Another week has passed in Major League Baseball and we have a new leader in the division. Over the last week the Kansas City Royals played their way to a division lead, and if the season had ended before games were played today, both wildcard teams would come out of the Central as both the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins (not a typo) would be playoff bound. Unfortunately for these three teams, there is still plenty of baseball left to be played, but it should be a fun race to watch.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals had a great week winning series against both the Cleveland Indians and the Tigers. The Royals started off the week on the right foot as first baseman Eric Hosmer drove in 4 with 1 HR and 1 triple. Jason Vargas would go 6 innings allowing 2 runs with 5 K and 2 BB. The Indians would take game two handily, before the Royals would ultimately take the series. The Royals would jump out to an early lead, as Hosmer again hit a 3 run HR, and Greg Holland would seal the series with his first save since April 17th, as he returned from a pectoral injury.
The Royals would begin their series in Detroit with a tough loss, as the Tigers would win game one due to a throwing error in the 9th inning, and would briefly lose hold of the division lead. In game two the Royals would strike early off of Tiger starter Anibal Sanchez, as Alcides Escobar would homer on the very first pitch, and drive in another in the game, and Jeremy Guthrie would pitch 7.1 innings for the win. The final game of the series took 10 innings and a little over 40 minute rain delay to complete. The pitchers duel of Shane Greene and Chris Young would end with Alex Gordon being hit by a pitch, advancing to second on a wild pitch, being moved over on a ground out, and driven in by a sacrifice fly. Holland would get his second consecutive save as the Royals finished the week at the top of the AL Central.
Record 4-2
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers began the week in Chicago, where they lost game one to the Chicago White Sox, as Shane Greene gave up 5 runs, 4 of which came in the 3rd inning, and the Tigers could never recover. In game two, it looked like the Tigers were headed for victory, as Victor Martinez (2 for 4) with 1 HR and 4 RBI, but a 4 run 8th for Joba Chamberlain would give the White Sox just enough to get the win. Kyle Lobstein would prevent the three game sweep in game 3, pitching 7 and 2/3rds innings of 1 R baseball. Joakim Soria would spell Lobestein with two outs in the 8th and close out the Sox in the ninth. Miguel Cabrera, Martinez, and Nick Castellanos would provide the offense for the Tigers with 1 RBI each.
The Tigers were only able to take one win in the series against the Royals, however, even in the win they lost as ace David Price was injured in the game, as he stepped on the bat of Alex Gordon, while trying to backup home plate. Price attempted to throw some warm up pitches after the incident, but ultimately would leave the game.
Record 2-4
Minnesota Twins
The twins have been rolling lately, and went into Monday’s match up against the Oakland Athletics with a four game winning streak. It didn’t start promising, as Stephen Vogt would open the first inning with a grand slam against Twins starter Phil Hughes, but would put up 4 of their own in the second. They would briefly lose the lead in the 6th before Torii Hunter would cap a four run inning with a 3 run homer. They would hold on to the win as Glen Perkins collected his 9th save of the season. The Twins’ streak would end at 5 as they lost game two, as A’s starter Jesse Chavez was lights out allowing 1 run in 7 and 1/3rd innings, with 7 K.
Game 3 was the Eduardo Escobar show, as he drove in 5 RBI, as the Twins would put on an offensive clinic winning 13-0. Eddie Rosario became the most recent member of a list of 29 players who have homered on his first MLB pitch. Kyle Gibson pitched 6 scoreless innings, obtaining his 3rd win of the season. Rosario and Escobar would play crucial roles in the series win in game 4 as they both drove in 2 as the Twins finished their home stand with an impressive 8-3 record and would fly out to Cleveland.
Torii Hunter continued his red hot streak in game 1 in Cleveland, as he went (4-4) with 4 RBI. The Twins got production from the bottom half of the lineup and drove Indian’s starter Trevor Bauer out in the 6th. The Twins would backup Hughes with 16 hits and 7 runs winning game 2, before dropping the finale due to a gem from Danny Salazar.
Record 5-2
Cleveland Indians
The Indians didn’t have a great week, losing both series to the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins. They were however able to pickup two wins, the first was game 2 against the Royals where they were able to put up 9 runs, with 7 players contributing to the total. Brandon Moss had two hits and a 2 RBI double and a solo homerun, his 5th of the season. Carlos Carrasco had a solid outing striking out 6 in seven innings, allowing only 3 earned runs.
The Indians would then come home to face the streaking Twins. After dropping the first two games of the series, the Indians relied on Danny Salazar to stop the bleeding. Salazar would comply going 7 innings while striking out 11. Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana did the majority of the hitting for the Indians driving in 5, and will host the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.
Record 2-4
Chicago White Sox
The Sox would host the Tigers and capitalize on some solid pitching from Jeff Samardzija, while a 4 run 3rd inning capped off by a two run triple from Conor Gillaspie. David Robertson would earn his 4th save of the season. Things looked bleak for the Sox in game two, as they were unable to get a quality start out of Ace Chris Sale, 5 and 1/3rd allowing 5 runs with 6 K and 5 BB. The Sox found themselves down 3 going into the bottom of the 8th when Melky Cabrera smashed a 3 run homer. Later in the inning, Avisail Garcia would drive in the game winner. Robertson would get his second save of the week.
The Sox would then host the Cincinnati Reds, but have to wait until Saturday due to rain. The Sox would split the double header winning the night game, as rookie starter Carlos Rodon got his first win of the season. With some minor control issues early, Rodon finished 6 innings striking out 8 while walking 4. 5 players on the Sox roster would drive in a run support for Rodon, as Gordon Beckham went (2 for 3) with a HR and 3 RBI. The Sox then took the momentum into Sunday, and through 8 innings found themselves comfortably ahead with a 3 to 1 lead. John Danks looked in line for the win with his quality start and only 1 earned run allowed, but Robertson who had been perfect in save opportunities the whole week, gave up a two run double to Zack Cozart tying the game. In the bottom half of the inning Beckham once again would find a way to drive a single to Jay Bruce giving the White Sox the rubber game.
Record 4-2
Position Player of the Week: Torii Hunter — Hunter has been on fire the last week. 11 hits, 3 home runs, 9 RBI and 9 runs scored. Very few in the league are hotter.
Pitcher of the Week: Danny Salazar- While Salazar split his two decisions this week 1 W 1 L, he pitched 14 innings only allowing five runs while striking out 20.
POWER RANKINGS/ SEASON STANDINGS
- Kansas City Royals 20-11
- Detroit Tigers 19-13
- Minnesota Twins 18-14
- Chicago White Sox 12-16
- Cleveland Indians 11-19
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