- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Tigers maintain 2nd WC with 5th straight win
- Updated: September 24, 2016
DETROIT — The Tigers’ transition from pursuer to pursued in the American League Wild Card race went swimmingly on Friday night. Victor Martinez, Justin Upton and Cameron Maybin all homered off Danny Duffy to provide an early lead for Michael Fulmer, who struck out nine Royals over seven innings for his first win in five weeks with an 8-3 victory at Comerica Park.
Detroit’s fifth consecutive win maintained its lead for the second Wild Card spot over the Orioles.
An expected pitching duel between two of the AL ERA leaders never materialized, thanks largely to Detroit’s home-run barrage off Duffy (12-3) in his first loss to an AL Central opponent this season. Upton doubled in a run in the first inning before sending a line drive out to left for his 27th home run in the third, two batters after Martinez hit his 26th.
Once Maybin belted a two-run homer to left-center in the fourth, the Tigers had built a six-run lead for Fulmer (11-7), who picked up his first win since a four-hit shutout at Texas on Aug. 14. He struck out four of Kansas City’s first six batters, and nine for the game. Paulo Orlando’s sixth-inning infield single accounted for the lone run.
With the loss, the Royals’ elimination number from postseason play fell to 3.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDV-Mart gets Duffy again: Victor Martinez entered the game 7-for-18 against Duffy over the last two seasons, including two home runs as part of a three-homer game on June 16. After a first-inning walk, Martinez …
