By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals snapped a six game losing streak and avoided another series sweep, beating the Detroit Tigers 4-3 in 10 innings at Comerica Park on Sunday afternoon.
Kansas City took the first lead of the game in the second inning. Maikel Garcia singled and moved to third base on a single by Hunter Renfroe. Garcia later scored with a single off the bat of Vinnie Pasquantino. After Freddy Fermin struck out, Renfroe found his way home on a single by Drew Waters for the 2-0 lead.
Detroit though tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth. Colt Keith hit a leadoff single and advanced to third in the next at bat on a single from Trey Sweeney. Keith scored later in the inning with two outs on a single by Kerry Carpenter, moving Sweeney to third who scored on a single by Zach McKinstry. The Tigers took their only lead of the game in the seventh, McKinstry driving in Gleyber Torres with an RBI single.
The Royals were able to tie the game up again though in the very next inning, first getting Bobby Witt Jr to second base on a throwing error by Javier Baez. A single from Mark Cahna drove in Witt Jr. Then in the top of the 10th, with Drew Waters starting at second base, and then advancing to third on a ground out by Jonathan India, Witt Jr hit a fly ball to left fielder Riley Greene, allowing Waters to score the go ahead run.
Carlos Estévez, who came on to pitch the ninth inning, remained on for the bottom of the 10th, and did get into some trouble with runners on the corners with two outs, but forced Dillon Dingler to pop out to second Garcia to end the game, Estévez earning his first win of the season.
Estévez, now 1-0, pitched two innings in relief, striking out one and walking one. Michael Wacha in a no decision pitched 5.1 innings giving up two runs on seven hits, striking out five. At the plate, Canha (2-4, 1 RBI), Garcia (2-3), and Waters (2-4, 1 RBI) led the way hitting.
Kansas City is off on Monday. They return to Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to host the Colorado Rockies. Kris Bubic will start for the Royals against Ryan Feltner for the Rockies. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame coverage will begin at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.