KANSAS CITY, Mo -Zack Greinke struck out eight while pitching his fifth complete game and Mitch Maier drove in three runs after coming off the bench, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 6-1 Tuesday night.
Greinke (8-1), who leads the majors in ERA, complete games and shutouts (two), allowed six hits and one first-inning run. For the rest of the night, his varied assortment of 98 mph fastballs and corner-biting breaking pitches dealt nothing but zeros to a Detroit lineup that scored 13 runs the day before.
Greinke threw a season-high 116 pitches and did not allow a walk while his ERA rose from 0.82 to 0.84. In two starts against the Tigers this year, he has allowed one earned run in two complete-game wins.
Orioles 7, Blue Jays 2
BALTIMORE – Aubrey Huff, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold homered, right-hander Jason Berken won his major league debut and the Orioles defeated Toronto to stretch the Blue Jays losing streak to eight games.
Only 10,130 fans – the smallest crowd in the 18-year history of Camden Yards – showed up on a miserable night. The temperature dipped into the low 50s and a steady mist swirled through the stadium from the outset.
Summoned from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Adam Eaton in the rotation, Berken (1-0) gave up two runs, seven hits and three walks in five innings. He retired the side in order only once, but stranded five runners in scoring position.
Indians 5, Rays 1
CLEVELAND – Carl Pavano won for the fifth time in six starts and Ryan Garko hit one of four homers for the Indians in a win over the Rays.
Asdrubal Cabrera, Kelly Shoppach and Mark DeRosa also connected for the Indians, who won for the fifth time in seven games and earned their 15th consecutive home win over the Rays since Sept. 29, 2005.
Pavano (5-4) allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out six to continue an outstanding month. Hes 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA and only seven walks against 30 strikeouts since May 1, when he got his first win of the season in Detroit.
