Royals 5, Tigers 2: Offense quiet, broadcast awful

The Tigers had their chances, but couldn’t extend the winning streak to five. A lack of timely hitting kept the scoreboard quiet in a 5-2 defeat by the Royals.

And just to save you some scoreboard watching: Crap. Crap again. (Assume the Red Sox will add another “crap” to the heap later for the sweep.)

Michael Fulmer allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings. Eric Hosmer took a mistake deep for two runs in the fourth inning. The third run came after typical Royals-ing, two bunts and a soft single with two outs in the fifth.

Royals starter Yordano Ventura’s line looks pretty bad if you ignore the runs column. He gave up six hits and six walks. Yet only a lone run. The Tigers stranded multiple runners in the second and third innings before finally pushing a run across in the fourth when James McCann drove in J.D. Martinez on a fielder’s choice.

Tigers batters went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position to strand 12 as a team (24 when you add up all the individual contributions).

The game was still close entering the eighth, with Kansas City leading 3-1. But Kyle Ryan and Mark Lowe couldn’t hold the line. Ryan gave up the baserunners and Lowe let them in before Joe Mantiply got Detroit out of the inning in his major league debut.

Ian Kinsler made it 5-2 with a solo shot to lead off the ninth inning.

You could get mad about it. But it happens. The Tigers aren’t going to win every game in September. Still, it feels a bit like opportunity lost after Ventura gave them so many chances.

Roars

J.D. Martinez — A hit and two walks, and scored a run.

Ian Kinsler — Another solo home run.

Jose Iglesias — Two hits and he did THIS

Joe Mantiply — He got the Tigers out of the eighth inning with his second MLB pitch. Nice debut!

Hisses

FS1 announcing crew — This crew of Kenny Albert and Tom Verducci was among the worst we have heard on a national broadcast and that’s saying something. Only Royals fans wear their team colors. MOUTHPIECE MOUTHPIECE MOUTHPIECE MOUTHPIECE. Hey rally mantis time! woo! And get your bobblehead, too! Wait are they playing baseball on the field? Huh. Distracting.

Justin Upton -- He went 0-for-4 with a remarkable -0.197 win probability added. The three batters in front of him combined for six walks and a hit and and scored just once.

Kyle Ryan and Mark Lowe — Combined to give up two runs in the eighth, making the unlikely chance of the Tigers coming back pretty much 0.

Tigers batters with runners in scoring position -- The batters combined to individually strand 24 runners on base (12 actually were stranded), led by the six of the aforementioned Upton. Victor Martinez and James McCann each stranded three. The Tigers were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Stats and stuff

• Bruce Rondon has been scored on once in his last 13 outings. In that time he has 19 strikeouts and three walks in 12-1/3 innings. (H/T Mark Gorosh)
• Ian Kinsler scored 100 runs in a season for the sixth time in his career with the ninth inning home run. (H/T Tigers PR)

Win Probability Chart