The Kansas City Royals finally lost, but slugger Billy Butler hopes their impressive push in the AL Central will go on.
“This doesn’t end anything,” he said. “We’ve got 10-1 in our last 11 games, and we’re going home in first place. We just have to keep playing the way we are right now.”
Anibal Sanchez pitched seven sharp innings, and the Detroit Tigers snapped Kansas City’s 10-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory Thursday. J.D. Martinez hit a tiebreaking homer in the fourth for the Tigers, who avoided a four-game sweep and pulled within a half-game of the AL Central-leading Royals.
Sanchez (4-2) allowed five hits and a walk, keeping the Kansas City offense quiet even though he failed to strike out a batter.
Joba Chamberlain pitched the eighth, and struggling closer Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth for his 14th save in 18 chances.
Danny Duffy (4-6) allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out five.
