As the Tigers watched the score of the Twins/Guardians game, they also needed to make their own push to get to the postseason, and this wild game was certainly one to prove they wanted to make that push. Even when it looked like the Royals might run away uncontested early, the Tigers rallied to show they are going to take things right down to the last day of the season.
Reese Olson was back for the Tigers, but being fresh off an injury, he was always going to be on a short leash. The Royals called on Seth Lugo to take the mound.
Kerry Carpenter got a one-out single in the top of the first, and Riley Greene got a two-out walk, but the Tigers weren’t able to get a run. The Royals went 1-2-3 in the home half.
The Tigers were out in order in the top of the second. Ditto the Royals in the bottom of the inning.
Parker Meadows got a one-out single in the third, but was eliminated in a force out off the bat of Kerry Carpenter. Matt Vierling singled, and Greene got another walk. But the third out of the inning left the based loaded and no one brought home. Adam Frazier started the home half with a walk, then Yuli Guriel and Kyle Isbel got back-to-back singles. Then Olson hung a curveball up to the absolute wrong guy and Bobby Witt Jr. got himself a grand slam. Things were not looking good. Salvador Perez singled, and that was it for Olson, going only 2.1 innings, replaced by Sean Guenther. A double play then ended the inning.
Zach McKinstry got a one-out triple in the top of the fourth, then got brought home by a Trey Sweeney sac fly. The cats were not going to fold up shop in this one.
In the home half, MJ Melendez got a one-out triple of his own. Then a pinch-hitting Maikel Garcia singled to bring Melendez home. The score was 5-1 Royals at the end of four.
Parker Meadows singled at the top of the fifth, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then birthday boy Matt Vierling singled to score Meadows. With two outs, Colt Keith got a two-run homer, and suddenly this was a real game again. Spencer Torkelson singled, and chased Seth Lugo from the game. Sam Long came in and gave up a wild pitch to advance Torkelson, but the Tigers weren’t able to add on more runs.
Brenan Hanifee came on next out of the Tigers’ pen, and Isbel tripled. Weird number of triples tonight. Bobby Witt Jr. singled, scoring Isbel. Witt stole second, though it was close, and the Tigers challenged the safe call, but it was ultimately upheld. No additional runs scored. Something happened off camera, however, because third base coach Vance Wilson got ejected after things got heated with third base umpire David Rackley.
In the sixth, Andy Ibanez and Jake Rogers started things off with back-to-back singles. Wenceel Perez came on to pinch-hit for Kerry Carpenter, then hit a double to score both baserunners and tie the game. John Schreiber was next out of the Royals’ pen. Matt Vierling singled to score the go-ahead run. Happy birthday! The Royals went 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
James McArthur was next out of the bullpen for the Royals. McKinstry singled, then stole second. McArthur appeared to be injured and left the game early, replaced by Angel Zerpa. Jake Rogers walked, but no runs scored. In the home half Yuli Gurriel singled, then Will Vest came out in relief. Tommy Pham singled, but two outs ended the inning.
The Tigers were out in order in the top of the eighth. Beau Brieske replaced Vest, and Michael Massey singled. Then Hunter Renfroe walked. A strikeout and double play ended the inning with no damage done and the Tigers still leading.
Spencer Torkelson got a one-out single, then McKinstry doubled. Torkelson got tagged out at third after what appeared to be some confusion reading third base coach signals. Onto the bottom of the ninth and Jason Foley was hoping to avoid Bobby Witt Jr. And he did just that with three straight outs.
Final: Tigers 7, Royals 6