KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 22 (UPI) -- Paul Byrd became the first Kansas City Royals pitcher in 15 years to win his first four starts as he pitched his second career shutout Monday night in a 6-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Byrd (4-0) scattered six hits while striking out four without a walk, throwing 101 pitches to put his name next to Royals great Bret Saberhagen, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who started the 1987 season at 4-0.
An All-Star in 1999 with Philadelphia, the side-arming Byrd recorded his first shutout since Aug. 17, 1998 -- his first start with the Phillies.
Byrd also became the first Royal to blank an opponent since Jeff Suppan turned the trick here against Detroit on Sept. 27, 2000.
The Royals have only five wins from pitchers in their rotation.
Mark Redman (0-3) was no match for Byrd, giving up six runs and seven hits over six innings. Of the first nine batters in the Kansas City lineup, there was a homer, three doubles, a single and a walk.
Carlos Febles and Carlos Beltran hit solo homers for the Royals, who snapped a four-game losing streak and picked up just their second win in nine tries.
The Tigers fell to 3-4 after an 0-11 start.
