DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera drove in four runs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers downed the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Saturday.
Jeimer Candelario supplied a run-scoring double for the Tigers, who have won five of six. Jonathan Schoop had two hits and scored two runs.
Winning pitcher Drew Hutchison (3-1) allowed only an unearned run in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Michael Fulmer got four outs for his 12th save.
Royals starter Jon Heasley held the Tigers scoreless over 5 1/3 innings in his second career outing.
Tigers left fielder Akil Baddoo robbed Hunter Dozier of a homer with a leaping catch in the third.
No home run for you! pic.twitter.com/E5JKYuVjDO
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 25, 2021
Kansas City scored its lone run without a hit against Hutchison in the fifth on Dozier’s sacrifice fly
Cabrera’s two-out, opposite-field double off Domingo Tapia (4-1) in the sixth was followed by Candelario’s RBI double.
Cabrera added a two-run single in the eighth off Ervin Santana.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Detroit outfielder Victor Reyes exited after the fifth inning due to right groin tightness. He had seven hits in his last nine plate appearances.
SPECIAL START TIME
The series finale Sunday will begin at 12:10 p.m. The game was moved up due to traffic concerns, with the Detroit Lions playing a 1 p.m. game next door.
200 CLUB
Detroit starter Tarik Skubal got his 200th strikeout in his 38th career appearance. That’s the fastest a Tigers pitcher has reached that mark in franchise history.
UP NEXT
Royals: LHP Kris Bubic (5-6, 4.80) is scheduled to start the finale of the three-game series on Sunday. Bubic, who held Seattle to one run over 6 1/3 innings in his last start, is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three appearances against the Tigers this season.
Tigers: RHP Wily Peralta (4-3, 3.04 ERA) carries a 16-inning scoreless streak into Sunday’s game. He limited Tampa Bay to three hits in seven innings last Sunday.
