The Tigers built a 6-0 lead only to blow it on Friday night in Kansas City. A pair of three-run shots powered the Royals to a 9-8 victory, and a chance at a series sweep on Sunday.
Early on, the Tigers looked like they might run away with this one. The Royals didn’t get a runner to second until the third inning, when Nicky Lopez hit a sinking liner to right center and a diving Derek Hill just couldn’t squeeze. Lopez cruised into second, but Casey Mize then blew Whit Merrifield away on three pitches, closing with a whistling two seamer that nearly hit a swinging Merrifield.