DETROIT – The Royals had a rerun of Tuesday's heartbreaking loss at Comerica Park on Wednesday night, losing 2-1 to the Tigers and allowing the game-winner in the eighth inning for the second consecutive game.
This time, it was Detroit outfielder Wenceel Pérez hitting a solo homer on a 1-1 changeup from reliever Eli Morgan leading off the eighth. The Royals were held to two runs or fewer for the seventh time in their past eight games and lost their third straight.
There was one major bright spot: Right fielder Jac Caglianone had a big-time performance, showing why Kansas City selected him sixth overall in the 2024 Draft after an outstanding career at the University of Florida, where he also was a standout pitcher.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Caglianone started a relay that got a runner at the plate, made a long and accurate throw that nearly nabbed another and went 3-for-3 with a walk, scorching a triple at 113.5 mph.
“The triple was smoked,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “That ball was driven.”
Caglianone also got things going in the ninth inning with two outs. He battled tough with an 0-2 count against Tigers closer Kenley Jansen and laced a single to left to keep the Royals alive.
Pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert was initially called out on a pickoff play, but a review kept him on base. He advanced to second on a passed ball, but Lane Thomas flied out to left to end the game.
“It’s there," said Caglianone of the offense. "And I’m excited for when it happens – which is going to be soon. I can feel it, and all of us can feel it.”
Caglianone, now hitting .275 with a .754 OPS, showed grit and power at the plate.
He tripled leading off the third inning. His walk in the fifth put runners on first and second with one out, and Kyle Isbel's two-out single brought home Michael Massey, who’d also walked, to tie the score at 1.
Caglianone had a two-out single in the seventh and went to second on a single by Thomas, though he was ruled out at third base for interference on pinch-hitter Starling Marte's grounder to third.
Caglianone looked sharp in every at-bat.
“I’m really just trying to do anything to help us win,” said Caglianone. “You know, looking at the bigger picture, it’s not really for me. It’s just trying to get something rolling and, hopefully, that puts something on the board.”
Caglianone was in the middle of several outcome-hinging plays.
In the third inning, Caglianone started a relay that ended with cutoff man Massey throwing out McKinstry at the plate with a sweeping tag by catcher Salvador Perez.
“For me,” said Caglianone, “it was knowing I had time, and not trying to cut the ball off too quick and be erratic. I just wanted to beat [the ball] to the spot, got it, wanted a good throw, and Massey did what he does best.”
Caglianone showed off his arm even more on a play the Tigers successfully challenged at the plate on the next at-bat by Jake Rogers. Javier Báez, tagging from third, was initially ruled out, but replays showed Báez masterfully avoided the tag to score on a sacrifice fly.
“He’s got an incredible arm,” Quatraro said of Caglianone. “We knew he was upper 90s [mph] when he pitched. He ran balls down exceptionally well, too, especially in foul territory. Covered a lot of ground. He looked good.”
Caglianone added, “Being a former pitcher, I still get arm care and all that type of stuff. So I’m glad it’s still working out well.”
Royals starter Seth Lugo limited the Tigers to one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven.
“He pitched exceptionally well,” said Quatraro. “He had a really good breaking ball. Cutter was pretty good at times. His sinker was really good. He was locating. You could see he was working quickly – like he always does.
“He was outstanding and got more confidence as the game went.”
Lugo said, “I thought I mixed pitches well. Changed speeds, changed locations, made adjustments. I think, that with the pace I work out there, filling up the strike zone puts them in a bad spot. Working quick and filling up the zone is going to help me do what I want to do out there.”
But it was another loss for Kansas City.
“It’s frustrating,” said Lugo, “but you’ve got to tip your hat. They’re throwing the ball well, and so are we. We just need to keep plugging along and we’ll get where we need to be.”