Bullpen lets Tigers down

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In a tight, late-inning game that comes down to bullpen performances, Detroit's Bobby Seay and Fernando Rodney are expected to beat Kansas City's Kyle Farnsworth and Jamey Wright. Seay is among the American League leaders in holds and Rodney is among the leaders in saves. Farnsworth and Wright brought a combined 2-9 record and bloated earned run averages into the game for the Kansas City Royals. But it was the tack-on runs allowed by Rodney and Seay on Wednesday night that broke open Kansas City's 5-1 win. "The add-on runs were killers," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, while noting that the Royals would have brought in closer Joakim Soria to start the ninth inning had the lead not reached five runs. Rodney gave up three runs in the eighth and had to be relieved by Casey Fien after getting just two outs. Seay gave up one run in the seventh. Leyland said he used Rodney in the eighth because he had not pitched since Friday. Rodney is appealing a three-game suspension for throwing a ball into the press box last week at Tampa Bay. "You don't know what's going to happen with the suspension," Leyland said. "We had to make sure we got him out there." Justin Verlander kept the Tigers in the game, but the usually reliable bullpen let this one get away. Farnsworth, erratic last year for Detroit after the mid-season trade from the New York Yankees, pitched two perfect innings. Wright got only one out in the ninth while loading the bases. He walked Miguel Cabrera leading off, and then Aubrey Huff laced a single to left before Brandon Inge hit a sinking liner to center for a single. Soria was summoned to face pinch-hitter Alex Avila, who hit a sacrifice fly to avert the shutout. Marcus Thames flew out for the final out. The Royals nicked Verlander (16-8) for one run before he left after six innings. "He was out of sync a little bit, but he was still outstanding," Leyland said. "He definitely pitched well enough to win this game." Verlander said his fastball control was lacking while his breaking ball "was horrible." He got by on guile. "I did all I could with what I had," Verlander said. "Sometimes you just tip your cap to the other guy." Kansas City starter Robinson Tejada (2-1) shut out Detroit on three hits over six innings, extending his scoreless innings streak to 19. "He had great stuff and ate us up pretty good," Leyland said. Tigers catcher Gerald Laird, who caught Tejada for the Texas Rangers, said: "He was spotting (his fastball) at 97 mph and had a really good changeup. That makes for a tough night." Verlander pitched out of two jams fueled by his three walks, and gave up his only run in the third inning after Billy Butler doubled and Mike Jacobs singled with two out. Verlander struck out eight, and with 230, is three short of the major league-leading total of Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants. Verlander is approaching hallowed ground of Detroit franchise strikeout totals. Verlander needs three more to exceed Jack Morris' high of 232 in 1983, and next in line is Mickey Lolich with 250 in 1972.