Ventura wins fourth straight as Royals topple Tigers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Yordano Ventura battled through wildness as the Kansas City Royals topped the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Saturday night.
Ventura allowed six walks, matching his career high, and six hits, but held the Tigers to one run over six innings. He threw just 53 strikes in 105 pitches before turning a two-run lead over to Joakim Soria.
Ventura (10-9) has won his past four decisions, matching the second longest winning streak of his career.
Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer, who began his rookie season 9-1, has lost three straight decisions. Fulmer (10-6) permitted three runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer to Eric Hosmer, while walking one and striking out four.
Alcides Escobar extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-run single off Mark Lowe in the eighth to expand the Royals' lead.
Ian Kinsler belted his 25th home run to lead off the Tigers' ninth off rookie Brooks Pounders. Wade Davis was called to get the final two outs, notching his 22nd save.
Royals left fielder Alex Gordon suffered a right ankle sprain and was replaced by Billy Burns in the ninth.
Ventura held the Tigers scoreless the first three innings, although he labored with 53 pitches.
Ventura walked Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez to lead off the second and unleashed a wild pitch. With one out and runners on second and third, Ventura struck out Tyler Collins and got James McCann on a flyout to right.
Ventura pitched around an Andrew Romine leadoff single and a two-out walk to Miguel Cabrera in the third.
The Tigers got a run in the fourth, which J.D. Martinez led off with a double to center. Ventura should have got out of the inning without a run. With McCann on first and Martinez on third, Collins hit what should have been an inning-ending double-play grounder to shortstop Alcides Escobar. However, second baseman Raul Mondesi's relay throw pulled first baseman Eric Hosmer off the bag, allowing Collins to reach and Martinez to score.
Eric Hosmer homered to right in the fourth with Cheslor Cuthbert, who led off with a double, aboard to put the Royals ahead 2-1. It was Hosmer's 20th home run of the season, which represents a career high.
The Tigers put two more runners on in the fifth but could not score as J.D. Martinez's grounder to Escobar ended the inning. Detroit went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position while stranding eight runners in the first five innings.
In the fifth, the Royals utilized their speed to score a run. With two outs, Mondesi and Jarrod Dyson put down back-to-back bunt singles off Fulmer. Cuthbert's ground-ball single to center scored Mondesi.
NOTES: 3B Erick Aybar was a late scratch from the Tigers' lineup because of a left abdominal soreness and replaced by Andrew Romine. ... The Tigers promoted LHP Joe Mantiply from Double-A Erie, where he held left-handed hitters to a .147 batting average, striking out 41 of 102 left-handed hitters. RHP Donn Roach was designated for assignment to make roster room for Mantiply. ... Royals OF Lorenzo Cain is still hampered by a tender left wrist and not in the lineup. He has not played since Tuesday. ... Royals RHP Wade Davis was unavailable after throwing 21 pitches in the ninth Friday while blowing a save. It was his first appearance since coming off the disabled list (flexor strain). ... Tigers LHP Daniel Norris and Royals RHP Edinson Volquez are the Sunday probables.