Tigers’ Michael Lorenzen keeps pitching zero in victory over KC

(Photo credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

Michael Lorenzen kept a clean sheet in July, and the Detroit Tigers backed him up with enough offense to beat the hosts Kanas City Royals 3-0 on Thursday.

The Tigers won 3 out of 4 games and went 5-2 on the trip.

The Tigers assembled a rally with two outs in the top of the second inning. Nick Maiton hit right front and Akil Badoo pulled a rare walk from Royals starting pitcher Zach Greinke. Zach Greinke has never walked more than two batters in his 19 starts this season.

Then Detroit’s eighth and ninth hitters, Andy Ibanez and Eric Haas, hit back-to-back runs to give the Tigers a 2–0 lead. Ibanez went 2-for-4.

The Tigers took a 3–0 lead in the fifth inning against Royals reliever Austin Cox when Zach McKinstry hit a triple to right field and scored on Spencer Torkelson’s sacrifice fly.

Lorenzen (5-6) ran 21 2/3 scoreless innings, the longest streak in the majors to date. He allowed just three hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts in seven innings until Tyler Holton relieved him. Jason Foley closed out the game with his fourth save. The Tigers’ pitchers allowed only four hits that day.

The longest streak of scoreless innings this season is 29 2/3, set by Nathan Eovaldi of the Texas Rangers in April and May.

The 39-year-old Greinke (1-10) faced 17 batters and left the game after 4 hits, 2 RBIs, 1 strikeout and 2 walks.

Kansas City is currently on a three-game trip against the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. The Tigers are home to three games against the San Diego Padres, one against the San Francisco Giants and three against the Los Angeles Angels.

–Field level media