Royals Embarass Tigers… Again

Kansas City 9, Detroit 2 (box)

Magic Number 13

Edwin Jackson didn’t have it today as the Royals dropped five runs on him over his five innings of work.  Jackson (12-7) allowed a two run double to Alberto Callaspo in the first inning and a three-run bomb to Miguel Olivo in the third.

Zack Greinke had it on cruise control throughout his effort against the Tigers.  He struck out five of the first seven hitters of the game, en route to eight K’s overall in just five innings.  Greinke (14-8) hasn’t gotten much support lately, but he turned in another gem in his quest for the Cy Young award.

The low point of the game for Detroit came in the sixth.  Armando Galarraga, making his case for the 2010 rotation (the MudHens rotation, that is), brought his gas can to the hill in relief of Jackson.  After fanning Olivo to start the inning, he allowed the next two hitters to reach and then gave up a three run blast to none other than Tigers cast-off Josh Anderson.  Two more hitters then reached before Galarraga was mercifully removed from the game.

Cheers for

• Miguel Cabrera– El Martillo avoided the shutout by belting his 30th home run of the season, a two run bomb off Bruce Chen.  Cabrera continues to be the driving force behind this offense and should be a candidate for league MVP.  He now has five 30-homer seasons in six full campaigns.
• Alberto Callaspo– I know the knocks on his defensive abilities, but I love this kid.  A young switch-hitting second baseman who just hits.  Callaspo has fared very well offensively since breaking into the Royals’ lineup last year.  His four homers and 11 RBI this season versus Detroit are the most against any opponent.

Jeers to

• The three-run homer– Boy, Earl Weaver would love this brand of baseball the Royals are playing lately.  Kansas City hit five three-run jacks in this series, including two today.  Those are back-breakers.

What’s on tap

Oh, just the small matter of the final road trip of the season, that’s all.  The Tigers will travel to Cleveland and Chicago as a part of this nine game journey that begins with three games in Minnesota.  The Twins are laying in the weeds, just four games back of Detroit, still to face the Tigers seven more times.  It will be the last time the Tigers have to play in the Metrodome.  Minnesota has won seven of the 11 meetings thus far and five of six in the dome.