Kennedy’s quality start puts Royals in control

DETROIT — Ian Kennedy continued his second-half resurgence with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing Raul Mondesi’s RBI bunt single and Lorenzo Cain’s ninth-inning RBI single to send the Royals to a 3-1 victory over the Tigers on Monday night at Comerica Park.

The Tigers, who sustained a major loss to their lineup midgame when Miguel Cabrera exited with a left biceps strain, suffered a real loss on the right arm of Kennedy (7-9), who tossed his fourth consecutive outing of six or more innings and one run or fewer allowed. He earned his first win since June 26. J.D. Martinez’s 16th homer was the lone run off Kennedy, whose other four hits allowed were all ground-ball singles.

“He had just enough mix to keep you off-balance,” Tigers third baseman Casey McGehee said. “Ian’s been doing this a long time. His stuff has changed over the years a little bit, here and there, but the one thing that’s stayed consistent, he locates his pitches pretty good.”

By containing the Tigers’ offense, Kennedy allowed the Royals to manufacture enough offense for the victory. Paulo Orlando’s leadoff four-pitch walk and Cheslor Cuthbert’s infield single set up Eric Hosmer for a sacrifice fly in the first inning before Mondesi greeted Alex Wilson by bunting home Alex Gordon from third in the sixth.

Kennedy has given up just three runs in his last four starts over 26 innings (1.04 ERA).

“Pretty good outings,” Kennedy said. “I just try to go one start at a time and focus on the next start. I just focus on each start and not get ahead of yourself. Once you start feeling good about yourself, you get humbled.”

Detroit remained five games behind first-place Cleveland in the American League Central and fell 2 1/2 games back of Boston in the Wild Card race. The Royals are now 10 games behind the Indians.

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