Royals Top Tigers Again

Darrell May knows about slow starts and fast endings. In 2003 the Royals starting pitcher didn’t earn his first win until June 27. After dropping his first four decisions last year, he went 10-4 the rest of the way and led all Kansas City starters with 10 wins. 2004 has started similarly for May, only this season he’s kick-started his season a little earlier. May won his third straight start and improved to 5-8 as the Royals topped the Tigers 7-3. May lasted seven innings and allowed two runs off nine hits and no walks with four strikeouts. His teammates scored four runs in the bottom of the first, after May gave up a two-run homer to Pudge Rodriguez in the top half of the inning. Mike Sweeney and Joe Randa drove in runs with doubles, while Dee Brown knocked in two with a single. Brown was called up from Class-AAA Omaha last week. In the eighth, Ken Harvey capped a three-run rally with a single that scored two. With the win, the Royals secured a series win over the Tigers…. A.L. BATTING RACE—Ken Harvey went 1-4 and dropped his batting average to .350. Pudge Rodriguez, who is the A.L. leader was 3-5 and improved to .364.