Detroit’s Alex Avila homered twice, including a tiebreaking blast in the eighth inning that lifted the Tigers over the Royals 3-2 Sunday. Chesterfield, Mo., native Max Scherzer was in line for his 20th win when reliever Drew Smyly allowed the Royals to tie it in the top of the eighth.
Scherzer has two losses and two no-decisions since boasting a 19-1 start. He allowed a run and five hits with 12 strikeouts and one walk in seven innings. He was on track to become baseball’s first 20-game winner this year when he pitched out of a second-and-third, one-out jam in the seventh to preserve a one-run lead.
