Dillon Dingler gave the Detroit Tigers the lead with a two-out RBI double in the eighth and they held on for a 4-3 win against the visiting Kansas City Royals in the opener of their four-game series on Thursday evening.
Dingler also singled and scored on a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning by James Outman and Zach McKinstry contributed two hits for the Tigers, who have won five of seven coming out of the All-Star break.
Tigers right-hander Troy Melton, who had allowed one earned run in his previous three outings (17 1/3 innings), was tagged for two runs and five hits over five-plus innings. He struck out five and walked four.
Detroit followed with relievers Tyler Holton, Jacob Waguespack, Drew Anderson (4-4) and Drew Sommers before Kyle Finnegan got the final two outs on a double play for his second save.
Royals starter Randy Dobnak threw five shutout innings to put himself in position for his first major league win in more than five years. Dobnak limited the Tigers to four hits, all singles, struck out three and walked one.
Isaac Collins hit a two-run homer to break a scoreless tie in the sixth for Kansas City, which had won three in a row. Michael Massey had two hits and scored a run, and Josh Rojas contributed two hits and an RBI for the Royals.
Steven Cruz (2-3) came out for the eighth for Kansas City with the score tied 3-3 and allowed a one-out single up the middle to Hao-Yu Lee, who moved to second on a groundout. Dingler then lined a double down the left-field line to score Lee for a 4-3 lead.
Kansas City put its leadoff batter on base for the third time when Massey singled to start the sixth. Collins followed and lifted a 1-2 slider over the fence in right for a 2-0 lead.
The first homer allowed by Melton in his past four outings ended his night.
Dingler and Kerry Carpenter greeted Royals reliever John Schreiber with back-to-back singles to start the seventh, putting runners on the corners. Schreiber nearly escaped the jam, but Outman lifted a two-out, two-strike pitch over the fence in right for a three-run homer and a 3-2 lead.
Anderson came out to protect the one-run lead, but gave up a leadoff single to Massey. Tyler Tolbert ran for Massey, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to center by Rojas that tied the game at 3.
Before that at-bat, the Royals were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro missed the game for a personal matter. He’s expected to return soon, the team announced. Paul Hoover served as acting manager Thursday night.
