By MATT PIKE
Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning to help lift the Kansas City Royals over the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Pinch-hitter Tyler Tolbert drew a seven-pitch walk from Tyler Holton, and Witt Jr followed that connecting for his 20th home run of the season, a 427-foot shot to dead center. Witt, who singled earlier in the game, extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
Robert Andrew Witt Jr.! pic.twitter.com/T4EXxLgaY8
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 31, 2025
The Tigers took the lead in the third inning on Gleyber Torres’ sharp, two-out single. Detroit is 55-17 when scoring first. But, Maikel Garcia tied it in the fourth inning with his 15th home run of the season.
Lucas Erceg struck out one in a 1-2-3 eighth inning, earning the win and improving to 6-3 on the season, before Carlos Estévez worked around Riley Greene’s one-out double in the ninth inning for his 36th save. Making his Royals debut, Stephen Kolek threw six innings and allowed a run and four hits, striking out three. At the plate, Witt Jr was 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBI’s. Michael Massey was 2-for-3.
With Seattle’s 4-3 loss to Cleveland, Kansas City moved within two games of the Mariners for the final AL wild-card spot.
Kansas City wrap up their series on Sunday against Detroit. Michael Wacha (8-10, 3.39) takes the mound for the Royals against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (11-4, 2.28 ERA) with first pitch at 1:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
