 allowed an RBI single to Harold Castro in the second but otherwise shut down Detroit, allowing four hits over eight innings. He struck out seven without a walk after entering the game having allowed the second-most free passes in the American League this season.Ian Kennedy worked the ninth to earn his second save in as many nights.''I just tried to pump as many strikes as I could,'' Keller said. ''That's going to be the key.'' Boyd (6-7) faced the minimum number of batters through four innings before things came undone. He wound up allowing four runs on six hits and four walks while striking out 10.Cheslor Cuthbert drove in a pair of runs and Nicky Lopez also had an RBI for the Royals, who have won the first two games out of the All-Star break as they continue to build for the future.Starling might be part of that after more than seven years toiling in the minors. The former No. 5 overall draft pick was called up on Thursday and made his big league debut the following night, though he had to wait until the fifth inning Saturday for a hit.At least half a dozen scouts showed up to watch Boyd, whom the Tigers are expected to shop ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline, and for the first four innings he was just about perfect.The left-hander gave up a leadoff single to Whit Merrifield, the big league leader in hits, then wiped him out by getting Alex Gordon to ground into an inning-ending double play. Boyd then slapped down the Royals in order the next three innings, striking out six along the way.The first crack surfaced when Hunter Dozier led off the fifth with sharp double to left.Jorge Soler walked and Cuthbert flied out to bring up Starling, who walked and scored in his big league debut but was still searching for his first hit. The hometown boy delivered it, bringing Dozier across to knot the game 1-all and producing a raucous standing ovation.Lopez followed with the go-ahead single before Boyd got another inning-ending double play.Boyd's command never returned, either. He walked a trio of batters in the sixth to load the bases for Cuthbert, whose two-out single through the left side of the infield made it 4-1.''I think he walked a few guys and a couple of them scored. He gave us a great opportunity,'' Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. ''We haven't been giving him enough run support so he has to be perfect.'' Keller escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth before Kennedy finished off the ninth.''He was just pounding the zone,'' Starling said. ''All night. He made it easy for us.'' AND STREAKSDetroit has lost five straight and 20 of 23. ... Boyd has allowed at least four runs in five straight starts. He is 4-9 with a 6.29 ERA in 17 career starts against Kansas City. ... Keller is unbeaten in his last four starts. ... Merrifield has an 11-game hit streak.UP NEXTThe Royals send right-hander Homer Bailey (7-6, 4.80 ERA), who has won both his starts against the Tigers this season, to the mound in the series finale Sunday. Jordan Zimmermann (0-6, 6.29) tries again for his first win of the season after losing to Boston last weekend.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Tigers to go with Boyd in possible showcase vs. RoyalsFLMMatthew Boyd is one of the hottest names on the trade market. He can enhance his value a little more with another strong outing Saturday.The Detroit Tigers ace left-hander will make his first start since July 4, taking the mound in the second game of a three-game series in Kansas City.Boyd (6-6. 3.87 ERA) had an unusual outing against the Chicago White Sox in his last start, as he allowed four runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings but also struck out 13 without a walk."I just know when Boyd is pitching, he gives you an opportunity to do something," manager Ron Gardenhire told the media. "He gives you a chance to win." Lefties who can deliver an average of six innings per start and possess a 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio are going to attract plenty of attention from contending teams.San Diego, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Boston, the New York Yankees and Houston are among the teams with rumored interest in Boyd, the Tigers' biggest bargaining chip. He is under club control through 2022, making him an even more valuable commodity.Boyd's 142 strikeouts are the most by a Tigers pitcher prior to the All-Star break since Mickey Lolich racked up 156 in 1972."I don't know about everyone else, but I love it. Makes me feel like I'm calling the right pitch," catcher John Hicks told MLB.com. "He's been striking out a ton of guys all year. There's a reason he's top-five in strikeouts." Boyd has started twice against Kansas City this season, splitting those decisions. For his career, he's 4-8 with a 6.39 ERA in 16 starts against the Royals.Royals All-Star Whit Merrifield in particular has worn out Boyd -- 13-for-31 (.419), five doubles, a triple, six RBIs.Royals right-hander Brad Keller (4-9, 4.47 ERA), who will oppose Boyd, doesn't have an electric arsenal. Other than a 10-strikeout outing against Cleveland in April, Keller hasn't struck out more than six batters in any of his starts this season.He has walked five batters four times this season, including his last start on July 5. Keller still held Washington to one run in 5 2/3 innings of that game, however, getting a no-decision in a 7-4 Royals win.He attributed his control issues that night to humid conditions."I just kept going to the resin bag and to the dirt to keep my hand dry," Keller told MLB.com. "Every time I went to the set, my hand and arm were dripping wet. At the end, I just went to my sinker -- that's the only pitch I could sort of command." Keller has appeared in seven games against the Tigers in his career, including three starts. He's 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA in those outings.The Royals have a new center fielder in Bubba Starling, who was called up from Triple-A Omaha before Friday's game. Starling, the franchise's top pick in the 2011 draft, is finally getting his chance at the highest level. He went hitless in his major league debut on Friday but did walk and score a run in the Royals' 8-5 victory."It's very special, and I dreamed about this since I was growing up, coming to games here in Kansas City," Starling said during a news conference. "And now that it's finally happening, it's very exciting. The front office stuck with me throughout all of this." --Field Level Media
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