Detroit 3, K.C. 2: Jordan Zimmermann extends scoreless innings streak

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jordan Zimmerman hasn’t allowed a run as a Detroit Tiger in three starts.

Victor Martinez drove in the 1,000th RBI of his career.

Ian Kinsler went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Jose Iglesias continued his defensive wizardry.

They all played a big part in a 3-2 win over the Royals on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

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“I think it’s a little bit more of a test for us,” Kinsler said of beating the defending World Series champions. “The Royals know who they are. They have basically the same team as they had last year. They’re the world champs and it goes through them.”

Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez struggled in the ninth, giving up back-to-back home runs to Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez. Gordon homered to right-center on a fastball and Perez homered to left-center on a changeup.

Rodriguez gave up a back-to-back walks with two outs before Mike Moustakas struck out swinging to end the game.

Rodriguez made no excuses, saying he it was “embarrassing” and that he has to pitch better.

“It got a little dicey,” Ausmus said. “Certainly not how we want it to go every time. A couple home runs and then of course (Jarrod) Dyson getting on. You don’t’ want a guy like Dyson getting on first base, because you know he’s going to steal second. But (Rodriguez) was able to get out of it with a strikeout of Moustakas.

“I think he was around the zone early, especially with the changeup. And he wasn’t getting the bites on it that he wanted. But then with Moustakas, the last two strikes were that same pitch.”

Zimmemann seemed to have all of his pitches working. He allowed seven hits and one walk over 6 1/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in his third start as a Tiger.

Zimmermann’s 19 1/3 scoreless innings to start his Tigers career is the longest since Doug Bair also had 19 1/3 scoreless innings in 1983.

The streak to start a sesosn is the longest by a Tigers pitcher since at least 1913, besting the previous mark of 19 innings set by Hal White in 1942.

Zimmermann extended his scoreless-innings streak overall to a career-best 23 1/3 innings, dating back to the third inning of Sept. 30, 2015.

“It’s just a number,” Zimmermann said. “I’m able to go the last few starts and put up zeros. Obviously, I know it’s going to come to an end at some point. Nobody goes a whole season and puts up zeroes. We’re having fun. I’m having a good time and pitching well right now. So hopefully it continues.”

Miguel Cabrera said of Zimmermann: “Oh, he's unbelievable. He attacked the zone. He's great. He's aggressive. It's unbelievable. We enjoy playing behind him.”

Zimmermann left with two on and one out in the seventh. Righty Mark Lowe was brought in to face Dyson, who grounded into a force out. With runners on first and third, Alcides Escobar grounded out to short.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off with a walk. Iglesias singled to right and was thrown out trying to go to second for the second out of the inning. Saltalamacchia advanced to third and came home on a two-out double to center by Ian Kinsler.

Victor Martinez knocked in Kinsler with a two-out single to center in the sixth to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

DH Victor Martinez records 1000th career RBI in Tigers game

Kinsler added an RBI single in the ninth to give the Tigers a three-run cushion, which proved necessary.

Zimmermann had two strikeouts in the first inning and five after two innings. He struck out seven of the first 13 batters he faced. He got Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer to each strike out swinging on sliders in the fourth inning.

Zimmermann gave up back-to-back singles to Gordon and Perez in the fifth inning. Omar Infante struck out looking, then the Tigers turned a 4-3-6-2 double play. Kinsler fielded the ball and went to Cabrera to get Dyson. Perez was caught in a rundown and Iglesias threw home to get Gordon trying to score.

With two outs in the sixth, Zimmermann gave up a single to Lorenzo Cain and allowed Eric Hosmer when he failed to field a ground ball. But Zimmermann got out of the inning by getting Kendrys Morales to ground out to second.

"I was a little better tonight,” Zimmermann said of first-pitch strikes. “My stuff was real good tonight. I was in a few jams, was able to get lucky and got out of them. But I had pretty good stuff tonight. It was fun to be out there."

Zimmermann said of his slider: "It was good. It had late bite, late life. I was able to get it in on guys. When it's good like that it's fun to be out there."

Contact George Sipple: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple. Download our Tigers Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!