Garurumons Mini-Kino » wasted a fine start by Samardzija

DETROIT -- James Shields and Danny Duffy were too much for the Detroit Tigers offence. Shields allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings and was part of a combined four-hit shutout in Kansas Citys 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night to give the Royals a sweep of a day-night doubleheader. Kansas City won the first game 2-1 as Duffy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and pitched a combined two-hitter. "Huge day for us. Shields came back and, basically, matched the outing that Duffy had," said Eric Hosmer, who homered in each game. Royals pitching held the Tigers to a run and six hits combined in the two games. "You play 18 innings against a team like that and give up one run, youre doing something special," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he isnt worried about his AL Central-leading club. "Its not a concern. We got what we got. Its pretty simple," he said. "Both teams got great pitching, and we didnt must enough offence." The Royals gained two games on Detroit to move within 6 1/2 games of the Tigers. "We wanted to come in here and make a statement against these guys," Yost said. Shields (8-8) won his fourth game in his past five starts. He walked four and struck out one. "Tonight I was pounding the strike zone but just missing with some of my pitches," Shields said. " ... Ive been pitching well all season. Ive got a lot of quality starts. Thats what I care about, not wins and losses." The Tigers threatened against Shields in the second and third innings. In the second, a walk to Andy Dirks and Brayan Penas single gave Detroit runners on first and second with one out. But Shields got both Ramon Santiago and Jose Iglesias to hit pop-ups to the shortstop to get out of the inning. But the biggest potential rally came in the third when the right-hander walked Austin Jackson to lead off the third inning and Torii Hunter singled him to second. But Shields retired the next three hitters, using mostly his change-up. Miguel Cabrera was retired on weak roller to Shields between the mound and first base on which the runners moved up to second and third. But Prince Fielder hit a short fly ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Despite Jacksons speed, it wasnt nearly deep enough for him to score. Shields then got Victor Martinez to line out to right to end the inning. "Its huge, especially with their lineup and who was coming up," Shields said. "Youve got Miggy, Fielder and Victor, whose one of the hottest hitters in the league ... and Miggy, the best hitter in the league." Luke Hochevar pitched a perfect eighth and Greg Holland worked the ninth, allowing a hit, for his 34th save. He had saves in both games of the doubleheader. Jose Alvarez (1-3), called up from Triple-A Toledo to make the start, took the loss. He gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out five. Alvarezs only big mistakes came in the third with two outs. He walked Jamey Carroll and Hosmer followed with his second home run of the day, that gave the Royals a 2-0 lead. Hosmer blasted Alvarezs 1-1 change-up deep into the right-field stands for his 14th homer. "I felt good, but I made one big mistake," Alvarez said. "Im here to win games for this team, and I didnt do that, so Im disappointed." Alvarez was replaced by Jeremy Bonderman with two outs in the sixth. Bonderman got the final out of that inning and the first two outs of the seventh before being replaced by Phil Coke and Al Alburquerque. Carrolls sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 3-0. It was an unearned run off Bonderman, whose throwing error on an attempted pickoff throw sent Chris Getz from first to third. He scored on the sac fly. Duffy (1-0) beat Justin Verlander in the opener. Duffy was called up from Triple-A Omaha to make his second big league start of the season, and didnt allow a hit until Cabreras hard-hit, two out single in the sixth. "I was glad that they finally got one, honestly, because I just wanted to pitch," said Duffy, who underwent Tommy John surgery. "I wanted to protect this arm." Kelvin Herrera replaced Duffy in the seventh and retired the side in order. Aaron Crow worked the eighth and allowed Santiagos pinch-hit home run leading off the inning. Crow got the next three batters. "Would have liked to have been able to accomplish two things, win and keep the bullpen fresh," Verlander said. "Just didnt happen that way. Felt like I threw the ball well. Just their guys pitched extremely well, which is theyve done all year." Verlander (12-9) allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings. He struck out five and didnt walk a batter. "Our pitching was terrific tonight, both of them," Leyland said. "Im certainly not going to nitpick what they did." Kansas City made it 2-0 on consecutive doubles leading off the seventh by Justin Maxwell and Emilio Bonifacio. NOTE: With two outs in the second inning of the first game, Bonafacio hit a soft liner that Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias reached to his right to catch on the backhand. The ball popped out of his glove back over Iglesias head, but he twisted his body to catch it for the innings final out. ... In the eighth, Bonifacio, playing centre field, and right fielder David Lough collided after Bonifacio made a running catch of Cabreras long drive on the warning track in deep right-centre. ... It was the Royals first doubleheader sweep in Detroit since Aug. 5, 1984. ... Royals manager Ned Yost said third baseman Mike Moustakas, who has been out since leaving Mondays game with a tight calf, would do some work on the field on Friday to assess his progress. ... The Royals Billy Butler continued his mastery of Verlander in the first game. Butler was 2 for 3 to run his career mark against the Tigers star to 27-for-62 (. 435). ... Saturdays scheduled starters are Wade Davis (6-9, 5.29 ERA) for Kansas City against Doug Fister (10-6. 3.60) for Detroit. Miguel Cabrera was retired on weak roller to Shields between the mound and first base on which the runners moved up to second and third. But Prince Fielder hit a short fly ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Despite Jacksons speed, it wasnt nearly deep enough for him to score. Shields then got Victor Martinez to line out to right to end the inning. Luke Hochevar pitched a perfect eighth and Greg Holland worked the ninth, allowing a hit, for his 34th save. He had saves in both games of the doubleheader. Jose Alvarez (1-3), called up from Triple-A Toledo to make the start, took the loss. He gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out five. Alvarezs only big mistakes came in the third with two outs. He walked Jamey Carroll and Hosmer followed with his second home run of the day, that gave the Royals a 2-0 lead. Hosmer blasted Alvarezs 1-1 pitch deep into the right-field stands for his 14th homer. Alvarez was replaced by Jeremy Bonderman with two outs in the sixth. Bonderman got the final out of that inning and the first two outs of the seventh before being replaced by Phil Coke and Al Alburquerque. Carrolls sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 3-0. It was an unearned run off Bonderman, whose throwing error on an attempted pickoff throw sent Chris Getz from first to third. He scored on the sac fly. Duffy (1-0) beat Justin Verlander in the opener. Duffy was called up from Triple-A Omaha to make his second big league start of the season, and didnt allow a hit until Cabreras hard-hit, two out single in the sixth. "I was glad that they finally got one, honestly, because I just wanted to pitch," said Duffy, who underwent Tommy John surgery. "I wanted to protect this arm." Kelvin Herrera replaced Duffy in the seventh and retired the side in order. Aaron Crow worked the eighth and allowed Santiagos pinch-hit home run leading off the inning. Crow got the next three batters. "Would have liked to have been able to accomplish two things, win and keep the bullpen fresh," Verlander said. "Just didnt happen that way. Felt like I threw the ball well. Just their guys pitched extremely well, which is theyve done all year." Verlander (12-9) allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings. He struck out five and didnt walk a batter. Kansas City made it 2-0 on consecutive doubles leading off the seventh by Justin Maxwell and Emilio Bonifacio. NOTE: With two outs in the second inning of the first game, Bonafacio hit a soft liner that Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias reached to his right to catch on the backhand. The ball popped out of his glove back over Iglesias head, but he twisted his body to catch it for the innings final out. ... In the eighth, Bonifacio, playing centre field, and right fielder David Lough collided after Bonifacio made a running catch of Cabreras long drive on the warning track in deep right-centre. ... It was the Royals first doubleheader sweep in Detroit since Aug. 5, 1984. ... Royals manager Ned Yost said third baseman Mike Moustakas, who has been out since leaving Mondays game with a tight calf, would do some work on the field on Friday to assess his progress. ... The Royals Billy Butler continued his mastery of Verlander in the first game. Butler was 2 for 3 to run his career mark against the Tigers star to 27-for-62 (. 435). ... Saturdays scheduled starters are Wade Davis (6-9, 5.29 ERA) for Kansas City against Doug Fister (10-6. 3.60) for Detroit. Federico Fazio Argentina Jersey . Louis Blues just continue to roll -- especially against the Nashville Predators. 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Pierre last November, only to watch St. Pierre leave the UFC octagon with his welterweight title belt and a split-decision victory.PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker understands not everybody is going to be a fan of Major League Baseballs expanded replay system, which threatens to slow down a sport that already struggles to be played with any sort of urgency. Funny, there werent many critics to be found on Monday at PNC Park. Walker homered off Carlos Villanueva leading off the 10th inning, and the Pirates benefited from an overturned to call to beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0. The Pittsburgh native turned on a Villanueva changeup and sent it sailing over the Clemente Wall in right field for the first walk-off of his career and the first by the Pirates on opening day since Bob Bailey homered off San Franciscos Juan Marichal in a 1-0, 10-inning victory in 1965. "This one feels pretty special," Walker said. "This is a special day for this team, this organization. Weve come a long way." So has the game. After spending decades fighting the advances of technology, Major League Baseball has embraced the concept. Many calls can be challenged this season under an expanded system, and both teams wasted little time putting umpires to work. The Cubs made history by initiating the first review under the new guidelines. Chicago manager Rick Renteria challenged a double-play call in the top of the fifth following a demonstrative "safe" call by Jeff Samardzija following a poorly executed sacrifice bunt attempt. First base umpire Bob Davidsons decision was confirmed on replay. "It was a combination of Samardzjias reaction and what we were looking at," Renteria said. "Were still trying to figure out what clear and compelling evidence is. Its a work in progress." Chicagos luck with replay didnt get any better later. A safe call on a pickoff attempt by Bryan Morris (1-0) with one out in the top of the 10th was reversed after Pirates manager Clint Hurdle requested a replay, sending Chicagos Emilio Bonifacio back to the dugout after a delay of 2 1/2 minutes. "Most of the time on pickkoffs, its got to be very noticeable for the umpire," Morris said.dddddddddddd. "Those bang-bang plays are always going to go to the runner. I guess thats why its good to have replay." The largest regular season crowd in PNC Parks 14-season history (39,833) roared its approval. The din only grew louder when Walkers drive to right field finished halfway up the seats. That capped a giddy day for a team freed from two decades of losing after a breakout 2013 in which it won 94 games and made the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Former Pittsburgh star Barry Bonds presented centerfielder Andrew McCutchen with the NL MVP award that McCutchen earned last year. Bonds received mixed reviews, though the vitriol that accompanied his late career visits to Pittsburgh while playing for San Francisco was noticeably absent. Bonifacio went 4 for 5 for Chicago, but the Cubs were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position and wasted a fine start by Samardzija, who scattered five hits over seven innings. "I was happy with the way I kept the ball down in the strike zone," Samardzija said. "It helped to get the double plays because they made the overall outing look a little better than it really was." Travis Ishikawa had two of the six hits by Pittsburgh. Starter Francisco Liriano tied a team record shared by three other pitchers for most strikeouts on opening day by fanning 10 in six innings. While he struggled with his command -- needing 104 pitches to get 18 outs -- he was sharp when he needed to be and Pittsburghs bullpen did the rest. NOTES: Pirates C Chris Stewart took batting practice and says he is coming along ahead of schedule in his rehab from knee surgery. Stewart believes he can beat the timetable of late April for his return. ... Chicago OF Brian Bogusevic was unavailable because of ankle soreness. He is expected to be ready to play Wednesday. ... The teams are off Tuesday. Chicagos Edwin Jackson faces Pittsburghs Charlie Morton on Wednesday night. ' ' '