Kyle Isbel’s second RBI of the night came via a two-out single in the ninth, giving the host Kansas City Royals a walk-off 4-3 victory over the scuffling Detroit Tigers on Friday.
The Royals trailed 3-1 when they tied the game with three hits on the first five pitches of the eighth inning against Detroit’s Kyle Finnegan. Michael Massey opened the frame with a double to left-center field, and he scored on Isbel’s hit that turned into a three-bagger when the ball rolled under the glove and well past Tigers right fielder Wenceel Perez. Maikel Garcia followed an RBI single to center.
In the bottom of the ninth, Detroit’s Brant Hurter (4-1) retired the first two batters before Nick Loftin delivered a pinch-hit double to left field. One batter later, Isbel sent a slow bouncer through the left side of the infield to give the Royals a victory in this series opener and snap a four-game slide against the Tigers.
All four 2026 games between these teams have been decided by one run.
Keider Montero allowed one run, one walk and three hits over six solid innings for Detroit, which has lost four in a row.
Detroit opened the scoring against Kansas City starter Kris Bubic in the second inning when Riley Greene led off with a double into the right field corner for the first of his three hits. He went to third on Perez’s single and scored via Spencer Torkelson’s double-play ball.
Kansas City, though, evened things during its half of the second. Jac Caglianone doubled off the right field fence with two outs and came home on Isaac Collins’ single.
Detroit regained the lead in the sixth. With two outs, Dillon Dingler raced from first base all the way home on Perez’s double after Royals catcher Carter Jensen couldn’t hang on to the relay throw. Perez then scored on Torkelson’s double into the left field corner off reliever Nick Mears.
Bubic allowed three runs, four hits and four walks while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings. Teammate Lucas Erceg (3-1) pitched the ninth for the win.
