They Called Him "Tater": Gage Workman Powers Tigers To End 5-game Losing Streak
Gage Workman’s decisive pinch-hit home run ignited a resilient Detroit offense, snapping a dismal skid and proving the club's young depth can deliver when the pressure mounts.
Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak Tigers needed some elements outside of “pitching chaos” to snap their five-game losing streak Sunday night. They got them from Gage Workman, a Royals mistake in center field and enough offense to survive a bullpen-driven game in a 6-3 win over Kansas City. Detroit improved to 19-22 on the season and avoided being swept at Kauffman Stadium, a needed result after a rough stretch that included injuries, late-game issues and too many quiet offensive nights.
The first useful swing came from Hao-Yu Lee in the second inning. Lee tripled to right field to score Wenceel Pérez and give Detroit a 1-0 lead. The Tigers added two more later in the inning when Matt Vierling doubled to left-center, scoring Lee and Zack Short.
Kyle Isbel’s fielding error allowed Vierling to advance to third and helped turn the inning into a three-run frame. Detroit finished with six runs, nine hits and no errors, while Kansas City committed the one costly mistake in center field. Kansas City did respond.
The Royals scored twice in the third on a Vinnie Pasquantino RBI single and a Carter Jensen sacrifice fly. Maikel Garcia tied the game in the fourth with an RBI single after Jac Caglianone doubled. By the middle innings, the Tigers were back in familiar territory: a close game, a bullpen game and very little margin for error.