KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ For whatever reason, the Kansas City Royals' offense simply hadn't provided much offense when rookie left-hander Kris Bubic took the mound this season. Thursday night, the offense finally bailed him out.
In his previous start last weekend in Milwaukee, Bubic gave up one unearned run and took the loss. The Royals entered the night having scored one run or fewer in five of his nine starts, and the 2.78 average run support for Bubic tied with Alex Cobb for the second-lowest in the major leagues (minimum nine starts).
Bubic allowed four runs on eight hits, including a pair of home runs, and three walks in 4 2/3 innings in his last start of the season. The Royals' offense answered the call and the bullpen held on by a thread on Thursday in a 8-7 win over the Detroit Tigers. It was the opening game of the season-ending four-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
Adalberto Mondesi went 4 for 4 with two stolen bases and two RBIs, while Maikel Franco went 2 for 3 and hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. Salvador Perez went 2 for 4 and hit his third home run in the last four games. Jorge Soler entered the game as a pinch hitter and ripped an RBI double as part of a pivotal sixth inning for the Royals (24-33).
Perez continued the torrid offensive run he's been on for the past two weeks. Since coming off the injured list (blurred vision) on September 11, he has gone 23 for 51 (.451) with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 12 games.
