Tigers slip past Royals for 2-1 victory

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Apr 14, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DETROIT — A pair of top-tier lefties took the air out of the baseball for six and a half innings at Comerica Park Tuesday night, before the Tigers found a way to scratch out a 2-1 win over the Royals at Comerica Park.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth, Zach McKinstry doubled, went to third on a ground out by Gleyber Torres and, with two outs, scored on a wild pitch by reliever Nick Mears.

Rookie Kevin McGonigle walked to keep the inning alive and scored from first on a double by Dillon Dingler. Dingler hit a rocket that went past third baseman Maikel Garcia and into the left-field corner. The ball left Dingler's bat at 106.7 mph.

Kenley Jansen stranded Lane Thomas at third base with one out, getting Vinnie Pasquantino to ground out to second and Starling Marte to fly out. It was Jansen's 479th career save, moving into third place alone on the all-time list.

The win extended the Tigers' winning streak to four.

In an era when pitchers are paid by the strikeout and whiff, Cole Ragans and Framber Valdez faced a combined 47 hitters, got just two strikeouts and seven whiffs between them and yet dominated the game.

The Tigers had only one infield hit against Ragans in his six innings of work. That was by Matt Vierling.

They did work four walks, two in the fourth when they put runners on the corners with two outs. Riley Greene took Ragans to a 3-2 count but grounded out to second.

The Tigers had a hard time getting balls in the air against Ragans’ four-seam, cutter and change-up mix. He got 10 ground-ball outs and two double-play balls through six innings. He also broke four bats.

Valdez was just as stingy. He was nicked for three singles in his seven innings. And he induced 10 ground-ball outs.

The lone run came in the second inning on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice. After Salvador Perez slapped an opposite-field single to start the inning, Valdez fielded a comebacker from Pasquantino. If he makes a strong throw second, the Tigers would’ve turned a double-play.

Instead, Valdez threw a slow, one-hopper to Javier Baez at second base, barely getting the slow-running Perez. Pasquantino ended up scoring the run.

It was his only real mistake. He needed just 87 pitches and left to a standing ovation after the seventh.

Right-hander Will Vest took the baton from Valdez and struck out the side in the eighth.

The Royals’ starting left fielder Isaac Collins left the game in the bottom of the first inning with a right knee contusion. He chased McGonigle’s foul fly toward the seats and hit the railing hard and flipped over into the crowd.