Kansas City Royals snap ugly streak as they rally for 5-2 win over Detroit Tigers
The Royals trailed when the first inning ended Wednesday, and that had been an ugly predictor of how the game would unfold for Kansas City.
But the Royals rallied and defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-2 at Kauffman Stadium for their first win of the season when they were down after the first inning.
The Royals had been 0-23 in such games.
Starter Brady Singer said he and his teammates tried to apply pressure after falling behind.
“I think every inning they (the hitters) were trying to make something happen,” Singer said. “Obviously they did. So I did my part and they did theirs.”
Singer (4-3) worked out of jams in the fourth and sixth innings and allowed one run on seven hits as his ERA fell to 4.02.
He was helped by his defense in the fourth inning when the Tigers collected three straight hits to open the frame. Detroit ran itself out of a potentially big inning when second baseman Jonathan Schoop tried to score from second on a single to right by third baseman Jeimer Candelario.
Edward Olivares’ throw to the plate got Schoop, who tried a swing move to avoid the tag of Royals catcher MJ Melendez. Schoop was originally called safe but the Royals challenged and won, erasing the run from the board.
“Once it happened I could feel myself tag him,” Melendez said. “I couldn’t tell where but I knew I touched him before he got to the plate, so I just pointed out a dugout. I was like, ‘Yeah, you guys gotta check that one.’”
Singer then got the next two batters out, dousing the Tigers rally.
Detroit’s fielding was an issue in the bottom of the inning.
With one out, Royals left fielder Andrew Benintendi singled to left and first baseman Hunter Dozier followed by squirting a ball down the first-base line. Pitcher Tarik Skubal got to the ball but Torkelson also went after it and Dozier was safe at first.
Third baseman Emmanuel Rivera’s double down the left-field line scored Benintendi to tie the game. Designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino hit a ball to shortstop Javier Báez, whose attempt to tag Rivera was unsuccessful. That loaded the bases.
Two of those runners scored when Olivares’ ground ball caromed off Schoop at second and bounced into right field. Schoop was charged with an error.
Kyle Isbel splunked a ball in nearly the same spot as Dozier and reached on an infield single, loading the bases again. Second baseman Nicky Lopez brought home Pasquantino, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead.
The Royals (35-53) added a run in the fifth inning as shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. singled and scored on a one-out triple by Dozier.
Decisive sixth
Singer wobbled in the sixth inning as he allowed a leadoff single, then got a strikeout before issuing a walk. That led to a visit from pitching coach Cal Eldred.
Another walked loaded the bases, but Singer then struck out Torkelson and left fielder Akil Baddoo, the latter coming on Singer’s 105th pitch on a sunny, 90 degree day.
“Definitely was tired,” Singer admitted. “I was bending over breathing there for a while, but I’m glad they left me in the game, let me have those at-bats there so it was good to get through those.”
That kept the score 5-1, but the Tigers got a run in the seventh against the Royals bullpen for the final run.
This story was originally published July 13, 2022 at 4:00 PM.
