If Zack Greinke does not get the Cy Young Award, I will be shocked.  He continues to dominate AL hitters.  He only went five innings, but he shut down the Tigers and got some offense to finally back him up in a 9-2 win on Thursday afternoon.

Greinke gave up three hits and walked two while striking out eight.  He lowered his ERA to 2.14 and has 224 strikeouts.  He is closing in on Dennis Leonard’s single season record of 245 and he has (according to my projections) three more starts.

As far as the offense, Miguel Olivo and Josh Anderson each hit a three-run homer for the Royals, and Alberto Callaspo belted a two-run double and also had three RBIs.

There was a scary moment in the fourth inning when Greinke took a line drive off his right arm.  Miguel Cabrera hit him and Greinke picked up the ball and threw out Cabrera.  Greinke tested his arm and said he was OK.  That may have been why he only pitched five innings…manager Trey Hillman wanting to be safe.  Greinke is now 14-8 on the year.

Do you realize, that the Royals future, as bleak as it may seem, would have been sucked up into a black hole if something major would have happened to Greinke.  Luckily, he appears to be alright.