MLB: Royals
DETROIT (AP) This time, the Kansas City Royals had enough hitting and pitching.
Ian Kennedy pitched three-run ball into the eighth inning, and the Royals stopped a five-game slide by holding off the Detroit Tigers for a 4-3 win on Friday night.
Alex Gordon had three hits for the Royals, who hit four homers in 11-8 loss in the series opener. Rosell Herrera had two hits and drove in a run.
We made a couple mistakes on 0-2 pitches, and they cost us runs, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Other than that, our pitching was fantastic.
The sloppy Tigers committed three errors while losing for the eighth time in 11 games.
We just played terrible baseball, manager Ron Gardenhire said. We made errors and we made bad decisions.
Kennedy (3-8) won his second straight start, permitting two earned runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings. He struck out six and walked none.
Ive been executing in the last three games thats literally the only thing that has changed, Kennedy said. Im throwing good pitches, and in meaningful spots, Im throwing strikes.
Wily Peralta worked a shaky ninth for his 12th save. Ronny Rodriguez led off with an infield single, but James McCann bunted into a 1-6 forceout at second.
Wilys more athletic than he looks, Yost said. He bounded off the mound and made a great throw to second.
Jeimer Candelario then drew a pinch-hit walk before Peralta struck out Dawel Lugo and Jim Adduci.
Detroit left-hander Francisco Liriano (5-11) was charged with four runs, one earned, and six hits in six innings. He has a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts.
Kansas City jumped in front on Detroits first defensive mistake. With one out in the first, Adalberto Mondesi singled and took off on a 1-1 pitch to Gordon.
Gordon looped a single to shallow left, and Mondesi took a big turn at third and kept going when rookie Christin Stewart lobbed the ball into second.
I kept my head up on the play, and Im always looking to make a play, Mondesi said. When I saw he was going to make the short throw, I went hard.
