The Detroit Tigers started off early and continued to score often as they jumped out to a three-run lead they would never relinquish in the first inning, eventually decimating the Royals 10-1. It put another game in between Detroit and Kansas City for the lead in the AL Central.
MLB playoffs standings 2014: Tigers dominate Royals, increase AL Central lead
The Royals were no match for Justin Verlander and the Tigers, who thrashed them in a crucial game in the race for the AL Central.
Ed Zurga
The Tigers spread the scoring around. Their first four hitters in the line up -- Ian Kinsler, Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez -- and shortstop Eugenio Suarez all drove in a run before the deluge that would eventually put them up, 10-0, started. The onslaught put them over 720 (728 to be precise) runs for the season, which is good enough for second behind the juggernaut Angels. Most important for the Tigers' World Series hopes, however, was the dominant performance of Justin Verlander, who is in the midst of the worst season since 2008, managed to put together a vintage shutdown performance.
Now one-and-a-half games up on the Royals with two games left between the squads at Kaufmann Stadium, Detroit guarantees themselves a share of the AL Central if they can manage just one more win against the team they’ve managed to beat 11 times this year.
American League
National League
Notables
- There's good news for people who like good news (about the Marlins.)
- Given the way votes have gone the past few years, the likelihood of Victor Martinez winning the AL MVP over Mike Trout still feels shockingly high:
Yeah, buddy! @Marlins ace Jose Fernandez cleared to begin throwing program on Oct. 1: http://t.co/AG8c1Pmw8n pic.twitter.com/vzzS2r8o3Y
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2014 Víctor Martínez is the 3rd-oldest player in MLB history to have his 1st 30-HR/100-RBI season: pic.twitter.com/TeEC7gQeV2
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 20, 2014 See More:
