Vinnie Pasquantino hit a pair of home runs and drove in four runs as the visiting Kansas City Royals cruised past the Detroit Tigers 7-1 on Thursday night.
Bobby Witt Jr. had a solo homer and a double for the Royals, who won their fourth straight. Freddy Fermin added two hits and drove in a run.
Kansas City’s Seth Lugo (13-5) delivered a gem, pitching eight innings and giving up one run and four hits, all singles. He only walked one while recording three strikeouts.
Will Smith got the final three outs in the opener of a four-game series between the American League Central rivals.
Colt Keith reached base twice and scored the lone Tigers run. Keider Montero (1-5) lasted seven innings and gave up four runs and six hits. Detroit has lost four straight.
Maikel Garcia led off the game with a single and stole second. He also stole third as Witt Jr. earned a walk but it didn’t matter as Pasquantino launched his 13th homer over the right field wall.
From there, Montero settled in. He didn’t give up another hit until Salvador Perez led off the fourth with a single. Perez was later erased on an inning-ending double play.
The Tigers scored in the bottom of the inning. Keith and Wenceel Perez hit consecutive singles. Justin-Henry Malloy then bounced into a fielder’s choice before Bligh Madris scored Keith with a sacrifice fly.
Detroit’s Matt Vierling reached third in the sixth on a single and two groundouts. Malloy then flew out to end the inning.
The Royals made 4-1 in the seventh. Michael Massey doubled with one out in the seventh and scored on Fermin’s single to right field.
With Brenan Hanifee on the mound, the Royals increased their lead to 6-1 in the eighth. Witt blasted his 20th homer over the left-center field wall and Pasquantino, the next batter, rocketed his 14th homer to right field.
In the ninth, Witt lined a two-out RBI double that drove in Kyle Isbel, who was hit by a pitch.
–Field Level Media