(AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit his 507th home run, Detroit got nine innings from its bullpen and the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory.
MJ Melendez led off the game with a home run for Kansas City, and Cabrera hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning. Scheduled Tigers starter Matt Manning was scratched just before game time because of arm fatigue.
Will Vest pitched the first inning, allowing Melendez’s homer, and the next six relievers combined for eight shutout innings. Gregory Soto pitched the ninth for his 29th save. The Tigers need one win in their last eight games to avoid 100 losses.
The Royals take on the Tigers again Thursday afternoon with first pitch at 12:10 central on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.