KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a tightly contested game, Vinnie Pasquantino’s single proved decisive as the Kansas City Royals edged out the Detroit Tigers 1-0 on Saturday, putting an end to Detroit’s five-game winning streak. Nick Loftin, who scored the only run of the game, started the eighth inning with a key double, setting the stage for Pasquantino’s pivotal hit.
Pasquantino was adjusted in the lineup, batting seventh against left-handed Detroit starter Tarik Skubal. His hit came off Beau Brieske, effectively sealing the game for the Royals. Loftin was a standout performer with two of Kansas City’s four hits, and he managed to secure a crucial double late in the game.
The victory was credited to John Schreiber (2-2) for Kansas City, while Carlos Estevez secured his 16th save in 18 opportunities. Both starting pitchers displayed remarkable command throughout their appearances. Michael Wacha, pitching for Kansas City, faced minimal resistance through his first six innings, allowing just a single walk.
Wacha finally surrendered a hit in the seventh, seeing Colt Keith hit a single up the middle, ending Wacha’s 6 1/3 innings of no-hit pitching. He wrapped up his performance with seven strong innings, allowing just one hit, one walk, and striking out six batters.
Skubal matched Wacha’s prowess by completing seven innings with only two hits allowed and seven strikeouts, issuing no walks.
A pivotal moment unraveled in the eighth inning when both teams transitioned to their respective bullpens. This exchange did little to spark a burst of offensive execution as opportunities were sparse throughout the encounter.
Notably, neither starting pitcher permitted any runner to advance past first base, highlighting the challenging atmosphere for hitters. The closest encounter came when Loftin was caught at second base after a fifth-inning single.
Looking ahead, the Tigers and Royals are set to wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Detroit plans to start right-hander Keider Montero, who currently holds a 2-1 record with a 4.54 ERA, whereas the Royals are expected to field left-hander Kris Bubic, boasting a 5-2 record and an impressive 1.45 ERA.