Parker Meadows tripled in the game-tying run and then scored on Wenceel Perez’s walk-off hit as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 in 11 innings on Saturday night at Comerica Park. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the win was dedicated to Jim Leyland, whose number was retired in a ceremony before the game.
“Skipper, that was for you,” Hinch said.
#Tigers Parker Meadows led off the 11th with an RBI triple. After the Royals got two outs, Wenceel Perez lined a ball off the wall in right center field for the win. ⚾ https://t.co/05nGDdWehl
— Blade Sports (@toledosports) August 4, 2024
The Tigers (53-59) snapped a five-game losing streak and will play the series finale against the Royals (62-50) on Sunday.
The Tigers were down by two entering their last at-bat. Bligh Madris hit his first home run as a Tiger and the second of his career against Royals reliever Hunter Harvey to start the Tigers’ rally in the ninth inning.
Pinch-hitter Zach McKinstry doubled down the right-field line and Javier Baez fouled off four pitches before driving a double to the base of the wall in left to tie the game. Baez was stranded, sending the game into extra innings.
The Royals scored one in the top of the 10th, pushing the Tigers to their final out in the bottom of the inning. But Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a two-out, two-strike double to right against Royals reliever Kris Bubic to tie the game again.
The Royals scored again in the top of the 11th, forcing the Tigers to answer.
Meadows, who came off the injured list before the game, tripled to score Ryan Vilade to tie the game. After Baez was intentionally walked, Jake Rogers bounced into a double play. Then Perez smashed a liner to deep right-center for the walk-off win.
Four rookies — Madris, Malloy, Meadows, and Perez — were instrumental in the streak-snapping comeback.
“They’re just trying to learn and grow and survive. These guys are trying to be big leaguers,” Hinch said. “Some have been here longer than others, and some are trying to prove that they belong. I appreciate the fight. We’re trying not to carry the baggage of the last week with us. It’s been a tough week. We don’t love where we’re at now and how we got there, but that doesn’t change the fact that we can come today and play a game like that against a real good team.”
Tigers opener Tyler Holton retired all nine batters he faced, continuing a monthlong scoreless streak. Since June 29, he’s thrown 21 2/3 scoreless innings.
THE LEGEND OF WENCEEL PEREZ GROWS! HE WALKS IT OFF AND THE TIGERS WIN 6-5 OVER THE ROYALS pic.twitter.com/KYM3n6DBim
— MLB Clutch Moments And Walk Offs (@MLBWalk_Offs) August 4, 2024
“That to me was vintage Tyler Holton,” Hinch said. “He does break a sweat. He does grind. He does misfire every now and then. But on a night like tonight, it doesn’t look like it, because he was executing as flawlessly as you can.”
Kenta Maeda pitched well at times in relief but gave up two key home runs: A solo shot by Vinnie Pasquantino in the sixth inning and a two-run shot by Paul DeJong in the seventh.
DeJong was acquired from the Chicago White Sox just before the trade deadline.
Another newly acquired player, former Tigers pitcher Michael Lorenzen, was making his debut start for the Kansas City Royals. He tossed a shutout until the sixth inning when the Tigers finally got to him. Madris had a two-out double and Andy Ibanez followed with a bloop single to right.
The Tigers wrap up their homestand and their four-game series against the Royals on Sunday at 1:40 p.m.
Right-hander Michael Wacha (8-6, 3.58 ERA) will start for Kansas City. The Tigers will use an opener, but rookie left-hander Brant Hurter is expected to pitch several innings in his big-league debut.
Hurter, who turns 26 next month, was drafted in the seventh round out of Georgia Tech in 2021. He had an exceptional season with Double-A Erie in 2023, striking out 133 and walking 33 in 118 innings while posting a 3.28 ERA. He’s faced more adversity with Triple-A Toledo in 2024 but is coming off a strong start on July 26 against Louisville. He threw seven innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit.
This will be Wacha’s third start against the Tigers this season.
Wacha, 32, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (19th overall) in 2012.
He pitched for seven seasons with the Cards and has since made free-agent stops with the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and now the Royals.
He signed a two-year, $32 million deal with the Royals over the winter.
Key Points:
i. Dramatic Win: Detroit Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-5 in 11 innings with a walk-off hit by Wenceel Perez.
ii. Rookie Contributions: Four rookies, including Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez, played crucial roles in the Tigers’ comeback victory.
iii. Tyler Holton’s Performance: Tigers opener Tyler Holton continued his scoreless streak, retiring all nine batters he faced.
iv. Key Home Runs: Kenta Maeda gave up two home runs, including a two-run shot by newly acquired Paul DeJong.
v. Upcoming Game: The Tigers will wrap up their series against the Royals on Sunday, with rookie Brant Hurter expected to pitch several innings in his major league debut.
Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
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