By MATT PIKE
Normal Kansas City Royals starter Noah Cameron made his first career relief appearance, throwing seven strong innings, but the Royals could not overcome a rough first inning falling 2-1 to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Cameron came on in the second inning following opener Beck Way. Way struggled in the opening inning, loading the bases and giving up a sacrifice fly to Riley Greene, driving in Colt Keith. After Way got a flyout from Spencer Torkleson, with two outs he surrendered an RBI single to Hao-Yu Lee scoring Dillon Dingler for what would be the only runs the Tigers needed in the win.
Cameron threw the remainder of the game after coming on for Way and shut down the Tigers offense. Cameron threw seven innings giving up two hits and walking three while striking out eight. While Detroit struggled to figure out Cameron, the Royals equally struggled against Tigers ace and former Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Through the first three innings, prior to Kansas City's one run, Skubal struck out five of the 11 batters he faced giving up just one hit.
In the fourth inning the Royals broke through against Skubal for their lone run. Salvador Perez doubled to center field to lead off the inning, then with two outs, Nick Loftin doubled home Perez to cut the Tigers lead to, what would be the final score, 2-1. Isaac Collins struck out looking to end the inning leaving Loftin stranded at second base.
Skubal went on to throw 7.1 innings and strike out 12, giving up four hits and the one run, walking two. Against the Tigers bullpen, the Royals never got on base as Brenan Hanifee finished out the eighth cleanly, before Kenley Jansen came on in the ninth inning and recorded his 12th save of the season.
All four hits on the day for Kansas City were doubles. Perez was 1-for-4 with a double, while Loftin was 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a walk. Collins was 1-for-3 with a double and Michael Massey was 1-for-2 with a walk and a double.
Kansas City and Detroit will play the third game of the four game series tomorrow. Michael Wacha (5-7, 3.66 ERA, 101 K's) is set to take the mound for the Royals against Casey Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA, 82K's) for the Tigers. First pitch is at 12:10pm, pregame will begin at 11:30am on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.