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