KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The radar gun seemed stuck on 99 mph.

That's what it clocked Justin Verlander's fastball at in the first

inning, and that's what it still read in the ninth.

Quick and overpowering, Detroit's 6-foot-5 rookie right-hander

pitched a five-hitter Monday night for his first complete game and

shutout in his ninth major league start. He allowed only one runner

as far as second base in leading the Tigers to an 8-0 victory,

Detroit's second straight shutout and the 10th loss in a row for

the Royals.

"I've never had a starting pitcher throw 99 in the ninth

inning," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "I've seen some

closers throw 99. I've never had a starter throw 99 in the ninth

inning before that I can recall."

The Royals, who apparently didn't get much out of a players-only

meeting before the game, were equally amazed.

"My last at-bat he was 99 on the black," said Doug

Mientkiewicz, who struck out for the second out in the ninth.

"Goodness gracious. That's as good as stuff as I've seen."

Snapping off his fastball first on the inside and then on the

outside of the plate, Verlander (6-3) frequently got the Royals to

lunge on the first pitch. He allowed only two baserunners until

Mientkiewicz singled with one out in the seventh. He struck out

seven and walked one.

"I felt strong the entire game," Verlander said. "I felt like

I had my good stuff. It was just one of those nights when

everything was working."

Leyland said Reggie Sanders, who flied out to end the game, was

going to be Verlander's last hitter. But Leyland knew how much the

second overall draft pick of the 2004 draft wanted that complete

game and shutout.

"I'm really excited," Verlander said. "Most of all, I'm glad

I got a win for the team. Personally, though, I couldn't be more

excited. Hopefully, it's one of many to come."

Brandon Inge and Curtis Granderson homered for the Tigers, who

have won 10 of their last 11 overall and lead the majors with 17

road wins.

It was the Tigers' ninth shutout in 44 games. The quickest any

previous Detroit team reached nine shutouts was 52 games in 1945.

The Tigers beat Cincinnati 1-0 on Sunday, with Fernando Rodney

getting the win in relief.

After losing 11 in a row in April, the Royals are now the eighth

team since 1970 with two double-digit losing streaks in one season.

Their 10-32 record is tied with four other teams for the

fourth-worst after 42 games in major league history.

"That's as good a stuff as I've seen in a long time," Royals

manager Buddy Bell said. "His total command was exceptional."

Elias Says

The Royals lost their 10th consecutive game, and it's already their second 10-game losing streak of the season. The Royals are only the fourth team in the live-ball era to post two losing of streaks of 10 games by the 50-game mark of the season. The others were the 1988 Orioles (began the season with a 21-game losing streak), 1969 Expos (a first-year expansion team that qualified with a single streak of 20 losses), and 1949 St. Louis Browns. • For more Elias Says, Click here

Mark Grudzielanek singled with one out in the fourth for the

Royals' first hit, and Aaron Guiel walked leading off the fifth.

The other three hits were singles in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Kansas City third inning lasted 2 minutes. It took only

seven pitches for Verlander to get three groundball outs.

"They were aggressive to the fastball early in the count. Most

of them weren't hitting it too hard, so I used that to my advantage

and had some quick innings to make it to the ninth," Verlander

said.

Jeremy Affeldt (2-4) lost for the first time in six career

decisions against the Tigers, giving up 11 hits and eight runs in

six innings.

"I dug a 6-foot grave right away and Verlander put the dirt on

it," he said.

With only one out in the top of the fifth, every Tiger starter

had at least as many hits (1) as the Royals had as a team. Chris

Shelton was the only Tiger not to score.

The Tigers scored five runs in the second on Inge's two-run

homer and a three-run shot by Granderson.

Magglio Ordonez had a two-run single in the fifth and Craig

Monroe added an RBI single.Game notes
It was Detroit's first back-to-back shutouts since June

21-22, 1996, against Minnesota. ... Royals CF David DeJesus hoped

to compete in nine-inning games this week in Arizona as he

continues rehabbing a hamstring injury. Also getting a good report

from Arizona was RHP Zack Greinke, who is working himself back into

shape after missing most of the regular spring training while

attending to personal issues. ... Detroit INF Carlos Guillen was

held out Monday with a sore back. He had at least two hits in four

of his last seven games and was expected to return to the lineup on

Tuesday.