KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dillon Dingler delivered an impressive performance with three hits, including a home run and three RBIs, sparking the Detroit Tigers to a 7-5 triumph over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. This victory marks the Tigers’ fifth consecutive win.
The dynamic offense was aided by Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson, both of whom contributed homers and two RBIs each. This latest win is part of a successful stretch, as it represents the 20th victory in their last 28 games, elevating their impressive major league record to 38-20.
Pitching-wise, Brant Hurter (2-0) secured the win, with Will Vest picking up his eighth save of the season. The starting pitchers for both teams struggled to last beyond the fourth inning. Seth Lugo (3-5) from the Royals gave up four runs on five hits, including two home runs, in 3 1/3 innings. Similarly, Casey Mize allowed three runs across eight hits in the same duration.
In the opening inning, the Tigers quickly crafted a lead with two runs driven by Greene’s 13th home run of the season. However, the Royals responded promptly with Bobby Witt Jr.’s impressive 442-foot homer in the bottom of the first. The damage was limited thanks to Kerry Carpenter’s critical catch, which halted further runs with two of the Royals on base.
Dingler pushed Detroit’s advantage with a two-run blast in the second inning. The Royals chipped away with Drew Waters’ two-RBI single in the bottom of the third, bringing them within one at 4-3.
Additional scoring saw Detroit extend their lead in the fifth with Torkelson’s RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly by Kansas City’s Mark Canha in the seventh inning. Detroit solidified their win with two more runs in the eighth, courtesy of a home run from Torkelson and Dingler’s timely single.
The game pivoted critically in the fourth inning when the Royals had a chance to take the lead with runners on second and third, but Hurter’s entrance and his subsequent striking out of Vinnie Pasquantino, alongside a flyout by Maikel Garcia, quashed this offensive threat.
On the defensive side, Detroit’s bullpen was instrumental, conceding only two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings in relief of Mize.
Looking ahead, the action continues Saturday with the Tigers and Royals meeting once again for the second installment of their three-game series. Detroit plans to start LHP Tarik Skubal (5-2, 2.49 ERA), who will be challenged by Kansas City’s RHP Michael Wacha (3-4, 3.21 ERA).