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 So, when Detroit closer Joe Nathan picked off belated pinch
runner Jarrod Dyson at second base with one out and two on in the
bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday, it took the air completely out
of Kansas City's balloon.
One pitch later, the right-handed Nathan struck out catcher Salvador
Perez with an 0-2 slider and the Tigers walked off the field with a
4-2 victory that put them in a first-place tie with the Royals in
the American League Central Division.
If the Royals had pulled off the double steal and come from behind
to win in the ninth, manager Ned Yost would have been hailed as a
genius. But because they didn't, Yost has to open up his suitcase to
take in all the second-guessing.
Right fielder Nori Aoki and second baseman Omar Infante opened the
ninth against Nathan, who now has 30 saves, with infield singles to
short. Outfielder Terrance Gore, reputed to be the fastest guy in
baseball, was put in to run for Infante, who was the tying run at
first.
Nathan struck out left fielder Alex Gore with a 3-2 slider and, one
pitch into Perez's at-bat, Yost sent center fielder Jarrod Dyson in
to run for Aoki at second.
"With nobody out, I wasn't running," Yost said. "But after the
strikeout and the first pitch to Perez, I thought, 'OK, Sal (Perez)
can hit one out of the park and (first baseman Eric) Hosmer can hit
one out of the park. But if I put Dyson in I've got two of the
fastest runners.'
"Stolen bases are always a risk," Yost said, "and with his speed and
Gore's speed everybody in the park knows they're stealing.
"It takes a single or a double to score one run or maybe two runs
(if we don't steal). If we steal, we score at least one run with a
single."
The trouble was: Everybody in the park knew it.
"Truthfully," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said, "Aoki runs well
enough that you're aware of him, but when they put Dyson in, it
certainly doesn't soften the focus on the runner at second base.
"If they steal, that puts the tying run in scoring position with a
pretty good hitter in Perez at the plate. It was good awareness by
(second baseman Ian Kinsler) to notice it, what pitch he goes on."
"I was able to make eye contact with Joe," Kinsler said, which also
included the sign for a pickoff, usually a flick of the glove or
holding it out to the side. "Inside moves are fine; you might as
well take a shot."
Kinsler was actually standing on second when Dyson leaned and began
to make his break for third. Nathan whirled and threw a strike to
Kinsler, who had Dyson so picked off the runner just slumped his
shoulders and accepted the tag standing up, several feet off the
bag.
"I knew we were going to try," Nathan said. "I gave him my bad move.
Then I held the ball and gave him my little inside move. My heart
was beating a million miles a minute. The big thing was making a
good throw to Ian."
"We don't have a steal sign (for Dyson)," Yost said. "Dyson's going
to find a spot when he can steal."
So now Detroit, 12-4 against Kansas City this season, will try to
fashion its first four-game winning streak since before the All-Star
break. The Royals can head home with a one-game lead by winning
Wednesday.
[to top of second column] |
J.D. Martinez and Rajai Davis hit home runs and Max Scherzer held
Kansas City to one run in 6 2/3 innings.
The Royals scored a run off right-hander Joba Chamberlain in the
eighth on an RBI groundout by center fielder Lorenzo Cain with
runners on second and third. A walk and one-out ground-rule double
to right by third baseman Mike Moustakas set up the run.
The right-handed Scherzer (16-5) walked four but struck out six and
gave up seven hits as he worked out of three situations where he had
at least two runners on base.
Lefty Jason Vargas (11-8) walked three and allowed six hits in 5 1/3
innings.
J.D. Martinez crunched a 1-0 fastball into the left-field seats off
Vargas with one out in the fifth to put Detroit up, 4-1. It was his
20th home run of the season.
Kansas City scored its first run in the fifth on consecutive one-out
singles by shortstop Alcides Escobar, Aoki and Infante. Scherzer
walked Gordon but got out of the inning by getting Perez to line out
to third and striking out Hosmer.
Center fielder Davis, back in the starting lineup after watching Don
Kelly start two games, lined his eighth home run over the fence in
left to score shortstop Andrew Romine, who reached on a force play
ahead of him in the second inning. It gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Detroit went up 1-0 in the first. Right fielder Torii Hunter
singled, went to third on designated hitter Miguel Cabrera's double
to right and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by J.D. Martinez.
NOTES: It's a daily decision whether to start Billy Butler, Josh
Willingham or Carlos Peguero at the designated hitter spot, Royals
manager Ned Yost said. He chose Willingham on Tuesday night because
of a better record against Detroit starter RHP Max Scherzer. ... RHP
Joakim Soria reported no lingering effects from his bullpen session
and will be activated off the disabled list Wednesday by Detroit. He
will pitch late innings, manager Brad Ausmus said. ... Yost kept
writers guessing Tuesday whether closer Greg Holland, who is nursing
a sore right biceps, would be available to pitch. ... Tigers RF
Torii Hunter was in the starting lineup Tuesday after suffering some
whiplash the night before when he collided with CF Don Kelly and hit
his head on the Comerica Park sod.
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