Without manager Trey Hilman, the Kansas City Royals fell to the Detroit Tigers 8-3 at Kauffman Stadium Wednesday. Hillman could not manage the game after Major League Baseball suspended him for one game for inappropriate actions in an argument with umpire Paul Emmel in Monday’s game and ordered him to serve the penalty immediately. Bench coach John Gibbons took over for the day.
Hillman was ejected for comments from the dugout after Emmel called out Willie Bloomquist on strikes. Hillman went onto the field and a face-to-face confrontation went on until Hillman inadvertently spit in Emmel’s eye, causing the umpire to back away. Crew chief Bill Hohn finally intervened and Hillman left the field.
As for the game, a rough outing for KC starter Kyle Davies, allowing eight runs, five earned, in less than six innings to fall to 2-and-4. Mark Teahen was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and went deep in the loss. Billy Butler and Luis Hernandez drove in the other runs for the Royals, who dropped two of three in the series to the first place team in the AL Central.
The Royals, who have lost six of their last eight games, take Thursday off before hosting division rival Chicago for a weekend series starting Friday night..