DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers’ ninth-inning comeback fell short -- thanks in part to a bad bounce -- in a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park.
The Tigers (75-80) must go 6-1 to finish the season at .500. They lost two of three to the Royals (71-84) this weekend and finished 8-11 against them this season.
The Tigers loaded the bases against Royals closer Scott Barlow, but pinch-hitter Harold Castro struck out on a 3-2 count to end the game. Earlier in the inning, rookie Isaac Paredes ripped a double into the left-field corner, which could have tied the game, but the ball bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double. That meant runner Eric Haase was held at third base, which is where he remained when the game came to an end three batters later.
Tigers starter Wily Peralta labored through 4 2/3 innings, ultimately facing 25 batters and throwing 100 pitches. He allowed just two runs, escaping serious trouble in all five innings.
He became the first Tigers to throw 100 or more pitches without completing five innings since Spencer Turnbull did so on Sept. 1, 2019, at Minnesota. Peralta is the first to do so while allowing two runs or fewer since Jeremy Bonderman on April 24, 2008.
One night after Akil Baddoo made a leaping, home-run-robbing catch in left field to take a homer away from Hunter Dozier, Tigers left fielder Willi Castro made another fine play to steal a home run from Whit Merrifield.
Castro’s catch was even more impressive because he’s an infielder by trade.
Royals starter Kris Bubic held the Tigers in check through seven strong innings of work. Before the ninth, the Tigers had runners in scoring position only twice all afternoon.
Up next: Instead of a day off, the Tigers have a make-up game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at 1:10 p.m. at Comerica Park. Right-hander Matt Manning (4-6, 5.73 ERA) will pitch for the Tigers against Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (3-3, 3.16).
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