Tigers 3, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Max Scherzer continued his winning streak and Victor Martinez drove in the go-ahead run as the Detroit Tigers edged by the Kansas City Royals 3-2 Tuesday night.
Scherzer became the first Tigers pitcher to start the season 9-0 since Vern Kennedy in 1938.
Scherzer limited the Royals to three hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out six and walking two, both in the first inning.
Martinez's sacrifice fly in the eighth scored Miguel Cabrera, who was hit by an Aaron Crow pitch to start the inning. Prince Fielder's single moved Cabrera to third.
Crow, the third of five Kansas City pitchers, worked out of an inherited bases-loaded mess in the seventh, striking out Torii Hunter, but was charged with the loss.
Jose Valverde worked the ninth for his ninth save in 11 opportunities after allowing a leadoff single to Salvador Perez.
The Tigers loaded the bases on two singles and a walk with two out in the seventh, but Crow, the third Royals pitcher of the inning, struck out Torii Hunter to strand the runners.
Royals starter Wade Davis, who is 0-2 with three no-decisions in his past five starts, held the Tigers to two runs on eight hits and a walk for 6 2/3 innings.
Don Kelly's two-out single in the Detroit second scored Victor Martinez, who led off the inning with a single. Omar Infante also was waved home, but was out at the plate on Mike Moustakas' relay throw.
The Tigers added a run in the fifth. Infante singled with one out and advanced to third on Kelly's single to right. Andy Dirks fielder's choice grounder to Chris Getz scored Infante. Dirks just beat the relay throw to first base to avoid grounding into an inning ending double play.
Max Scherzer, who is from St. Louis and went to the University of Missouri, held the Royals hitless until David Lough led off the fifth with his first big league home run.
After Lough's homer to right, Moustakas singled and moved to second on Chris Getz's sacrifice bunt. Alcides Escobar rifled a single to left, scoring Moustakas, to tie the score at 2-2. Moustakas was 1-for-18 off Scherzer before the hit.
Scherzer walked Alex Gordon and Billy Butler in the first, but retired Lorenzo Cain on a grounder to end the inning with no damage.
Royals right-hander Wade Davis, who was looking for his first victory since May 15, allowed two singles in the first, but coaxed Prince Fielder to ground into an inning ending double play.
NOTES: Royals RHP Felipe Paulino, who had Tommy John surgery last July, made
his first rehab start Tuesday with Class AA Northwest Arkansas and threw five scoreless innings against Arkansas. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out six, throwing 42 strikes in 67 pitches. ...Tigers CF Austin Jackson went 1-for-3 and drove in a run in his second rehab game with Class AAA Toledo. ...Royals relievers had not allowed a run in 20 2/3 innings entering the game.
