Tigers 2, Royals 1: Wenceel Perez’s late-inning heroics save the game

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 15: Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers scores a run against Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals during the bottom of the third inning at Comerica Park on April 15, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Jackie Robinson Day, everyone! The Tigers and Royals were sporting their number 42s in Detroit, and hoping for a repeat of the previous night’s victory, perhaps with a few more runs. To get there, the Tigers would need to get through Seth Lugo on the mound for the Royals, while the Tigers themselves turned to Jack Flaherty to get the job done.

The first inning got started nicely as Flaherty got through the Royals in order. The first out of the game was even on a strikeout, something Tuesday’s outing was relatively short on. In the bottom of the inning, Gleyber Torres hit a one-out single, but Colt Keith grounded into a double play to eliminate the baserunner and end the inning.

Three straight strikeouts took the Royals out in order in the second. I promise this is the last time I’ll mention the strikeouts. I mean, unless they’re relevant. The Tigers likewise went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Jac Caglianone hit a triple to start the third. Zack McKinstry appeared to have been hit when Caglianone headed into third, but stayed in the game, so hopefully it wasn’t serious, though he was wincing. With one out, Kyle Isbel reached on a fielder’s choice as the Tigers got Caglianone out at home, avoiding the run. A wild pitch helped advance Isbel to second, but the Royals weren’t able to convert the runner. In the home half, McKinstry started things off with a leadoff single, and Javier Baez hit a line drive to right, bringing McKinstry home. Salvador Perez immediately called for a review, and it very quickly showed that McKinstry was tagged out before touching the plate. The safe call at home was overturned. Jake Rogers then flied into a double play, one of those being Baez at home, and while he was ruled out, he immediately called for a review, and dang it was one of the most insane plays I think I’ve ever seen in slow motion. On review, he was ruled safe, just an absolutely bonkers tag.

Kevin McGonigle got his first single of the extension era, followed by a single from Gleyber Torres. Keith struck out to end the inning, but the Tigers still got on the board first.

Flaherty worked through the side in order in the top of the fourth. The Tigers likewise went 1-2-3 in the home half.

In the fifth, Flaherty started to show some issues with his command. With one out, he gave up back-to-back walks to Michael Massey and Jac Caglianone. Those two walks certainly came back to haunt. With two outs, Isbel singled, scoring Massey to tie the game. Flaherty was able to end the inning on the next out, but the game was now tied. The Tigers didn’t make much of an effort to break that tie in the bottom of the fifth, going in order back to the dugout.

Things evened out a bit in the sixth, as Vinnie Pasquantino got a one-out walk, but then Salvador Perez hit into a double play to end the inning. The Tigers again went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Jack Flaherty’s night was done after six with a final line of 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, on 97 pitches. Tyler Holton came out of the pen to replace him. With two outs, Caglianone singled, then Lane Thomas singled right behind him. The Royals went to their bench for Starling Marte, and that was when the Tigers stepped in to go back to the bullpen for Kyle Finnegan. Lifting Kyle Isbel for Marte denied me a golden opportunity to write about a Kyle on Kyle matchup, and I’m a bit miffed about that. Finnegan induced a groundout to end the inning. In the home half, with two outs, Seth Lugo’s day was done, and he was replaced by Daniel Lynch IV, who got the final out of the inning.

McKinstry was out of the game following a second collision, rough night for Zack, hopefully he’s okay. With two outs in the top of the inning Vinnie Pasquantino hit a triple, and I’m going to need the Royals to have shorter last names, please. The Royals left him stranded, though. Eli Morgan came in next for the Royals and Wenceel Perez, who replaced McKinstry, got his first hit of the season in style with a solo home run to left.

With two outs, McGonigle walked, followed by a Torres single, but again it was Keith who ended the inning. C’mon Cole, you were our clutch guy for like two whole weeks!

Kenley Jansen was once again the Tigers’ man for the ninth, looking to add to his saves total. With two outs, Caglianone hit a line drive into left, and was replaced by pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert. And in an unreal moment, Jansen threw a pick-off toss over to first and it was ruled an out, but the Royals challenged and it really did look like Tolbert made it back safely, Torkelson’s hand seemed to swing right over his helmet instead of tagging him. The call was rightly overturned, but it sure would have been a fun ending to the game. A passed ball allowed Tolbert to advance to second, then a balk advanced him to third, but the final out of the inning came on the next batter, and the Tigers got the save and the win. The Tigers are finally back at .500 as well.

Final: Tigers 2, Royals 1