Worth the wait: Tigers sweep Royals with three runs in ninth inning

Tony Paul, The Detroit News on Apr 16, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

DETROIT — That was a long day at the ballpark.

And, for the Tigers, it was worth the wait.

Riley Greene hit a two-run double to tie the game with two outs in the ninth inning, and Colt Keith followed with the winning single as the Tigers rallied past the Kansas City Royals, 10-9, on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.

"A crazy game to say the least," Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. "You've gotta play all nine (innings) and see what happens, even when you get put in a little bit of disarray.

"It's important to keep playing."

It was the Tigers' sixth win in a row, and they are back over .500 at 10-9.

The Tigers blew a 6-1 lead, and trailed, 9-7, entering the bottom of the ninth inning on a day when there were two lengthy rain delays and even an umpire delay, when plate ump Andy Fletcher had to leave due to an illness.

The Tigers went 6-0 on the homestand, and now head to Boston for a four-game series at Fenway Park.

"We're hot," said rookie Kevin McGonigle, "and we're looking to continue to stay hot."

Gleyber Torres led off the ninth inning with a single, and McGonigle followed with a walk (sealed when he challenged a called strike, which was overturned).

Royals closer Lucas Erceg then got the next two batters, before Greene hit a shot down the first base line to score Torres and McGonigle to tie it. Keith then singled to right for the winner, his first walk-off hit in the major leagues.

Dillon Dingler had a two-run homer for the Tigers, and McGonigle also tripled to set up a run to pull the Tigers within 8-7 in the seventh inning, after they had blown the big lead earlier.

"It was kind of (like) last year, a little bit of the Gritty Tigs," said Greene, who had two doubles (the 100th and 101st of his career). "It was pretty cool to see. It was fun to a be a part of."