Javier Baez’s three-run double lifted the visiting Detroit Tigers to an 8-5 extra-inning win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday evening.
Baez lined a first-pitch fastball from Scott Barlow (1-3) to the base of the left-field bullpen fence, clearing the bases and breaking a 5-5 tenth-inning tie. It was Baez’s third hit as he snapped an 0-for-19 slump.
Four Tigers’ relievers provided five innings of hitless relief after the Royals forged a 5-5 tie in the fifth. Alex Lange (2-0) earned the win with two hitless innings and Jose Cisnero pitched the tenth for his first save since 2021.
Detroit has won five of seven extra-inning games.
Tigers’ starter Michael Lorenzen recovered from consecutive first-inning home runs to face the minimum over the next four innings on just 46 pitches.
Lorenzen finished 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks, striking out five.
Control issues plagued Royals’ starter Brady Singer as he walked four, including a bases-loaded free pass to Akil Baddoo to get the Tigers on the scoreboard in the first before Matt Vierling delivered a two-run single for an early 3-0 Detroit lead.
Vierling’s fourth homer, a two-run shot to left-center in the third, broke a 3-3 tie. He added a seventh-inning single and matched a career high with four RBI.
The Tigers forced Singer to throw 87 pitches over 3 2/3 innings. He surrendered five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
In the first inning, Vinnie Pasquantino slammed a two-run homer 424 feet down the right-field line, his ninth, and Salvador Perez tied the game two pitches later with his 11th home run, a solo shot to left-center. They were the first consecutive homers for the Royals since July 1.
Jackie Bradley Jr.’s two-run homer into the left-field bullpen tied the game in the fifth. Bradley snapped an 0-for-26 slide with his first home run since September 20.
The Royals have lost four straight and eight of ten.
— Field Level Media
All-Star candidate Marcus Stroman hopes to follow a Chicago Cubs loss with a win for the third consecutive time when he and his teammates open a three-game road series Friday…
Shohei Ohtani will be on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim, Calif., coming off his worst start of the season….
The San Diego Padres have not found a safe haven in a disappointing start to their season. They entered the year as one of the National League favorites, but 62…
Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to start vs. Mariners on rare six days’ rest
Padres bring search for consistency to Colorado
Braves’ AJ Smith-Shawver set to face Nats in first start
Cards’ Jordan Montgomery shoots for turnaround vs. Reds