KANSAS CITY -- Moments after giving up a go-ahead, two-run home run in the ninth inning of the Royals' 4-3 win over the Tigers on Wednesday, closer Kelvin Herrera left the game with a trainer.
Royals manager Ned Yost said Herrera had a sore throat and fever Tuesday and was still feeling the illness' effects. Herrera said he ran out of energy during the outing.
"[The fever] broke last night," Yost said. "He felt better today, wanted to give it a try. After he gave up the home run, it was hot [and] he was overheated."
Herrera had induced a groundout from the first batter he faced, Nicholas Castellanos, but after walking Victor Martinez, he surrendered a home run to Mikie Mahtook to put the Tigers in front, 3-2. The home run was the eighth hit off Herrera this season. He threw one pitch, a ball, to the next batter, Alex Presley, before a trainer rushed to the mound. Yost followed and soon called in Kevin McCarthy to finish the inning.
"Throat is still sore," Yost said of Herrera. "But he'll be OK."

Though Herrera lost the lead, the Royals came back to win the game in the bottom of the ninth on Alex Gordon's walk-off sacrifice fly.