Game 128: Detroit @ Kansas City

Game Date: August 22, 2008
Tigers 4, Royals 3 / Box Score
WP: Verlander (10-13), LP: Bannister (7-13), SV: Rodney (6)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 55-73

Brian Bannister was better last night, but not good enough to out-duel Justin Verlander. He appeared to be pitching to contact, which allowed him to keep his pitch count down and eat some innings. He threw 100 pitches in eight innings, while giving up four earned runs. Mostly importantly, he kept the Tigers within striking distance and eventually the Royals did mount a come back.

Trailing 4-0 in the eighth, John Buck tripled in Ross Gload to make it 4-1. Then in the ninth, Esteban German doubled in Mike Aviles and Billy Butler singled in German to pull the Royals to within a run. With two outs and David DeJesus on third, Fernando Rodney uncorked a wild pitch. DeJesus raced home, but the ball bounced back to Brandon Inge and he threw out DeJesus at home to end the game. DeJesus said afterward that he didn't have a big enough lead.

It's hard to call such a loss a heartbreaker though because when you've lost 13 out of the last 15 games, losses are expected. I hate it that the season has come to this, but it has.

Positives? Well, they are hard to find, but how about Mike Aviles going 3-for-5? Ross Gload was 4-for-4. And Billy Butler was 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Tonight, Kyle Davies (5-4, 4.71) will go up against Zach Miner (6-4, 3.94). Davies is 1-2 in his career against the Tigers with a 4.02 ERA in 15.2 IP. Miner is 1-2 against the Royals with a 5.85 ERA in 20.0 IP.