Detroit Tigers decimate Kansas City Royals in opener of penultimate series

The Detroit Tigers have been unmerciful when facing the Kansas City Royals head-to-head this season. Holding an 11-5 advantage in the season series heading into tonight’s game, the Tigers jumped on the Royals and quieted their much-haralded sellout crowd early in the 10-1 rout on Friday night, claiming the first game of a key three game series.

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With one out in the first inning against Kansas City starter Jason Vargas, Miguel Cabrera‘s hot September bat continued when he doubled home Ian Kinsler. Miggy was brought home on a Victor Martinez base hit. Red-hot J.D. Martinez singled and Eugenio Suarez brought him home for a 3-0 lead before the home team could step to the plate.

The Tigers added single runs in the second and fourth inning before batting around for five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a Kinsler two-run home run.

Justin Verlander seemed to be in vintage J.V. September mode as he limited Kansas City to 1 run on seven hits over 7.1 innings of work. He struck out 4 hitters in picking up his 14th victory of the season.

With the win, Detroit opens up a 1.5-game lead with nine games left to play. Though not much is certain in the AL Central, one thing is: tomorrow will be a pitching duel.

Take special notice–while the schedule notes tomorrow’s game as starting at 7:10, it has been moved to 1:10. Max Scherzer (16-5, 3.26) faces James Shields (14-7, 3.15) in game two of the series.