DETROIT (AP) Tyson Ross finally pitched at Comerica Park and certainly enjoyed his new surroundings.
Ross pitched seven impressive innings, and the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to five with a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Ross signed with the Tigers in the offseason, and Comerica was the last current ballpark he hadnt pitched in. The 31-year-old right-hander allowed a run and five hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.
It feels good, he said. Beautiful mound out there. It was nice to be out there for the first time and have such great defense behind me.
Rookie outfielder Christin Stewart, whose grand slam lifted Detroit to a win Saturday, drove in two more runs to help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep of their first home series. Joe Jimenez pitched the eighth for Detroit and Shane Greene finished. Greene has saves in all seven victories this season for the Tigers and has not blown any.
Ross (1-1) and the Detroit relievers got plenty of help from their fielders. Catcher John Hicks threw out both Billy Hamilton and Whit Merrifield trying to steal.
Brad Keller (1-1) allowed three runs in six innings for the Royals, who have dropped six in a row. Because of off days, Keller was starting for the third time in his teams first eight games.
Going into the second inning, he was like 45 pitches before we got an out, Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. But he got it settled down a little bit, and was able to give us a good, strong six in that situation. I thought he threw the ball extremely well, too.
Merrifield and Hamilton had three hits each for Kansas City. Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 28 games dating to last season. Hes just two shy of George Bretts franchise record.
Merrifield led off the game with a double and eventually scored on Alex Gordons one-out groundout.
UP NEXT
Royals: Kansas City returns home to face Seattle. RHP Homer Bailey (0-0) starts for the Royals tonight against RHP Felix Hernandez (1-0).
