Royals break club record; Randa ties ML mark
DETROIT (AP) -- The Kansas City Royals set a team record for runs
in a doubleheader Thursday.
Unfortunately for them, they did it all in the first game.
The Royals set numerous records in a 26-5 first-game rout of the
Detroit Tigers, but had no offense left in an 8-0 loss in Game 2.
Joe Randa led the Royals in the first game, going 6-for-7 and
tying a major league record by scoring six times. He had five
singles and a double, but he wasn't in the starting lineup for the
second game.
"He's awfully tired from running the bases," Royals manager
Tony Pena cracked between games.
Jeremy Bonderman (9-11) shut down the Royals in the nightcap,
allowing six hits in eight innings. Kansas City only got one runner
into scoring position against the 21-year-old, who had nine
strikeouts.
Randa also had two RBI in the first game when the Royals
matched an American League record by putting 13 straight runners on
base in an 11-run third inning. It was the most runs allowed by the
Tigers in a nine-inning game -- Detroit allowed 24 runs twice. Randa
also became the first AL player to have six hit and six runs in the
same nine-inning game.
The Royals had 26 hits against five pitchers. Angel Berroa had a
three-run homer and career-high five RBI, and Alberto Castillo
knocked in a career-best four runs.
Zack Greinke (8-9) got the win, allowing three runs in five
innings.
Kansas City has won five straight season series against the
Tigers, including an 11-8 margin this year.
"They've got a real good team, but we play our best baseball
against them," Pena said.
Jason Johnson (8-13) dropped to 0-5 in his last seven starts,
allowing 11 runs -- nine earned -- in 2 1-3 innings.
Kevin Seitzer was the last Kansas City player with six hits in a
game, on Aug. 2, 1987, and Shawn Green was the last major leaguer
to score six times, on May 23, 2002. Green also had six hits in
that game.
The previous Royals' record for runs scored in a game was 23,
against Minnesota on April 6, 1974. The major league record for a
nine-inning game is 29 runs by the Boston Red Sox against St. Louis
on June 8, 1950. The mark was tied by the White Sox against Kansas
City on April 23, 1955.
It was the most runs scored in a major league game since Texas
beat Baltimore 26-7 on April 19, 1996, according to the Elias
Sports Bureau.
Kansas City led 6-2 after two innings, then put the game away in
the third with one of its biggest innings.
Matt Stairs led off with a groundout, but the next 13 batters
combined for three walks, two doubles and eight singles against
three pitchers.
By the time Ruben Gotay popped out to end the streak, the Royals
had scored 11 runs, one short of a team record, and led 17-2. All
nine Royals scored at least once in the inning.
The inning also featured the inauspicious major league debut of
Tigers reliever Lino Urdaneta. He came in for Johnson and faced six
batters, allowing six runs on five hits and a walk.
The Royals scored two more runs in the fourth and five in the
sixth, and led by as many as 22 runs.
Luckily for the Tigers, the doubleheader caused by Wednesday's
rainout meant they didn't have much time to brood.
"I'm just glad we can get right out there for the second
game," Rondell White said. "After a game like that, you want to
be back on the field as fast as you can."
Ivan Rodriguez, who left the opener in the third inning, gave
the Tigers a quick start in the second game with a two-run double
in the first inning.
Craig Monroe, who homered in the first game, had a sacrifice fly
later in the inning, then made it 6-0 with a three-run home run in
the third. Monroe has hit in 22 of his last 23 games, including 12
homers.
Darrell May (9-17) lost his fifth straight, giving up eight runs
-- three earned -- and 10 hits in 7 1-3 innings.
Game notes
The Kansas City Athletics put 13 straight runners on base
against the Chicago White Sox on April 21, 1956. The major league
record is 19 by the Brooklyn Dodgers against Cincinnati on May 21,
1952. ... Randa had four hits and four runs in the first four
innings. ... Royals C Paul Phillips made his major league debut
when he entered the first game in the seventh inning. He singled in
his first at-bat. ... The Royals' team record for runs in a
doubleheader was 24, set in 1975 and tied in 2003.
Series tied 2-2
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Ted Barrett
- First Base Umpire - Mike Fichter
- Second Base Umpire - Ed Rapuano
- Third Base Umpire - James Hoye
2023 American League Central Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 12 | 10 | .545 | - | W1 |
| Cleveland | 11 | 11 | .500 | 1 | W1 |
| Detroit | 7 | 13 | .350 | 4 | L4 |
| Chicago | 7 | 15 | .318 | 5 | L4 |
| Kansas City | 5 | 17 | .227 | 7 | L1 |

