Defensive blunder allows Royals to nip Tigers

Baseball Betting Lines

05/13/2008 - Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zack Greinke threw six solid innings, Jose Guillen hit a two-run double, and the Kansas City Royals used a Detroit error to edge the Tigers, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game set.

Guillen finished the game with a pair of doubles, while Mark Grudzielanek went 3-for-4 for the Royals, who have won two in a row.

Greinke gave up two runs on nine hits, with a pair of strikeouts and walks each, in the no-decision. Leo Nunez (3-0) threw two-thirds of an inning in relief, while Joakim Soria -- who hasn't allowed a run in 15 1/3 innings this season -- earned his ninth save of the season.

Nate Robertson allowed two runs on 10 scattered hits in seven innings of work for Detroit, which has lost eight of 10. Francisco Cruceta (0-1) was credited with the loss after allowing an unearned run on two hits in the eighth inning.

Miguel Cabrera had two hits and two walks, while Matt Joyce hit a solo homer and Carlos Guillen hit an RBI double.

With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth, Grudzielanek grounded out to lead off, and Alex Gordon missed swinging on strike three. But Guillen stroked a double to left off Cruceta, and Esteban German entered the game as a pinch- runner.

After Cruceta gave Billy Butler a free pass, Mark Teahen hit the ball up the middle, just to the left of second base. Shortstop Edgar Renteria was able to range left and get to the ball, but his backhanded flip to Placido Polanco was off the mark, and German raced home to give the Royals a 3-2 edge.

Soria shut down Detroit in the ninth to end the game, by inducing three consecutive ground outs.

Detroit struck quickly in the first, as Carlos Guillen followed Polanco's single with a double to give his team a 1-0 edge.

Greinke worked out of that frame, but gave up another run in the second, when Joyce -- who hit his first major league homer on Saturday against the Yankees -- ripped a solo shot to deep center field.

Robertson ran into trouble in the third inning, after a Joey Gathright single and a fielder's choice that left David DeJesus on first. Grudzielanek followed with a single to put two men on with one out.

The Tigers' starter got Gordon to pop out and had a distinct chance to end the inning. But Jose Guillen smoked a double off the wall, just to the left of center, allowing both runners to cross home and tie the game at 2-2.

Game Notes

Teahen and John Buck each had two hits for the Royals...The Tigers left nine runners on base, while Kansas City stranded seven...Detroit has lost all four games against Kansas City so far this season; the Tigers were swept by the Royals at home to open the season.