Yost's hand forced in ninth against Tigers

DETROIT -- After closing out two victories on Friday, Royals closer Greg Holland was ruled out of Saturday night's game against the Tigers.

Manager Ned Yost made that decision after talking to Holland.

"He said he felt good, but there's always a tone in their voice when they say, 'I feel good,' and I heard the tone," Yost said. "So I decided I'd go with [Aaron] Crow if it was a save situation. Then we got to the ninth, and I had to use Crow to get us out of the ninth."

If Crow had gotten through the ninth and kept the score tied at 5, Yost would have turned to a closer by committee, including Tim Collins, Louis Coleman and Luke Hochevar.

Miguel Cabrera, the first batter that Crow faced, eliminated all those possibilities by belting a game-ending home run on an opposite-field line drive to right. Cabrera's clutch hit still had Yost shaking his head on Sunday morning.

"He's amazing. I don't know what to say about the guy," Yost said. "He's really good, and there's not another player like him in the big leagues today. He's the cream of the crop. Who could match him, even in the National League?"

And if you walk Cabrera, behind him looms more danger in Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez.

"We've got to pitch to him," Yost said.