DETROIT -- The Tigers extended their winning streak to five games with a second consecutive eighth-inning rally to beat the Royals. Wenceel Pérez made his first hit of the season a big one, hitting a go-ahead solo home run off Eli Morgan to power Detroit to a 2-1 victory on Wednesday night at Comerica Park.
Pérez entered the game in the top of the eighth as a replacement for Zach McKinstry, who left the game after tripping over Royals baserunner Jac Caglianone while trying to field a Starling Marte grounder. Caglianone was called out for interference, halting the Royals’ two-out, seventh-inning rally off Tigers reliever Tyler Holton.
Pérez, entering the game in center field, nearly crossed paths with right fielder Kerry Carpenter on a Vinnie Pasquantino drive to the warning track in right-center field that turned into a two-out triple when Carpenter couldn’t hold onto the ball. Reliever Kyle Finnegan pitched out of the jam by retiring Salvador Perez, then Wenceel Pérez led off the bottom of the inning with a drive to right.
Pérez, called up Friday to replace the injured Parker Meadows, had been 0-for-10 before the homer. Kenley Jansen, having just passed Hall of Famer Lee Smith on MLB’s all-time saves list Tuesday night, retired the Royals in the ninth again for his 480th career save and his fourth of the season.
The late rally decided a pitching duel between Jack Flaherty and Seth Lugo, both of whom allowed a lone run. Flaherty struck out seven batters over six innings for his second consecutive solid outing in a no-decision.