DETROIT — Alex Gordon homered as part of a four-run first inning, and the Kansas City Royals routed the Detroit Tigers 15-3 on Saturday.
The Royals chased Detroit right-hander Tyson Ross (1-4) in the second inning and scored the game's first seven runs. Homer Bailey (3-3) allowed two runs in six innings in a solid outing for Kansas City.
Whit Merrifield also homered for the Royals, and Jeimer Candelario and Ronny Rodriguez went deep for the Tigers. Kelvin Gutierrez had four hits and a stolen base for Kansas City in his eighth major league game.
Ross was making his first start since returning from the paternity list. He and his wife Ashley welcomed their first child, Jordan Anthony Ross, on Wednesday.
His outing Saturday was a forgettable one. He allowed six hits in the first inning, including Gordon's two-run homer that opened the scoring and an RBI double by Jorge Soler. Ryan O'Hearn added a run-scoring single to make it 4-0.
Adalberto Mondesi hit an RBI triple in the second, and after a one-out walk by Hunter Dozier, Ross was done.
Reliever Reed Garrett didn't fare any better, allowing an RBI double to Gutierrez in the third, and then three walks. His last walk forced in a run to make it 7-0, and Garrett was pulled too.
Candelario hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, but Merrifield's solo shot in the fifth made it 8-2, and Gordon added a sacrifice fly that inning.
Drew VerHagen came on for Detroit in the eighth and allowed six more runs. He allowed three walks and five hits, including a two-run single by Gordon that gave the Kansas City outfielder five RBIs on the day.
Rodriguez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: OF Christin Stewart (right quad) began a rehab assignment with Class A Lakeland on Friday night and went 3 for 5 with a homer.
UP NEXT
Royals: Brad Keller (2-3) takes the mound Sunday in the rubber match of this three-game series.
Tigers: Spencer Turnbull (2-2) pitches for Detroit. He has allowed one earned run over his past three starts.
