Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Box Score on Jul 17, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 18, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jordan Zimmermann picked up his first victory in seven starts and Nicholas Castellanos and Mikie Mahtook hit two-run homers as the Detroit Tigers beat the sputtering Kansas City Royals 10-2 Monday night.

Zimmermann threw 79 strikes in 97 pitches, allowing one run on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. He walked none, hit a batter and struck out seven.

Zimmermann (6-7) claimed his first victory since June 3. He was 0-3 with three no-decisions in his previous six starts. He is 3-0 and with a 1.26 ERA in four career starts at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals (45-46) have lost six of seven and dropped to one-game below .500. Detroit won its third straight.

Victor Martinez reached base four times with three hits and a walk. He also drove in three Detroit runs and scored twice.

Zimmermann was removed after Whit Merrifield's double in the seventh scored Ramon Torres, who was running for Alcides Escobar, who was hit by a pitch.

Royals left-hander Jason Vargas (12-4) was pulled after a season-low 2 2/3 innings. He allowed six runs and seven hits and his ERA rose from 2.62 to 3.06.

Eric Hosmer homered, his 13th, on a 2-0 Warwick Saupold pitch to lead off the Kansas City eighth.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez left after six innings with lower back tightness. He was replaced by Alex Presley.

The Tigers wasted no time jumping out to a sizable lead and sending Vargas to the showers.

Detroit scored a run in the first inning when Victor Martinez walked with the bases loaded, bringing home Castellanos.

Detroit tacked on three more in second.

Ian Kinsler's triple scored Alex Avila, who led off the inning with a walk. Castellanos homered on a 2-2 Vargas pitch to straightaway center with Kinsler aboard.

Vargas gave up a two-run blast in the third to Mahtook that traveled an estimated 445 feet to left-center field after Victor Martinez opened the inning with a single. After Kinsler's second triple, manager Ned Yost pulled Vargas with two outs.

Vargas entered the game with American League-best 1.84 ERA at home this season, allowing just 12 earned runs in 61 1/3 innings. He left with a 2.64 ERA after 70 pitches.

Scott Alexander replaced Vargas and gave up a run in the fourth when Victor Martinez's two-out single scored Justin Upton.

NOTES: The Royals optioned OF Jorge Soler and RHP Miguel Almonte to Triple-A Omaha. Soler was hitless in his last 17 at-bats. RHP Neftali Feliz came off the paternity list and allowed two runs and four hits in the ninth inning. ... OF Billy Burns was recalled from the Storm Chasers and made a spectacular diving catch in the seventh to rob Justin Upton of a hit. ... Tigers RF J.D. Martinez was named the AL player of the week after hitting .455 with a 1.591 OPS. The Royals showed their respect by intentionally walking him in the first inning to load the bases. ... The Tigers improved to 40-25 when they homer. ... The Royals fell to 13-22 against AL Central opponents. ... Tigers LHP Matthew Boyd and Royals LHP Travis Wood are the Tuesday probables.