Royals sweep pair from Tigers

? James Shields allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings and was part of a combined four-hit shutout in Kansas City’s 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night to give the Royals a sweep of a day-night doubleheader.

Kansas City won the first game, 2-1, as Danny Duffy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and pitched a combined two-hitter.

Royals pitching held the Tigers to a run and six hits for the two games.

Eric Hosmer homered in each game.

Shields (8-8) won his fourth game in his past five starts. He walked four and struck out one.

The Tigers threatened against Shields in the second and third innings.

In the second, a walk to Andy Dirks and Brayan Pena’s single gave Detroit runners on first and second with one out.

But Shields got both Ramon Santiago and Jose Iglesias to hit pop-ups to the shortstop to get out of the inning.

The right-hander walked Austin Jackson to lead off the third inning and Torii Hunter singled him to second.

But Shields retired the next three hitters.

Miguel Cabrera was retired on a weak roller to Shields between the mound and first base on which the runners moved up to second and third.

But Prince Fielder hit a short fly ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Despite Jackson’s speed, it wasn’t nearly deep enough for him to score.

Shields then got Victor Martinez to line out to right to end the inning.

Luke Hochevar pitched a perfect eighth and Greg Holland worked the ninth, allowing a hit, for his 34th save. He had saves in both games of the doubleheader.

Jose Alvarez (1-3), called up from Triple-A Toledo to make the start, took the loss. He gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out five.

Alvarez’s only big mistakes came in the third with two outs. He walked Jamey Carroll and Hosmer followed with his second home run of the day, that gave the Royals a 2-0 lead. Hosmer blasted Alvarez’s 1-1 pitch deep into the right-field stands for his 14th homer.

Alvarez was replaced by Jeremy Bonderman with two outs in the sixth. Bonderman got the final out of that inning and the first two outs of the seventh before being replaced by Phil Coke and Al Alburquerque.

Carroll’s sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 3-0. It was an unearned run off Bonderman, whose throwing error on an attempted pickoff throw sent Chris Getz from first to third. He scored on the sac fly.

Duffy (1-0) beat Justin Verlander in the opener.

Duffy was called up from Triple-A Omaha to make his second big league start of the season, and didn’t allow a hit until Cabrera’s hard-hit, two out single in the sixth.

“I was glad that they finally got one, honestly, because I just wanted to pitch,” said Duffy, who underwent Tommy John surgery. “I wanted to protect this arm.”

Kelvin Herrera replaced Duffy in the seventh and retired the side in order.