Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals
6 - 5
Saturday, April 7, 2007
By Cory Smith
Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez, and Curtis Granderson all managed to blast one past the wall today as the Tigers (2-2) slipped by the Royals (2-3) by just one run.
Sheffield got things rolling with a solo shot in the first inning with 2 outs that gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
The Royals, coming off their first home victory against the Tigers since 2005, fired right back. With a full count, Esteban German singled to center field, sending in the tying run from third.
The Tigers responded with three more runs in the third. After Craig Monroe's double and Brandon Inge's groundout to second base, Granderson singled to center field sending Monroe home from third. Placido Polanco followed with a single to put Granderson on second. Sheffield stepped up to the plate for his second appearance, and earned his second RBI of the game with a single to center field that sent Granderson home and Placido Polanco to third. Magglio Ordonez scored the third run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Royals, down 4-1, were not impressed.
With men on second and third Mark Grudzielanek grounded out to shortstop, driving in a run to cut the score 2-4. With two outs Reggie Sanders Homered over the left field wall sending in two runs to even the game at 4 runs apiece.
With 4 runs already scored against him, Kansas City pitcher Gil Meche (1-1) looked to keep the Tigers content with the game tied. On Meche's first pitch of the fourth inning, Rodriguez homered over left field to put the Tigers back in the lead 5-4. Meche followed up the home run forcing a groundout, and striking out Monroe and Inge to end the inning.
Detroit's Mike Maroth (1-0), sitting in the same boat as Meche, started off the bottom of the fourth inning beaming Ryan Shealy with an off target throw. A ruff start to the inning, but in effort to redeem himself Maroth picked off Shealy at first base, and struck out the next two batters to end the inning swiftly.
Granderson returned to the plate for the Tigers, but wasn't there for long. Three pitches in Granderson homered over right field to put the Tigers up by two, 6-4. Sheffield walked to first, but was picked off shortly after just before Polanco popped up to land the third out.
Maroth began the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk, but with one out Moroth scooped up a hit forcing the out with a throw to second, where Polanco forced a double play at first to end the inning.
The Royals shortened the gap in the 6th inning with Jason Grilli pitching for the Tigers. With two men on base and one out, Esteban German doubled to deep left field sending in one run to cut the Tigers lead to just one run, but thats all the Royals would manage as Grilli ended the inning with back to back outs.
Both teams were held scoreless in the final three innings, due to excellent relief pitching by Detroit's Joel Zumaya and Kansas City's Joel Peralta. Todd Jones (S-2) got the close for the Tigers after three quick outs.
Players of the Game
Detroit – DH Gary Sheffield – 2 AB, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 R
Kansas City – RF Reggie Sanders – 4 AB, 3 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 3 R
Kansas City has played tough against the Tigers for two straight games. They have matched the Tigers in hitting, and in pitching. With Bonderman making his second start of the season, he'll look to claim win number one on the year - that is, if Detroit's relief pitching can hold its own.
The series finale between the Tigers and Royals will be played Sunday April 8th at 2:10 pm. EST.
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