Moustakas homers, Volquez sharp through 7 innings in Royals win over Detroit

Kansas City, MO – APRIL 21: Game action at Kauffman Stadium during the Kansas City Royals home game against the Detroit Tigers. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Kansas City Royals).

Slideshow photos by Jason Hanna/Kansas City Royals

By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

Alex Gordon makes a diving catch during the Kansas City Royals game against the Detroit Tigers. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Kansas City Royals).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Edinson Volquez tossed seven sharp innings, Mike Moustakas went deep and the Kansas City Royals pounded Mike Pelfrey in a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.

Volquez (3-0) retired the first eight batters and only had to wiggle out of one jam, when Alcides Escobar let a grounder go through his legs in the fourth inning. The Tigers went on to load the bases before Volquez struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia to end it.

Escobar atoned for his gaffe with a sacrifice fly off Pelfrey (0-3) in the bottom half of the fourth. Lorenzo Cain also drove in a run, and Kansas City tacked on another when a double-steal turned into an error on third baseman Nick Castellanos that allowed a run to scamper home.

Volquez scattered five hits and a walk while striking out five.