BOBBY Witt Jr. collected three hits for the fourth consecutive game, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 10-4 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Witt tripled in the first inning, doubled in the third and blasted a three-run homer in the fourth.
Attempting Kansas City’s first cycle since George Brett in 1990, Witt was hit by a pitch and flied out in his final plate appearances. His fourth consecutive game of at least three hits matches Johnny Damon (2000) for the Royals’ second-longest such streak. Brett had six straight games with three or more hits in 1976.
Witt has had five extra-base hits in four games since appearing in the All-Star Game. He leads the majors in home-game batting average at .411.
Arizona’s Yilber Diaz (1-1) pitched three-plus innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits and a walk. He didn’t strike out a batter.
In other games, it was the Tigers 8, Guardians 2; Yankees 9, Rays 1; Pirates 2, Cardinals 1; Rangers 4, White Sox 3 (10 innings); Mets 6, Marlins 4; Reds 4, Braves 1; Cubs 3, Brewers 1; Rockies 9, Red Sox 8 (12 innings); Dodgers 3, Giants 2; Athletics 4, Astros 0; Twins 7, Phillies 2; and Angels 3, Mariners 1.
Tigers 8, Guardians 2
Tarik Skubal surrendered a career-high 10 hits but only one run over seven innings, rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy clubbed an early two-run homer and surging Detroit defeated host Cleveland.
Matt Vierling and Mark Canha each added three hits and Colt Keith homered in the ninth for the Tigers, who have won 11 of 14. Skubal (11-3) yielded one walk and struck out six.
Tyler Freeman had three hits for the Guardians, who have totaled three runs during a three-game skid that has come at home. Carlos Carrasco (3-8) allowed six runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings.
