Craig Monroe homered twice and drove in five runs, and Nate Robertson threw his first-career complete game in the Detroit Tigers’ 9-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.
Ivan Rodriguez added a two-run homer for the Tigers, who snapped a four-game losing streak and sent the Royals to their 10th loss in 12 games.
Robertson allowed one run and six hits in becoming the first Tigers left-hander to win 12 games in seven years. He had seven strikeouts and no walks.
Rodriguez, who missed the previous three games with flulike symptoms, hit a two-run shot off Mike Wood in the third to make it 4-0. It was Rodriguez’s 17th homer and the 1,000th run he has scored in his career.
Left fielder Monroe has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games with seven homers, 18 RBIs seven doubles and 16 runs. He’s hitting .379 in the stretch.
Giambi to continue rehab
Jason Giambi is expected to rejoin the New York Yankees on Tuesday to continue his rehabilitation. The five-time All-Star has not played since July 23.
Giambi is hoping to again play for the Yankees before the regular season ends. The team has not set a timetable for his return. He’s been working out at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa and took batting practice Sunday for the first time since being diagnosed diagnosed with a benign tumor last month.
Extra innings
Royals catcher John Buck, acquired in the trade that sent center fielder Carlos Beltran to Houston, broke the club record for home runs by a rookie catcher. His seven came in 46 games while the previous record-holder, Sal Fasano, had six in 51 games in 1996. . . . The Indians sent rookie outfielder Grady Sizemore back to Triple-A Buffalo.
MONDAY’S GAME
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Detroit 9 at Kansas City 1
W: Robertson (12-7)
L: Wood (2-7)
Dmitri Young’s single in 7th for Tigers was his 1,000th career hit. K.C. starter Mike Wood lost for 7th time in 8 decisions, allowing 7 runs and 7 hits in 5 IP. Royals’ Calvin Pickering hit 4th HR.
