By MATT PIKE
Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning to help lift the Kansas City Royals over the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Pinch-hitter Tyler Tolbert drew a seven-pitch walk from Tyler Holton, and Witt Jr followed that connecting for his 20th home run of the season, a 427-foot shot to dead center. Witt, who singled earlier in the game, extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
The Tigers took the lead in the third inning on Gleyber Torres’ sharp, two-out single. Detroit is 55-17 when scoring first. But, Maikel Garcia tied it in the fourth inning with his 15th home run of the season.
Lucas Erceg struck out one in a 1-2-3 eighth inning, earning the win and improving to 6-3 on the season, before Carlos Estévez worked around Riley Greene’s one-out double in the ninth inning for his 36th save. Making his Royals debut, Stephen Kolek threw six innings and allowed a run and four hits, striking out three. At the plate, Witt Jr was 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBI's. Michael Massey was 2-for-3.
With Seattle's 4-3 loss to Cleveland, Kansas City moved within two games of the Mariners for the final AL wild-card spot.
Kansas City wrap up their series on Sunday against Detroit. Michael Wacha (8-10, 3.39) takes the mound for the Royals against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (11-4, 2.28 ERA) with first pitch at 1:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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