Tigers scratch out 1-0 victory to take series from Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

It sure feels like the Tigers are in good graces with the baseball fates these days.They scored 10 runs in three games and still swept the Giants at Comerica Park earlier in the week, even winning the finale despite striking out 16 times.

They beat the Royals on Friday, somehow stranding 10 runners in the first six innings to hang on to a skinny lead.Related ArticlesDont call it a stretch: Tigers Dillon Dingler reaching full potential at, behind plateWacha flirts with no-hitter in duel with Skubal, as KC beats Tigers, 1-0Dingler, Greene and Torkelson homer as Tigers beat Royals 7-5 for their fifth straight winMLB-leading Tigers place RHP Jackson Jobe on injured list with flexor strainIts not nothing: Searching for meaning in Tigers hot 100-game stretchThen they managed one lonely run in the final two games, wasting seven scoreless innings from Tarik Skubal Saturday, and yet, they still left town Sunday with another series win.It was a couple of grinders, for sure, manager AJ Hinch said.After losing 1-0 on Saturday, the Tigers returned the favor, taking the rubber match, 1-0 at Kauffman Stadium.We did stack another series win, Hinch said.

These guys bounce back.

That kid today is really good.

Hes showing the rest of the league that.

We didnt do a ton but were going to swing the bats a lot better, hopefully the next time we see these guys.That kid was Royals lefty Kris Bubic.

He struck out nine over seven innings and lowered his ERA to a league-best 1.43.

His only mistake was running afoul of Zach McKinstrys wheels.McKinstry ripped a ball into the right-field corner leading off the third inning and turned a routine double into a hustle triple.

His sprint speed, per Statcast, was 28.6 feet/second and he made the three-base trek in 11.48 seconds.I was going three the whole time, McKinstry said.

Thats a deep outfield and just knowing the outfield and knowing that fence, it wraps big and kind of gets deeper right there (where the ball caromed).

I figured it had to be a perfect relay and a perfect throw to get me.Another thought crossed his mind about the same time as he was rounding second base.I cant say there wasnt a little bit of doubt, he said.

You dont want to make the first out at third base.

But I was like, just go for it.Hinch applauded the decision.If youre afraid to make an out there, you pull up at second, he said.

Hes aggressive and its a bang-bang play at third.

If he gets thrown out, were not talking about it and who knows if were still playing.

But if he pulled up, we may not have scored.When you play fearless, you put yourself in a position to score.He did score, but on a very odd play.

Bubics pitch to Justyn-Henry Malloy bounced past catcher Salvador Perez to the backstop.

McKinstry, though, held up.

But when Perez didnt immediately go after the ball, McKinstry restarted and scored without a play.I thought it was blocked straight into the ground, McKinstry said.

I lost the ball.

Salvys body was in the way and I didnt really see it.

Then everybody started yelling, Go! So I just took off.And somehow, against all odds, that run held up.Tigers right-handed starter Keider Montero fended off the Royals for 4.2 busy innings.

He was tagged for seven hits and a walk.

The Royals hit six balls with exit velocities in excess of 100 mph.But Montero never broke.

He struck out John Rave looking to leave the bases loaded in the first inning.

He helped turn a 3-6-1 double-play to get out of the third.

Catcher Jake Rogers threw out Rave trying to steal in the fourth.I was proud of what we did today, Montero said through interpreter Carlos Guillen.

Im proud of how I did today as well as how everybody in here performed.

We had a great game.The 3-6-1 double-play was impressive for a couple of reasons.

It was against lefty-swinging Drew Waters, who can run.

Montero sprinted to first like he was shot from a cannon.

McKinstrys strong relay throw from second was already zipping through the air before Montero reached the bag and looked for it.I was well aware they have good speed, Montero said.

As soon as I saw the ball on the ground, I made a huge sprint to first base.

I wanted that double-play.

When I got there, I was like, Woah, because the throw was already there.

I just got my glove up.McKinstry laughed.

Montero had barely snatched the ball when he went into full fist-pump mode.He pimped it, too, he said.

He knew he got him.But when Montero gave up a two-out double to Bobby Witt, Jr., in the fifth, it was time for the bullpen to go to work.

Hinch probably couldnt have scripted it any better than how it turned out.Well, having Pasquantino up with a runner at second wasnt how we wanted it, he said.True.

Thats how the game Saturday was lost, when Vinnie Pasquantino looped an RBI single to center off Beau Brieske.Not this time.

Lefty Tyler Holton stranded Witt, getting Pasquantino to hit a rollover grounder to second base.That was a huge out, Hinch said.Holton got the first two outs in the sixth before Rave beat out a broken-bat infield single.

Hinch summoned side-arming righty Chase Lee, who ended that inning by striking out Nick Loftin.

And, somewhat surprisingly, Hinch sent Lee back out for the seventh, even though lefties Michael Massey and Kyle Isbel were due up.Hes got a pretty good attack plan against lefties, Hinch said.

Hes showing more and more ways he can attack, whether its when an elevated fastball, changeup or the back door frisbee.Lee pitched a clean seventh, getting the game to the back end of the bullpen where both Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest were fresh and ready.Honestly, its the confidence theyre showing me, putting me in situations to succeed, Lee said.

I dont think theyre trying to let me fail.

They want to win games.

And if they think Im competent to get whoever is in the box out, I believe them.McKinstry believes it, too.The bullpen did their thing today, for sure, he said.

I was really impressed with Chase Lee.

Its kind of funky and it seems like it gets on guys and surprises them a little bit.

Everybody did their job today.Kahnle yielded a two-out single to Perez in the eighth.

Credit left fielder Riley Greene for hustling the ball in and keeping him out of scoring position.Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres makes the tag to force out Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel at second base during the second inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, June 1, 2025.

(REED HOFFMAN AP Photo)Vest then pitched a clean ninth to earn his ninth save.

And he made sure Montero wasnt the only pitcher with a web gem.

Rave, leading off the ninth, hit a ball back up the middle.

It deflected off Vest and bounced behind him.

He reacted quickly and calmly, collecting the ball behind the mound and throwing Rave out.Were going to hear it from Vest for the next few days, Hinch said, smiling.

Like he says, as a failed shortstop, hes a good-fielding pitcher.A little historical perspective.

The last time the Tigers won a game without a run batted in was 2003.

One of those runs scored when Hinch, then the Tigers catcher, hit into a double-play.

Whatever it takes.The Tigers are 11-6 in one-run games and theyve been pulling some rabbits out of the hat lately which is what good teams are able to do.Its huge, McKinstry said.

And hopefully, you know, our offense is due.The Tigers (39-21) open a four-game series against White Sox on Monday in Chicago..

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