Former Mizzou pitcher Aaron Crow gave up a 10th inning homer to back up infielder Ramon Santiago as the Royals lost a 1-0 lead late and fall 2-1 in extras to first place Detroit.
Crow had worked out of a bases loaded jam, but the small, light hitting Santiago just cleared the right field wall for the winner. This was a pitcher’s duel early on.
Detroit starter Doug Fister retired the first 18 hitters he faced. He ended up allowing a run and four hits over 7 2/3 innings and struck out six. Royals’ starter Jeff Francis allowed two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Alex Gordon ended Fister’s no-hit bid with a double. Billy Butler eventually drove him in with a sacrifice fly to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Francis was pulled with two on in the seventh, and reliever Greg Holland got two outs to end a threat. However, in the eighth, with men on first and third and two outs, Magglio Ordonez singled up the middle to make it 1-1.
