Seth Lugo pitched seven dominant innings and the visiting Kansas City Royals scored seven ninth-inning runs to notch an 8-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday afternoon.
Lugo (4-1) allowed only three hits and tied his career-best with nine strikeouts. John Schreiber and Will Smith completed the shutout.
Bobby Witt Jr. drove in three runs and Maikel Garcia knocked in a pair during the opener of the three-game series. Adam Frazier scored two runs, drove in another and made a sparkling defensive play.
Detroit starter Reese Olson (0-4) limited the Royals to one run and three hits in seven innings.
Neither side had a baserunner until Frazier hit a one-out single in the top of the third. Kyle Isbel followed with another single and Garcia drew a walk, loading the bases. Witt then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Frazier.
Frazier saved two runs in the bottom of the frame. Javier Baez drew a leadoff walk and, with one out, Parker Meadows ripped a long fly to right. Frazier made a leaping grab to rob Meadows of a home run, then doubled Baez off first.
The Tigers didn’t have a hit until Mark Canha’s one-out single in the fourth. Spencer Torkelson reached on an infield single but Kerry Carpenter lined out to short and Matt Vierling flied out, ending the threat.
Kansas City had a pair of runners in the fifth when Isbel walked and Garcia smacked a two-out single. Witt flied out to center to keep the score at 1-0.
The Tigers had two on with two outs in the seventh, as Vierling singled and Colt Keith walked. Lugo then induced Baez to pop out.
Kansas City blew the game open in the ninth. Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe singled off Tyler Holton and Nelson Velazquez drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Frazier and Isbel were then hit by pitches to force in two runs.
Will Vest replaced Holton and gave up a two-run single to Garcia. Witt brought in two more runs with a triple and Vinnie Pasquantino added a sacrifice fly.
-Field Level Media
