By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals offense continued to struggle, Kenley Jansen got his 479th save, moving past Lee Smith for sole possession of third place on the career list, and the Detroit Tigers rallied from an eighth-inning deficit to beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 at Comerica Park.
Carter Jensen started the scoring for the Royals, hitting into a run-scoring forceout in the second off Framber Valdez, who allowed three hits in seven innings, and driving in Vinnie Pasquantino. The Royals started the second inning loading the bases with one out, as Pasquantino reached on a forceout, Salvador Perez being thrown out at second, followed by a single by Starling Marte and a walk to Jonathan India.
Cole Ragans, the first left-handed starter Detroit faced this season, put together an ace like effort in his start, allowing one hit and four walks in six scoreless innings. Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless seventh, before the Tigers got to Nick Mears in the eighth inning
Zach McKinstry doubled leading off the eighth against Mears, and then took third on a groundout and stayed at third when, with the infield in, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. robbed pinch-hitter Colt Keith with a diving catch. But then, Mears bounced a changeup past Perez, allowing McKinstry to score, rookie Kevin McGonigle walked and Dillon Dingler hit a grounder past third baseman Maikel Garcia. The ball bounced to the left-field wall for an RBI double.
Mears fell to 1-1 on the season in relief, pitching one inning and giving up two runs on two hits while walking one. At the plate, both teams managed just four hits, Lane Thomas was 1-for-3 with a walk
Kansas City and Detroit continue their series on Wednesday. Seth Lugo (1-1, 1.53 ERA, 14K's) takes the mound for the Royals against Jack Flaherty (0-1, 5.14 ERA, 14K's) for the Tigers. First pitch is at 5:40pm, with pregame at 5 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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