Tigers use big first inning to edge Royals 4-3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Niko Goodrum and Austin Romine keyed a three-run first inning, and the Detroit Tigers edged the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Saturday night.

The Tigers made the third start for Kansas City right-hander Carlos Hernandez one to forget. Detroit got to Hernandez in the first inning on Goodrum's RBI single, and Romine followed with a two-run double.

Willi Castro's RBI single in the second made it 4-1.

''Eric Haase called a great game, Austin Romine called a great game, we played great defense,'' said Matthew Boyd., who earned the win ''We came out hot on a guy that has some really good stuff. It was a good team win.''

Hernandez (0-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits.

''They were seeing him very well, and he had trouble. Gordo had a great play, but just one of those nights and use a learning experience,'' Royals manager Mike Matheny said. ''The look he gave us this year that make us believe he will have success at this level.''

Adalberto Mondesi homered to left in the first inning to get the Royals on the board.

''He's seeing the ball so well, and he had a game plan and took the barrel, and the ball carried for him,'' Matheny said of Mondesi. ''He continues to make us shake our head and wonder if we had a full season what type of year he would've had.''

He added an RBI double and scored on a single by Maikel Franco to cut the lead to 4-3 in the third.

Boyd (3-7) pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three runs with three strikeouts for Detroit.

''It was a performance that we certainly needed,'' Tigers manager Lloyd McClendon said. ''He really stepped up and gave us six solid innings because out bullpen was a little thin tonight and also considering that we may have to play Monday, so he did a great job for us.''

The Tigers' bullpen tossed three shutout innings. Bryan Garcia pitched the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

The Royals stranded seven men, but their bullpen kept them in the game. Mike Montgomery, Jake Newberry, Josh Staumont, and Tyler Zuber tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just three hits.

ROYALS MILESTONES

Mondesi tied a club record by safely reaching base in 11 straight plate appearances with a walk in the fifth inning. Whit Merrifield notched his 150th career double in the seventh inning and is riding a seven-game hitting streak.

LIMPING TO THE FINISH

Detroit was forced to make defensive adjustments as two starters left the game with injuries. Willi Castro was removed in the second inning with right shoulder tightness. ''We are going to have to put him on the IL because we need a player,'' ''We just can't play that thin.'' Harold Castro was also removed in the fourth with lower back tightness.

UP NEXT

Detroit: Jordan Zimmerman (0-0, 9.64) pitches for the Tigers.

Kansas City: The season finale for the Royals was moved up to 12:05 (CT) due to possible inclement weather in the forecast. Brady Singer (3-5, 4.40) will be on the mound for Kansas City and will be aiming to bounce back after allowing a career-high five walks in just three innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday.

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