Tigers beat Royals in crazy shootout, 12-8

In one of the highest scoring games of the season, the Royals’ bid for a sweep came up short, as they lost to the Detroit Tigers, 12-8, on Sunday afternoon.

Things started weird when Homer Bailey, the projected starter, was scratched at the last minute for an undisclosed reason. A few minutes later, it became apparent that he had been traded to the Oakland A’s. The fact that Dayton Moore got a breathing human for Homer Bailey and his 6.05 ERA entering June is good enough for me.

Anyway, Brian Flynn started in Bailey’s place, and he sucked. More on that in a second.

The Royals opened by scoring three first-inning runs, as Hunter Dozier hit an RBI single and Jorge Soler hit his 25th home run of the year. It was a two-run shot that was tattooed to the opposite field, clearing the party porch in right-center.

Flynn gave up a first-inning run, but his team scored him three runs immediately, so he took a 3-1 lead into the third inning. That’s when it all unraveled. Flynn was abused on the mound, allowing the first seven Tigers to reach. In all, Detroit scored seven runs in the frame. Ned Yost watched Flynn let SEVEN straight people reach before deciding, “Gee, I better get him out of there.”

Jorge Lopez came in and gave up a couple of more runs, but the Royals did climb back over the course of the afternoon. Jorge Soler hit an RBI double. Whit Merrifield hit an RBI triple. Mondesi singled him home. Anther run scored on a Hunter Dozier doubleplay. Then, Cam Gallagher hit an RBI double in the sixth, bringing a game that was once 9-3 to a 10-8 deficit.

Tim Hill came in a couple of more runs in the seventh, though, making a comeback more difficult. Detroit finished with 12 runs on 19 hits.

Somehow, in this amazing, firework-filled afternoon, Lucas Duda didn’t get a hit. They sat Cheslor Cuthbert for Lucas Duda’s bat. He is hitting .152. I can’t believe they’re still naive enough to think they can get an asset for him. I wouldn’t trade a basket of baseballs for him.

Brian Flynn got the loss. Jordan Zimmerman, Tigers’ starter, couldn’t even get through five innings because he kept giving up runs, and he didn’t even get the win.

Other notes: Bubba Starling got his second hit. Nicky Lopez turned an awesome double play in the eighth inning. Adalberto Mondesi is fast. Jorge Soler is on pace for 43 home runs and 107 RBI. This team has too many good players to have this record.

The Royals are 32-62. They opened the second half with a series win, but today was an opportunity missed, considering they scored eight times.

The series continues this week with the Chicago White Sox in town. Tomorrow is game one of the series.