DETROIT -- Johnny Cueto looked a great deal like Johnny Cueto on Friday night.
This was not Cueto at the absolute top of his game. But this was Cueto being good enough to win. And that is very, very good.
So, the outlook for the Kansas City Royals looked better than it had in five weeks, which was the last time Cueto pitched well. Cueto's friends and colleagues on the Royals could look upon their postseason chances with, if they felt like it, unblemished optimism.
After a five-start slump, Cueto produced a commendable outing against the Detroit Tigers in the Royals' 5-4, 12-inning loss.