Live blog: Tigers fall to Royals in extra innings
FINAL: ROYALS 5, TIGERS 3
Drew VerHagen gave the Tigers two solid inning of relief, but the Royals big bats jumped all over him in the 12th inning as Kansas City opened a three-game series at Comerica Park with a 5-3 win on Monday night.
In the bottom of the 12th, Ian Kinsler flew out to right field, Alex Presley grounded out to second and Justin Upton grounded out to third as the Tigers went down in order against K.C. closer Kelvin Herrera.
The Tigers weren't able to string together many hits tonight outside of a three-run sixth that was powered by a two-RBI single from Alex Avila. The Tigers managed seven hits against Royals pitching, but they'll regret not getting to starter Jason Hammel earlier in the game, as the Royals starter hasn't won a game in more than a month.
Justin Verlander had a quality start in what many feel might have been his final start for the Tigers with the July 31st trade deadline looming. Verlander went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up three runs on 119 pitches.
Top 12th: Royals 5, Tigers 3
Salvador Perez turned on a Drew VerHagen offering and drilled it over the fence in left field to give the Royals a 4-3 lead in the 12th inning at Comerica Park.
Mike Moustakas added an insurance bomb to the scoreboard in the next at-bat with a blast to right field that made it 5-3.
VerHagen was able to set the next three Kansas City hitters down in order.
Bottom 11th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Royals reliever Jake Junis hit Mikie Mahtook with a pitch with two outs, but Jose Iglesias flew out to right field as the marathon at Comerica Park heads to the 12th inning.
Victor Martinez struck out swinging, and Alex Avila did the same to start the frame.
Justin Verlander had a quality start in what many feel might have been his final start for the Tigers with the July 31st trade deadline looming. Verlander went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up three runs on 119 pitches.
Top 11th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Jorge Bonifacio picked up a leadoff infield single, but Drew VerHagen was able to induce a ground ball off the bat of Lorenzo Cain for a double play that cleared the base paths. Eric Hosmer struck out swinging to end the frame.
Bottom 10th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Ian Kinsler dropped a single into right field to leadoff the 10th against new Royals reliever Kevin McCarthy. After Alex Presley dropped down a sacrifice bunt, Juston Upton got a chance with a man in scoring position, but McCarthy wanted no part of Upton as he issued him a free pass to first base. Miguel Cabrera flew out to center field for the second out of the frame, and Nick Castellanos grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
Justin Verlander had a quality start in what many feel might have been his final start for the Tigers with the July 31st trade deadline looming. Verlander went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up three runs on 119 pitches.
Top 10th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Alcides Escobar hit the ball hard but Miguel Cabrera robbed him of an extra base hit in the first at-bat of the tenth. Alex Gordon grounded out to second, and Whit Merrifield grounded out to third as Drew VerHagen worked a perfect frame out of the Tigers bullpen.
Bottom 9th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Mikie Mahtook worked a two-out walk from Neftali Feliz, but Jose Iglesias grounded out to third to send this one to extra innings.
Victor Martinez flew out to center field, and Alex Avila struck out swinging to leadoff the inning.
Top 9th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Salvador Perez grounded out to shortstop, Mike Moustakas grounded out to second and Brandon Moss struck out swinging as Justin Wilson got the job done in a non-save situation.
Bottom 8th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Justin Upton struck out swinging, Miguel Cabrera did the same and Nick Castellanos grounded out to third as old friend Joakim Soria worked a perfect eighth inning.
Top 8th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Jorge Bonifacio grounded out to second, Lorenzo Cain grounded out to shortstop and Eric Hosmer flew out to center field as Tigers reliever Alex Wilson set the Royals down in order on eight pitches.
Bottom 7th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Jose Iglesias grounded out to third, Ian Kinsler grounded out back to the pitcher and Alex Presley flew out to left field as the Tigers went down in order in the 7th.
Top 7th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Brandon Moss drew a leadoff walk, but Justin Verlander bounced back to pick up his ninth punch out of the night when he set Alcides Escobar down swinging. Alex Gordon flew out to center field for the second out of the inning, and Verlander (119 pitches) finished off the frame by getting Whit Merrifield to fly out to center field to end the inning.
Based on rumblings linking the Tigers and Dodgers as trade partners in a deal centered around Verlander, it's quite possible the former MVP and Cy Young Award winner has thrown his last pitch in a Tigers uniform with the July 31st trade deadline looming.
Bottom 6th: Tigers 3, Royals 3
Ian Kinsler got things started with a single to left field. Alex Presley followed by drawing a four-pitch walk from Jason Hammel, who bounced back to strike out Justin Upton in the next at-bat. With two on and one out, Miguel Cabrera got off the snide with an RBI single to left field that cut the Royals lead to 3-1.
Nick Castellanos grounded into a fielder's choice, moving the runners up to second and third. That signaled the end of the line for Jason Hammel, as Royals manager Ned Yost wanted to bring in lefty Scott Alexander to force Victor Martinez to hit from the right side of the plate. Alexander walked Martinez, leaving the bases loaded with two outs for Alex Avila, who delivered a two-RBI single to left field that tied the game at 3-3.
After Alexander was shown the door, Peter Moylan took the mound for Kansas City, and he got Mikie Mahtook to fly out to center field to end the inning.
Top 6th: Royals 3, Tigers 0
Jorge Bonifacio took Justin Verlander deep to left field to lead off the sixth and put the Royals up 3-0.
Lorenzo Cain grounded out to shortstop, and Eric Hosmer flew out to center field for the first two outs of the inning. Salvador Perez drilled a single to left field, but Verlander bounced back to get Mike Moustakas to ground out to third to end the frame.
Verlander's pitch count is up to 102.
Bottom 5th: Royals 2, Tigers 0
Mikie Mahtook reached base for the second time tonight with a two-out infield single. The Tigers couldn't do anything with it, as Jose Iglesias fouled out to end the inning.
Victor Martinez flew out to center field, and Alex Avila flew out to left to leadoff the inning.
Royals starter Jason Hammel has given up just three hits tonight on 66 pitches.
Top 5th: Royals 2, Tigers 0
Alcides Escobar flew out to right field, Alex Gordon struck out swinging and Whit Merrifield flew out to right field as Justin Verlander set the Royals down in order.
Verlander's strikeout count is now up to eight, but his pitch count is also pretty elevated at 87.
Bottom 4th: Royals 2, Tigers 0
Justin Upton grounded out to third, Miguel Cabrera grounded out to shortstop and Nick Castellanos struck out swinging as the Tigers went down in order for the second time tonight.
Top 4th: Royals 2, Tigers 0
Jorge Bonifacio singled to center field to leadoff the the frame, Lorenzo Cain followed with a single to left field. Justin Verlander was able to get Eric Hosmer to ground into a fielder's choice, moving the runners up to second and third. The Royals got on the board when a wild pitch from Verlander got past Alex Avila, putting K.C. up 1-0 and moving the Cain up to third.
Salvador Perez was able to work a walk, putting runners on the corners with just one out. Mike Moustakas followed with a sacrifice fly to center field that put the Royals up 2-0.
Verlander got out of the inning by striking out Brandon Moss, his seventh punch out of the night.
Bottom 3rd: Tigers 0, Royals 0
Mikie Mahtook led things off with a single to left field, though he took a seat on the bench after Jose Iglesias grounded into a fielder's choice. Ian Kinsler fouled out for the second out of the inning, and Alex Presley grounded out to first to end the inning.
Top 3rd: Tigers 0, Royals 0
Alcides Escobar grounded out to shortstop, Alex Gordon struck out swinging and Whit Merrifield flew out to center field to end the inning.
Through three frames, Justin Verlander has struck out six and thrown 44 pitches. Simply put: He's dialed in tonight.
Bottom 2nd: Tigers 0, Royals 0
Nick Castellanos grounded out to shortstop, Victor Martinez flew out to center and Alex Avila struck out swinging as the Tigers went down in order against K.C. starter Jason Hammel.
Top 2nd: Tigers 0, Royals 0
Salvador Perez struck out swinging, Mike Moustakas did the same and Brandon Moss followed suit as Justin Verlander has struck out five of the first seven he's faced tonight.
Bottom 1st: Tigers 0, Royals 0
Justin Upton notched a two-out single through the right side of the infield, but Miguel Cabrera grounded out to third to end the inning.
Ian Kinsler struck out swinging, and Alex Presley flew out to right field to leadoff the frame.
Top 1st: Tigers 0, Royals 0
Lorenzo Cain reached on an infield single with two outs, but Justin Verlander got Eric Hosmer to fly out to left field to end the frame.
Whit Merrifield struck out looking, and Jorge Bonifacio struck out looking to leadoff the inning.
TIGERS VS. ROYALS
When: Monday, 7:10 p.m.
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
TV / radio: Fox Sports Detroit / 97.1 FM
Pitching matchup: RHP Jason Hammel (4-8, 4.81) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (5-7, 4.54)
TIGERS LINEUP
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley, RF
3. Justin Upton, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B
6. Victor Martinez, DH
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Mikie Mahtook, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
ROYALS LINEUP
1. Whit Merrifield, 2B
2. Jorge Bonifacio, RF
3. Lorenzo Cain, CF
4. Eric Hosmer, 1B
5. Salvador Perez, C
6. Mike Moustakas, 3B
7. Brandon Moss, DH
8. Alcides Escobar, SS
9. Alex Gordon, LF
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