DETROIT, Mich. — The Royals were neck and neck with the Tigers throughout Sunday’s ball game, tying the score at two on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning that brought home Alcides Escobar. But a curious decision by manager Ned Yost to allow starter Jeremy Guthrie to pitch in the bottom of the eighth proved to be costly as the Royals lost the game 3-2.
Guthrie was able to strike out Omar Infante for the first out, but Alex Avila made Guthrie feel like he was experiencing deja vu when he launched a 415-foot home run to swing the game back the Tigers way. Avila had hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second and accounted for all of Detroit’s run production.
Former Mizzou ace Max Scherzer saw his chance at a 20th win squandered after the aforementioned wild pitch, but he was dominant, striking out 12 and only allowing five hits. The Cy Young candidate’s only blemish was a solo home run given up to Alex Gordon in the fourth inning.
Guthrie was able to mitigate damage throughout his eight innings of work as he gave up 13 hits but held the Tigers hit less with runners in scoring position, they were 0-9 in those situations. But the decision not to utilize the bullpen is baffling considering the Royals’ bullpen leads the American League in reliever earned run average at 2.55 and batters average against at .221.
The news wasn’t all bad for the Royals on Sunday. The Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays all lost and the Royals remain 3.5 games behind the final wild card position. They have a chance to take out teams directly in front of them when they face Cleveland and Texas at Kauffman Stadium this week. James Shields opposes Scott Kazmir in the first of three against the Indians on Monday night.
