Former Mizzou Tiger and St. Charles, MO. native Max Scherzer won his ninth straight decision, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Royals 3-2 to snap the Royals’ six-game winning streak Tuesday night. Scherzer pitched seven innings to become the first Tigers starter to begin the season 9-0 since Vern Kennedy in 1938.
He limited the Royals to three hits and two runs, while striking out six and walking two. Aaron Crow (2-2), Scherzer’s teammate at Missouri, took the loss after pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. In the eighth, Crow hit Miguel Cabrera and gave up a single to Prince Fielder, before Victor Martinez hit a sac fly for the go-ahead run.
The Royals tied the game a 2-2 in the fifth when David Lough led off with a homer and Alcides Escobar drove in Mike Moustakas who singled and moved into scoring position on a sac bunt.
Salvador Perez led off the Royals ninth with a single and Elliot Johnson ran for him and stole second. Billy Butler went down looking at strike three and was ejected from the game, and Lorenzo Cain and David Lough failed to drive in the tying run.