In a game on Monday night, the Detroit Tigers staged a comeback against the Kansas City Royals, winning 6-4. Kerry Carpenter played a crucial role in the victory, hitting a three-run homer in the seventh inning to give the Tigers a five-run lead. The win marked the Royals’ 12th loss in their last 13 games.
Carpenter expressed his excitement about the team’s comeback, stating, “We needed to start this homestand well, and coming back in that fashion was awesome.”
The Royals had initially taken a 4-0 lead but were unable to hold onto it. Starting pitcher Jordan Lyles struggled once again, allowing three runs and six hits in six-plus innings. Lyles now holds an 0-11 record for the season, which is the highest number of losses in the major leagues. His 6.72 ERA is also the highest among 64 qualified pitchers. Lyles broke the team record for winless starts at the beginning of a season, surpassing Vida Blue’s record set in 1983.
The Tigers began their comeback in the fifth inning when Zach McKinstry hit an RBI double that went through the legs of left fielder Edward Olivares, allowing Jake Rogers to score. Miguel Cabrera and Jonathan Schoop then hit a single and a double, respectively, in the seventh inning, which led to Lyles being pulled from the game.
Rogers hit a two-run single, narrowing the deficit to 4-3, and Carpenter followed with his decisive three-run homer.
The Tigers’ bullpen was effective in shutting down the Royals’ offense, with Tyler Alexander pitching two scoreless innings and earning the win. Alex Lange closed out the game in the ninth inning, securing his 11th save of the season.
Despite the loss, Bobby Witt Jr. stood out for the Royals, hitting a 442-foot homer in the fourth inning. Maikel Garcia added a two-run homer, and a throwing error by Tigers shortstop Zack Short allowed Nick Pratto to score.
The game concluded relatively early, finishing at 9 p.m., just 12 minutes before sunset in Detroit.
In the next game, the Tigers’ Michael Lorenzen (2-4, 4.23 ERA) will start against the Royals’ Daniel Lynch (0-3, 5.79 ERA).
The MLB scoreboard from Monday, June 19, 2023:
Miami 11, Toronto 0
New York (NL) 11, Houston 1
Boston 9, Minnesota 3
Texas 5, Chicago (AL) 2
St. Louis 8, Washington 6
Chicago (NL) 8, Pittsburgh 0
Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 4
Arizona 9, Milwaukee 1
San Francisco 7, San Diego 4 (10)
