Kansas City pitcher Zack Greinke (right) celebrates with teammates after pitching a complete game against Detroit on Friday. The Royals won 6-1.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Zack Greinke got even stronger after his scoreless streak ended at 38 innings.
Greinke struck out 10 in his second straight complete game, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 6-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Greinke (4-0) allowed an unearned run in the fifth when Gerald Laird led off with a double and scored on shortstop Mike Aviles’ throwing error. Greinke ended last season with 14 consecutive scoreless innings and opened this year with 24 in a row.
“After that happened, I got a big boost of energy,” Greinke said. “It happens. That’s baseball, aggressive baserunning and aggressive fielding. I got out of some jams I shouldn’t have (in previous starts) and then they score on a play that maybe they shouldn’t have.
“The first five innings it was mainly just fastballs. I started throwing off speed just to keep them off the fastball. The last four innings everything was working real good.”
Twins 5, Indians 1: At Cleveland, Justin Morneau homered and Nick Blackburn pitched seven solid innings for the Twins.
Rangers 5, Orioles 4: At Baltimore, Michael Young hit a two-out, two-run homer off George Sherrill in the ninth inning, giving the Rangers a comeback victory.
Red Sox 5, Yankees 4 (11 innings): At Boston, Jason Bay homered off Mariano Rivera with two outs in the ninth to send the game to extra innings, and Kevin Youkilis hit a solo shot in the 11th.
Blue Jays 14, White Sox 0: At Chicago, Adam Lind hit three doubles, Aaron Hill drove in three runs and the Blue Jays won.
Mariners 8, Angels 3: At Anaheim, Calif., Russell Branyan homered in his return to the Seattle lineup, and the Mariners used a six-run fifth inning to win.
Rays 8, Athletics 2: At Oakland, Calif., Carlos Pena hit a pair of home runs, Scott Kazmir allowed two hits over six innings and the Rays won.
NL: Phils win on 7-run rally in 9th
MIAMI – Shane Victorino hit his first career grand slam to highlight a seven-run rally in the ninth inning against closer Matt Lindstrom, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 7-3 on Friday night.
The Marlins took a three-hitter into the ninth and were two outs from a 3-0 victory when pinch hitter Matt Stairs singled home the Phillies’ first run. Lindstrom walked in a run before Victorino hit his second homer on a 2-1 pitch.
Mets 4, Nationals 3: At New York, Johan Santana struck out 10 in six innings, and the offensively challenged Mets scored twice following failed sprawling catches that turned singles into triples in a victory.
Brewers 5, Astros 2: At Houston, Yovani Gallardo pitched his first career complete game, Prince Fielder drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run fifth inning and the Brewers won their third straight.
Cardinals 4, Cubs 3: At St. Louis, Albert Pujols used his legs rather than his big bat to help the Cardinals beat the Cubs, stealing second after a hit and scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.
Braves 4, Reds 3: At Cincinnati, Jeff Francoeur hit a solo homer for one of Atlanta’s four hits, and the Braves took advantage of seven walks by Edinson Volquez.
Dodgers 6, Rockies 5: At Denver, Brad Ausmus broke a tie game in the ninth inning with a two-out single, lifting the Dodgers.
Padres 4, Pirates 3, 11 innings: At San Diego, Brian Giles singled in the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning and the Padres won.