Matt Vierling hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 6-5 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
Vierling’s two-out home run to left-center off Kansas City reliever Chris Stratton capped a five-run inning for the Tigers after they trailed 3-1 going into the seventh.
After a leadoff walk to Jake Rogers and a single by Riley Greene, Mark Canha singled home Rogers to cut the Kansas City lead to 3-2.
Kerry Carpenter hit a one-out RBI single to drive in Greene and tie the score at 3-3, setting up Vierling’s heroics.
Andrew Chafin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Kansas City scored two runs in the ninth inning off Detroit closer Jason Foley to trim its deficit to 6-5. Maikel Garcia had an RBI groundout and Bobby Witt, Jr. hit an RBI single to make it a one-run game.
But Vinnie Pasquantino flied out to center field to end the game.
Garcia, Witt, Salvador Perez and Dairon Blanco each had two hits for the Royals.
Casey Mize started the game for the Tigers and allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits over five innings. He walked none and struck out two.
Brady Singer started for Kansas City and gave up one run on four hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out six.
The Royals scored two runs in the first inning. Garcia and Witt opened with singles, then Garcia scored on an RBI groundout by Pasquantino. Perez made it 2-0 when he singled home Witt.
Garcia struck again in the second, singling to center to score Michael Massey and give Kansas City a 3-0 lead.
Detroit got on the board in the second, cutting Kansas City’s lead to 3-1 on an RBI triple by Zach McKinstry that scored Colt Keith from first base.
