Kyle Isbel delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning, lifting the Kansas City Royals to a walk-off 4-3 win over the struggling Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
After trailing 3-1, the Royals tied the game in the eighth inning with three hits on the first five pitches from Detroit’s Kyle Finnegan. Michael Massey led off with a double to left-center and scored on Isbel’s hit, which turned into a triple after the ball rolled past Tigers right fielder Wenceel Perez. Maikel Garcia followed with an RBI single to center.
In the bottom of the ninth, Detroit’s Brant Hurter (4-1) retired the first two batters before Nick Loftin delivered a pinch-hit double to left field. Isbel then grounded a slow bouncer through the left side of the infield to secure the series-opening victory and end Kansas City’s four-game skid against the Tigers.
All four meetings between these teams in 2026 have been decided by one run.
Detroit starter Keider Montero allowed one run, one walk and three hits over six solid innings, but the Tigers have now lost four straight games.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second inning against Royals starter Kris Bubic. Riley Greene led off with a double to the right-field corner, the first of his three hits. He moved to third on Perez’s single and scored on a double-play groundout by Spencer Torkelson.
Kansas City tied it in the bottom of the second. Jac Caglianone doubled off the right-field fence with two outs and came home on Isaac Collins’ single.
Detroit regained the lead in the sixth. With two outs, Dillon Dingler raced from first base to score on Perez’s double after Royals catcher Carter Jensen couldn’t handle the relay throw. Perez then scored on Torkelson’s double to the left-field corner off reliever Nick Mears.
Bubic allowed three runs, four hits and four walks while striking out five over 5 2/3 innings. Royals reliever Lucas Erceg (3-1) pitched the ninth to earn the win.
