DETROIT - Rookie Lucas French outdueled Zack Greinke and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 3-1, last night.
French (1-0) beat Greinke in just his second career start, holding the Royals to one run and six hits in 61/3 innings. Three Tigers relievers finished, with Fernando Rodney pitching the ninth for his 19th save in as many tries.
Greinke (10-5) gave up three runs, all in the first two innings, and seven hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked two.
Billy Butler had three doubles for the Royals.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the first, helped by Kansas City's first defensive mistake. Curtis Granderson walked and Placido Polanco singled to left. Polanco took a large turn, then easily moved to second as David DeJesus threw toward the plate.
Marcus Thames drove in the first run with a ground out, and Clete Thomas singled to second to make it 2-0.
Detroit added a third run in the second when Josh Anderson doubled, took third when Greinke couldn't handle Gerald Laird's bunt single, and scored on Ramon Santiago's sacrifice fly.
Greinke struck out eight in the next four innings, but the Royals couldn't take advantage until Alberto Callaspo's seventh-inning homer.
Meanwhile, the Tigers and the Phillies announced a "Vote Bran Torino" campaign, where the teams would work together to campaign for Brandon Inge and Shane Victorino for the final vote to pick the last all-star for each league.
"I thought this was going to be a simple vote and they'd just tell me Thursday who won," an amused Inge said.
Kansas City 000 000 100 – 1 6 0
Detroit 210 000 00x – 3 7 0
Kansas City AB R H BI Avg. Detroit AB R H BI Avg.
DeJesus lf 4 0 0 0 .255 Granderson cf 3 1 0 0 .255
Bl'mquist ss-rf 4 0 0 0 .278 Polanco 2b 4 1 2 0 .265
Butler 1b 4 0 3 0 .293 Mi.Cabrera 1b 4 0 1 0 .323
J.Guillen dh 4 0 0 0 .246 Thames dh 4 0 0 1 .248
Teahen 3b 4 0 0 0 .284 Thomas rf 4 0 1 1 .237
Olivo c 4 0 1 0 .249 Inge 3b 3 0 0 0 .264
