KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals trailed when the first inning ended Wednesday, and that had been an ugly predictor of how the game would unfold for Kansas City.
But the Royals rallied and defeated the Detroit Tigers, 5-2, at Kauffman Stadium for their first win of the season when they were down after the first inning.
The Royals had been 0-23 in such games.
Starting pitcher Brady Singer (4-3) worked out of jams in the fourth and sixth innings and allowed one run on seven hits as his ERA fell to 4.02.
He was helped by his defense in the fourth inning when the Tigers collected three straight hits to open the frame. Detroit ran itself out of a potentially big inning when second baseman Jonathan Schoop tried to score from second on a single to right by third baseman Jeimer Candelario.
Edward Olivares’ throw to the plate got Schoop, who tried a swing move to avoid the tag of Royals catcher MJ Melendez. Schoop was originally called safe but the Royals challenged and won, erasing the run from the board.
Singer then got the next two batters out, dousing the Tigers rally.
Detroit’s fielding was an issue in the bottom of the inning.
With one out, Royals left fielder Andrew Benintendi singled to left and first baseman Hunter Dozier followed by squirting a ball down the first-base line. Pitcher Tarik Skubal got to the ball but Torkelson also went after it and Dozier was safe at first.
Third baseman Emmanuel Rivera’s double down the left-field line scored Benintendi to tie the game. Designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino hit a ball to shortstop Javier Báez, whose attempt to tag Rivera was unsuccessful. That loaded the bases.
Two of those runners scored when Olivares’ ground ball caromed off Schoop at second and bounced into right field. Schoop was charged with an error.
Kyle Isbel splunked a ball in nearly the same spot as Dozier and reached on an infield single, loading the bases again. Second baseman Nicky Lopez brought home Pasquantino, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead.
The Royals (35-53) added a run in the fifth inning as shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. singled and scored on a one-out triple by Dozier.
Decisive sixth
Singer wobbled in the sixth inning as he allowed a leadoff single, then got a strikeout before issuing a walk. That led to a visit from pitching coach Cal Eldred.
Another walked loaded the bases, but Singer then struck out Torkelson and left fielder Akil Baddoo, the latter coming on Singer’s 105th pitch on a sunny, 90 degree day.
That kept the score 5-1, but the Tigers got a run in the seventh against the Royals bullpen for the final run of the game.
