By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals offensive woes continued on Friday night against the Detroit Tigers, falling 7-3 at Comerica Park.
The Royals got the lead quickly in the first inning. Bobby Witt Jr hit his ninth double of the year and advanced to third base on a wild pitch by Tigers starter Jackson Jobe, before scoring on the third double of the season from Vinnie Pasquantino. Detroit tied the game up in the second inning, Tomás Nido singling to drive in Spencer Torkelson who walked to open the inning.
The Tigers broke the tie in the fourth inning, Andy Ibáñez hitting a home run to left field. Detroit added three more runs in the fifth inning to extend the lead, Justyn-Henry Malloy walked and Gleyber Torres singled before Henry Malloy was driven in on a single from Riley Greene. A single from pinch hitter Trey Sweeney off reliever John Schreiber scored Torres, and Greene came home in the next at bat as Torkelson grounded into a double play.
The final two runs for Detroit came in the seventh inning, with two outs. It started with a single from Greene, a line drive that deflected off reliever Lucas Erceg's foot, forcing him out of the game and bringing Angel Zerpa onto the mound. Zerpa surrendered a single to Sweeney before giving up a double to Torkelson, driving in both Greene and Sweeney.
Kansas City did begin to put together a bit of a rally in the ninth inning, despite the six run deficit. Witt Jr singled and moved to second base on runners indifference, before scoring on a single by Pasquantino. Salvador Perez reached first base next on catchers interference, and both Perez and Pasquantino advanced on the bases with a wild pitch by Kenta Maeda, followed by a walk to Maikel Garcia loading the bases, forcing the Tigers to go from Maeda to Tommy Kahnle.
Kahnle walked Michael Massey to start his night on the mound, bringing Pasquantino home to score, but then settled in striking out Cavan Biggio and getting Drew Waters to fly out to right field, leaving the bases loaded with the tying run at home plate.
Cole Ragans took the loss, falling to 1-1, recording less than 10 strikeouts for the first time since Opening Day, pitching four innings and giving up five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out eight. Witt Jr (2-5, 2 runs) and Pasquantino (2-5, 2 RBI's) led the way hitting.
Kansas City and Detroit go again tomorrow in game three of four, as the Royals seek to snap a five game losing streak. Seth Lugo starts for the Royals opposite Casey Mize for the Tigers. First pitch is at 12:10pm, pregame coverage begins at 11:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.