Tigers' bats come alive in eighth inning for 2-1 win over Royals
The Tigers' winning streak is at four games after Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Royals at Comerica Park.
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 through third baseman Maikel Garcia and into the left-field corner. The ball left Dingler's bat at 106. 7 mph.
RUN ROOK RUN pic. twitter. com/Sg3fgrcoPc — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 15, 2026 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 where 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.