Luke Hochevar and three relievers combined on a six hit shutout of the Tigers as Hochevar moves to 3-2 on the year with a 2-0 victory. The offense wasn’t spectacular, managing two runs on just seven hits the whole night, but it was enough for Hochevar and that stellar bullpen.
Joey Gathright was the hero not only with his bat, but with his glove. He singled home the two runs that held up all night and in the 6th inning, made a great running catch in the gap in right center to keep Carlos Guillen from getting extra bases.
Hochevar pitched six innings and turned the ball over to a very stingy bullpen. Ron Mahay pitched a perfect seventh and, after Placido Polanco opened the eighth with a single, Leo Nunez came in. Carlos Guillen singled, but Nunez got ground ball outs on a Magglio Ordonez double play and Miguel Cabrera to end the inning. Joakim Soria picked up his 10th save.
Winning five games against the Tigers, the Royals’ pitchers have a 1.34 ERA in 47 innings and they’ve held this lineup to a .214 average that was supposed to be a threat every night.
Hochevar talks about the good defense behind him, Hillman talks about holding down Detroit, and Gathright describes getting his RBI hit off of Verlander.
Check out Gathright’s catch from kcroyals.com .
Download/listen to Royals postgame (:45 mp3)
