Tigers Crush Royals 16-2, Omar Infante, 5-for-5, 6 RBI; Giants Top Arizona, 3-0, as Yusmeiro Petit Just Misses Perfect Game

Players of the Day for Friday, September 6, 2013

American League

The Tigers got Miguel Cabrera back in the lineup after a one-day absence, but they really didn't need him as they mangled four Kansas City pitchers for 26 hits in a 16-2 rout.

Omar Infante

Second baseman, Omar Infante, went 5-for-5 (four singles and a double), drove in six runs and scored twice, helping the Tigers maintain their lead at 6 1/2 games over second place Cleveland, winners of three straight, after an 8-1 win against the Mets.

Kansas City actually had a 1-0 lead after one, but the Tigers scored five in the second, five more in the fourth and three runs in the fifth, turning the first game of the three-game series in KC into a laugher.

The loss left the Royals nine games behind the Tigers in the division and 4 1/2 games back of Tampa Bay for the final wild card position, though the Orioles, Indians and Yankees are all closer in the race.

The Royals will try to even the series Saturday at 7:10 pm EDT.

National League

Yusmeiro Petit

Arizona's Eric Chavez spoiled a perfect game by San Francisco's Yusmeiro Petit, singling with two out in the ninth inning as the Giants topped the Diamondbacks, 3-0.

Petit, a 28-year-old right-hander from Maracaibo, Venezuela, actually pitched for the Diamondbacks in 2008 and 2009, compiling a 6-15 record from 25 starts, but on Friday, he showed his former team what they were missing, setting down the first 26 batters in order, striking out seven, before Chavez ruined the perfecto as a pinch-hitter for Arizona starter, Paul Corbin.

Chavez worked the count to 3-2, before lining the next pitch into right field, just a few feet in front of Hunter Pence, who made a diving effort but could not make the play. Disappointed, but not defeated, Petit retired the next batter, A.J. Pollock, on a ground ball to third.

Petit needed only 95 pitches for the win, his first career complete game and shutout. It was just his third start of the season for the Giants, who called him up after he went 6-6 in the minors. Filling in the rotation, Petit is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA, though he's thrown just 26 1/3 innings.

Today's Trivia: Who threw more shutouts, Roger Clemens or Don Drysdale? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: The last time there wasn't a hitter with 200 hits in either league was 1995. Tony Gwynn and Dante Bichette tied for the NL lead at 197. Lance Johnson led the AL with 186 hits.