Verlander strikes out 11 as Tigers defeat Royals
Marcus Thames hit a three-run homer to power Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers to an 8-5 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals last night.
Verlander (9-4) struck out 11 to run his AL-best total to 141, the most by a Detroit pitcher before the All-Star Game in 37 years. He gave up five runs and seven hits over six innings.
Miguel Cabrera and Placido Polanco also homered for the Tigers.
Three relievers combined for two innings to set up Fernando Rodney's 18th save in 18 chances.
David DeJesus hit a three-run double in the second inning for Kansas City and Billy Butler added a solo homer in the sixth.
In other games:
* At Boston, Josh Beckett became the Red Sox' second 10-game winner, Jason Bay hit his 20th homer and Boston beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-2. Beckett (10-3) matched the win total of Tim Wakefield, and remained unbeaten at home this season with five wins in eight starts.
* At St. Petersburg, Fla., Pat Burrell's two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the Tampa Bay Rays over the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-1.
* At Chicago, Paul Konerko hit a career-high three home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, to lead the White Sox, 10-6, over the Cleveland Indians.
* At Minneapolis, CC Sabathia (8-5) allowed one run on three hits in seven innings and the New York Yankees beat the Twins, 10-2.
Noteworthy
* White Sox general manager Ken Williams said he might not be able to make a big trade this season and add a big salary to the payroll because of smaller crowds at U.S. Cellular Field.
"Well, if I'm being completely honest, money is more of the issue now. We expected a little more support than we've gotten," he said.
The White Sox did make a smaller trade, acquiring righthanded reliever Tony Pena from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league infielder Brandon Allen.
In another matter, Williams said he is unsure of righthander Bartolo Colon's location ahead of a planned rehab start for Triple A Charlotte tomorrow. Colon is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left knee.
"I know where he is supposed to be right now. He's supposed to be in Charlotte, preparing to start Thursday," Williams said. "Efforts to contact his agent have been successful. Their efforts to contact their client have not been so successful."
* A Florida judge scheduled a hearing for tomorrow on whether former major leaguer Jim Leyritz should be jailed until his upcoming DUI manslaughter trial.
Leyritz, 45, a former New York Yankees star, is scheduled to go on trial on the manslaughter charge Sept. 14. Police have said Leyritz was drunk when he caused a fatal car crash in December 2007.
He was arrested last week after his ex-wife accused him of beating her. He had been free on bail on the manslaughter charge. *
