Tigers beat Royals 2-1 thanks to Javier Báez's magical slide
Detroit Tigers game score: A slide from Javier Báez and a home run from Wenceel Pérez led to a 2-1 win vs the Royals – and a five-game winning streak.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Pérez was still searching for his first hit when he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning for his 12th plate appearance of the 2026 season. His first hit? A massive home run.
The clutch dinger from Pérez carried the Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, April 15, in the second of three games in the series between American League Central rivals at Comerica Park. The 26-year-old hit a third-pitch changeup from right-handed reliever Eli Morgan at the bottom rail of the strike zone over the right-field wall – only a half-inning after entering the game as a defensive replacement for an injured Zach McKinstry. It's the fifth win in a row for the Tigers.
BIG NEWS: Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers agree to 8-year contract extension WHY NOT WENCEEL!!! pic. twitter.
com/JxQLylqQxx — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 16, 2026 The Tigers (9-9) and Royals (7-11) meet for the final time in this three-game series Thursday (1:10 p. m. , Detroit SportsNet), with a pitching matchup between right-hander Keider Montero for the Tigers and left-hander Kris Bubic for the Royals.
Continue to the original source for the full article.