Brian Bannister had a 5-0 lead through 6.1 innings and the wheels came off as he and four relief pitchers gave up six runs in the bottom of the seventh giving Detroit a 6-5 win.
Prior to that it was all Royals. Home runs from David DeJesus and Jose Guillen, his fourth in three games spotted Bannister a 5-0 lead. Bannister wasn’t dominating but he let Detroit put the ball in play and he was getting good defensive plays behind him. Bannister allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out four before he walked Brandon Inge with one out in the seventh. Then, he gave up a double to Gerald Laird. That’s when Hillman pulled the plug on Bannister at 93 pitches. I think of course in hindsight, that’s a major mistake. At least afford him one or two more batters with a four run lead.
After Hillman pulled Bannister, he went to Ramon Colon , whose ERA is 18.00. He gave up two doubles around an out. Then Dusty Hughes came in, with an ERA of 12.00 and gave up a single and a walk. Then Juan Cruz capped off the inning by giving up a walk and a double. Three walks and four doubles in that fateful inning.
