DETROIT, MI (WTVB) – September callup Christin Stewart belted his first two big league homers and drove in six runs as the Detroit Tigers outslugged the Kansas City Royals 11-8 in Detroit.
Stewart smashed a two-run shot in the first inning and a three-run blast in the second. Nicholas Castellanos homered, tripled and drove in two Tigers’ runs.
Matthew Boyd failed to make it through two innings, allowing five runs. Zac Reininger picked up his first win in relief.
Kansas City starter Jorge Lopez retired only three of the 11 batters he faced, with seven crossing the plate. Jorge Bonifacio, Brian Goodwin, Adalberto Mondesi, and Hunter Dozier homered for the Royals, who have lost five straight.
Francisco Liriano starts for Detroit tonight opposite KC’s Ian Kennedy in the second game of the four game series.
Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer is recovering after successful surgery to repair the partially torn meniscus in his right knee. Fulmer was hurt Saturday in Cleveland when he was trying to field a bunt. He will begin rehab at home in Oklahoma and then continue working out in Lakeland, Florida. He’s expected to be ready in time for spring training next year.
The Tigers will honor designated hitter Victor Martinez in a ceremony before tomorrow night’s game against the Royals. Martinez has played seven of his 16 seasons with Detroit and will retire at the end of the season. He missed all of 2012 with a torn ACL.
As a switch-hitter, he currently leads the Tigers with 539 RBI, ranks third all-time with 1,029 hits and is second with 115 home runs. Martinez began his career in Cleveland in 2002 and also played for Boston before signing with Detroit after the 2010 season.
