tyler Collins came out after the seventh inning with a right knee contusion. He was hit by a pitch in the sixth. First baseman Miguel Cabrera, who missed Tuesday's game with a left biceps strain, was 0-for-4.
Ventura struck out two batters in the first, but Victor Martinez homered off him for the third time in his career in the second.
The Tigers had 11 baserunners over the next six innings but couldn't push across another run.
Sanchez did not allow a baserunner until Hosmer's leadoff walk on a 3-2 pitch in the fifth.
Hosmer ended Sanchez's bid for a second career no-hitter by drilling a double off the left-center-field wall. Sanchez tossed a no-hitter during his rookie season in 2006 for the Florida Marlins.
Sanchez shook off the disappointment quickly, inducing Kendrys Morales to foul out.
That was the last batter he faced, and Wilson's first relief pitch wasted his effort. Gordon clobbered a 95 mph fastball over the right field wall to make it 1-1.
NOTES: Tigers LF Justin Upton entered as a sub and went 0-for-1. He has just three hits in his past 43 at-bats, dropping his season average to .226, and he is homerless in August. "His bat's not slow, he's out of sync mechanically," manager Brad Ausmus said. "His timing is off." ... Detroit SS/3B Erick Aybar, who was acquired in trade with Atlanta on Tuesday, is glad to be back in a pennant race. "Atlanta was a different mindset because of the (rebuilding) phase up there," he said. "Coming here, it's a totally different mindset. You're trying to win." ... Kansas City RHP Kris Medlen tossed two scoreless innings for the Royals' rookie-level Arizona League affiliate on Tuesday. Medlen is on the 60-day disabled list due to right rotator cuff inflammation. ... The Royals' four blasts on Tuesday lifted them over the 100-homer mark for the season at 102. Even with two more on Wednesday, they still rank last in the American League.