Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Match Player Stats On Sep 26, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 27, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jason Vargas claimed his 18th victory, and Whit Merrifield scored a run and drove in a run as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Vargas (18-10) picked up his first win over the Tigers since June 16, 2014. He surrendered one run on five hits over six innings, throwing 54 strikes in 82 pitches. He walked one and struck out three.

Vargas matched Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians for the most victories in the American League. His 18 wins are the most by a Kansas City pitcher since 1993 when Kevin Appier won 18.

Relievers Kelvin Herrera, Joakim Soria and Mike Minor preserved the one-run lead after Vargas' departure. Minor logged his third save.

Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez (3-6) pitched his third straight quality start but absorbed the loss. He surrendered two runs on seven hits over six innings, throwing 63 strikes in 98 pitches.

The Tigers got on the board first in the third inning.

With one out, rookie JaCoby Jones drew a walk and stole second. Ian Kinsler's two-out single up the middle scored Jones. It was Kinsler's 24th hit in 66 at-bats against Vargas.

Merrifield drilled a double down the left field line to lead off the Kansas City fourth. He moved to third on a Lorenzo Cain groundout and scored on Eric Hosmer's flare opposite-field double to tie the score. It was Hosmer's 189th hit this season.

After Salvador Perez walked, Mike Moustakas struck out swinging and slammed his batting helmet down in frustration.

The Royals forged ahead with a run in the fifth.

Brandon Moss led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on Alex Gordon's dribbler up the middle for a single. Merrifield's sacrifice fly to right fielder Nicholas Castellanos got Moss home.

Kansas City had a chance to pad its lead after Cain singled and Sanchez's wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Melky Cabrera flied out to center to end the inning.

NOTES: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera, who has two herniated discs in his back, will get a second opinion after a Sunday MRI reading. It has not been determined whether he will play again this season. ... Tigers OF Tyler Collins is still out with a strained intercostal. ... Royals manager Ned Yost said 1B Eric Hosmer would be the designated hitter again Wednesday, while C Salvador Perez and CF Lorenzo Cain would sit. ... Tigers RHP Jordan Zimmermann and Royals RHP Jason Hammel are the Wednesday probables.