Sanchez Shelled, Detroit Tigers Lose 6-1 to Kansas City Royals

Aug 6, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones (51) talks to starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers dropped the second straight game to the Kansas City Royals and third overall with a 6-1 loss on Tuesday night. Anibal Sanchez paid dearly for his mistakes as home runs continued to haunt him. Yordano Ventura got the start for the Royals and was effectively wild with a lot of help from his defense.

The Royals got on the board first in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Lorenzo Cain hit a single up the middle on a 2-2 fastball after Sanchez failed to locate two breaking balls. Eric Hosmer then deposited a two run home run into the bullpen in left field on a fastball to give the Royals the 2-0 lead.

After the first, the Tigers sides had chances, but did not score as the strike zone was incredibly wide and both Ventura made clutch pitches when needed or were bailed out by their defense. In the second, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out, but did not score. Jefry Marte looked like he was going to double home a run in the 4^th, but James McCann was thrown out at the plate by Jarrod Dyson with a great throw and tag by Salvador Perez. In the 6^th, both Martinezes walked with one out, but Tyler Collins struck out and Alcides Escobar took a hit away from McCann with a diving catch on a line drive.

In the bottom of the 6^th the wheels came off for Sanchez. Cain unloaded on a hanging slider to Kendrys and surrendered another home run, this time to Mike Moustakas to extend the lead to 5-0 Royals. Sanchez then ended the game with the final line of 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.

The Tigers broke their scoreless inning streak in the top of the 7^th when Franklin Morales relieved Ventura. Marte hit another double to lead off the inning. Andrew Romine singled to move him up to third. Rajai Davis then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Marte and cut the lead to 5-1, but the Tigers could not score more as Kinsler hit a deep fly ball and Victor Martinez popped out.

The Royals added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8^th to get themselves out of grand slam range. Eric Hosmer hit a fly ball to left that Collins dropped. He then stole second and scored on a Moustakas single to extend the lead to 6-1.

The Royals bullpen did what the Royals’ bullpen does and shut the door on the Tigers in the late innings to close the game out at 6-1.

These two teams will play the final game of their three game series at 8:10 on Wednesday night. The Tigers will send Daniel Norris to the mound against Edinson Volquez.