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Which AL Central team should worry Detroit Tigers?
The Days of Roar podcast breaks down the competitiveness of the American League Central — and which team the Detroit Tigers should keep an eye on.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Detroit Tigers scored their only run on a wild pitch in the third inning.
It was enough to win the game.
The Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 1-0, in the series finale Sunday, June 1, at Kauffman Stadium, winning two of three games in the American League Central showdown.
Not only do the Tigers (39-21) own MLB’s best record, but they’ve also maintained a firm grasp on the AL Central, leading the division by six games over the Cleveland Guardians, 6½ games over the Minnesota Twins and eight games over the Royals (31-29).
In Sunday’s game, Zach McKinstry sparked the victory with a leadoff triple against left-hander Kris Bubic. He ripped a two-strike fastball into the right-field corner, then hustled around the bases.
It was a close play, but McKinstry was safe sliding head-first into third base.
Seven pitches later, Bubic threw a sweeper in the dirt that Royals catcher Salvador Perez tried to block. The ball skipped away from him and rolled past the on-deck circle.
McKinstry scored easily from third base.
Bubic, who has a 1.43 ERA in 12 starts, allowed one run on four hits and two walks with nine strikeouts across seven innings, throwing 99 pitches.
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Keider Montero escapes
Right-hander Keider Montero allowed at least one batter to reach base safely in each of his five innings, including loading the bases in the first inning, but he didn’t allow any runs.
The 24-year-old tossed 4⅔ scoreless innings on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
He threw 72 pitches.
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In the first inning, the Royals delivered three two-out singles: Vinnie Pasquantino hit a 93 mph fastball, Perez hit a 92.9 mph sinker and Drew Waters hit a 96 mph fastball. The hits from Perez and Waters were infield singles.
Montero escaped the bases loaded by striking out John Rave.
Another key moment occurred in the third inning, with Waters at the plate. The Royals had runners on first and second base, but Montero induced an inning-ending double play. On the play, Montero covered first base, then pumped his fist in celebration.
Montero exited after Bobby Witt Jr.’s double with two outs in the fifth inning. Left-handed reliever Tyler Holton took care of Pasquantino with a groundout for the third out, keeping Montero’s final line at zero earned runs.
Getting to finish line
After Montero, the Tigers turned to Holton and a trio of right-handed relievers — Chase Lee, Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest — for the final 13 outs.
The biggest threat from the Royals occurred in the eighth inning, when Perez delivered a two-out single off Kahnle, but Waters flew out on the first pitch, ending the inning.
Vest secured his ninth save in 11 opportunities.
The underrated hero: Lee took down both right-handed and left-handed hitters in Sunday’s win. He has a 1.15 ERA over 15⅔ innings in 12 relief appearances.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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