Detroit, MI – A decisive fifth-inning home run from Spencer Torkelson provided the offense the Detroit Tigers needed Saturday, securing a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The blast broke a scoreless deadlock in what had been a pitcher's duel at Comerica Park, propelling the Tigers to their third consecutive win against Kansas City and clinching the series.
Before Torkelson stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, Royals starter Seth Lugo had largely stifled the Tigers offense, allowing just one hit through four innings. Tigers starter Casey Mize also held the Royals in check, setting up a tense contest reliant on a timely hit.
The opportunity arose after Javier Báez singled and Kerry Carpenter followed with another single with one out in the fifth, setting the table for the Tigers' former top draft pick. Torkelson fell behind Lugo 0-2 in the count, then battled back, seeing multiple pitches before connecting.
On a 1-2 splitter from Lugo, Torkelson launched a towering fly ball to left field. The ball traveled 359 feet, leaving his bat at 106 mph, landing for his seventh home run of the season.
The three-run shot proved to be the game's key offensive moment, giving the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish. Manager A.J. Hinch highlighted Torkelson's ability to capitalize on the opportunity, particularly after tough earlier at-bats against Lugo.
While Torkelson supplied the runs, the Tigers win relied heavily on a dominant performance from starting pitcher Casey Mize. The right-hander delivered seven strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three. It marked the first time Mize has pitched into the seventh inning since July 2021.
Mize effectively mixed his pitches, keeping Royals hitters off balance throughout his outing. His efficiency was notable, completing seven innings on just 88 pitches, a welcome effort for a bullpen that has seen heavy use recently.
This game highlighted performances from two players the Tigers organization invested heavily in as No. 1 overall draft selections. Seeing both Mize and Spencer Torkelson's three-run homer deliver in significant ways marked a positive development for the team.
With the victory, the Detroit Tigers score vs Kansas City Royals improved the team's record to 13-8, marking their best start since the 2015 season. Their home record stands at 8-1, the best start at Comerica Park since 1993. See the game details in the BOX SCORE: Tigers 3, Royals 1.
