By MATT PIKE
Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo returned from the 15 day injured list, but his return was spoiled as Kansas City fell to the Detroit Tigers in a crucial AL Central clash, losing 7-5 on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Detroit took the lead right away in the game, as Riley Green hit a two run homer in the first inning, driving in Colt Keith, for the quick two run lead. Kansas City cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning with a home run of their own, Bobby Witt Jr hitting a solo shot into left center field, but the Tigers extended the lead in the second inning on another two run homer, this time from Dillon Dingler scoring Wenceel Pérez.
Bobby Baseball’s blasting off. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/T78G6K6GKD
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 31, 2025
The Royals continued to battle back, again cutting the lead to one run in the bottom of the third inning as Drew Waters singled home Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez with the bases loaded, but John Rave and Michael Massey both struck out swinging to end the inning, leaving Maikel Garcia stranded at third base.
Spencer Torkelson singled home another run in the top of the fifth inning for Detroit, scoring Kerry Carpenter, but again the Royals scored keeping within striking distance, a sacrifice fly by Mark Canha in the bottom of the seventh inning bringing home Garcia. Again though, Massey struck out to end the inning and the threat from Kansas City, giving the Tigers the opportunity to put the game away in the eighth, where they scored two more runs.
Torkelson hit his 14th home run of the season for the first run of the inning, which was followed by a double by Perez. Perez scored on a single by Dingler for the final run for Detroit. Waters did single home Garcia in the ninth inning with two outs, but Canha grounded out to end the game.
Lugo fell to 3-5 with the loss, pitching 3 1/3 innings and giving up four runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two in his return. Garcia led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one walk in the loss.
Just when the Royals got a crucial piece to their rotation back with Lugo coming off the injured list on , Kansas City took another hit in its bullpen with Lucas Erceg placed on the 15-day IL with a low back strain, retroactive to May 27.
Erceg hadn’t pitched since Saturday in Minnesota, but there were two reasons for that. First, he got the illness that was going around the clubhouse last weekend, with a fever and general fatigue. Because he wasn’t feeling well, he missed at least one workout and wanted to get back in the weight room on Tuesday. That’s when Erceg “tweaked” his back while lifting, he said.
Kansas City and Detroit continue their series tomorrow. Michael Wacha (3-4, 3.21 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals against last years Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal (5-2, 2.49 ERA) for the Tigers. First pitch is at 3:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 2:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
