Tigers bullpen blasted late by Royals to end 3-game win streak

· Yahoo Sports

Detroit Tigers second baseman Hao-Yu Lee continued his hot streak at the plate, but Detroit's relief pitching blew the Tigers' lead late on Saturday, July 25, at Comerica Park.

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Tigers reliever Jacob Waguespack gave up a go-ahead solo home run to Kansas City Royals third baseman Nick Loftin in the top of the ninth inning as the Royals beat the Tigers, 3-2, to snap Detroit's three-game win streak. Lee hit a solo home run and an RBI double, accounting for all of Detroit's runs, but it wasn't enough for the Tigers in their second straight low-scoring affair.

Tigers starter Casey Mize allowed just one run and three hits over six innings and was in line for the win before reliever Kyle Finnegan allowed a historic, tying home run to Royals designated hitter Salvador Perez to lead off the seventh inning.

BEFORE THE GAME: Justin Verlander injury update: Tigers RHP battling through rehab

Lee had an opportunity to play the hero again in the bottom of the ninth with the Tigers down by a run and left fielder Riley Greene reaching on a leadoff single, but he struck out against Royals reliever (and former Tiger) Alex Lange for the first out of the inning. Greene then advanced to third on a single from right fielder Zach McKinstry, but center fielder Matt Vierling struck out – after attempting a squeeze bunt twice – and pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson popped out on the first pitch he saw to end the game.

With the loss, the Tigers drop to 50-55 with seven games to go before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Detroit fell to 5½ games back of the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central race and four games back of the Cleveland Guardians in the AL wild-card race, though all other AL teams had yet to play when the Tigers wrapped things up against the Royals (44-62).

On the mound: Casey Mize makes magic

Finnegan gave up the game-tying home run on his second pitch of his outing, a solo shot from Perez that tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh inning. The home run was Perez's 318th of his career, putting him past Hall of Famer George Brett for No. 1 on the Royals' all-time list.

And while the Comerica Park crowd gave Perez a mild ovation for the accomplishment – the 31st homer against the Tigers in his career, second-most among active players – it came at the expense of a potential win for Mize.

Mize gave up leadoff singles in back-to-back innings to start the game, escaping the first scoreless but not seeing the same success in the second after first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino’s leadoff single. That hit turned into Kansas City’s first run after a sacrifice bunt from Loftin advanced Pasquantino to second base, a wild pitch from Mize advanced him to third and a long sacrifice fly from left fielder Isaac Collins plated him.

Mize settled down in the third and fourth innings, however, striking out three batters over those two innings and keeping his pitch count at 61 after four. Mize on Saturday pitched six days after leaving his start against the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning after taking a comebacker to his left wrist.

The righty forced six straight flyouts in the fifth and sixth inning, getting flyouts on 13 of the 17 balls Royals hitters put in play (76.5%). Entering Saturday, Mize was running a 45.4% fly ball rate, with the league average at 39%. He exited after six innings and 85 pitches, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks, in line for his fifth win of the season before Perez's home run erased his decision.

At the plate: Hao-Yu Lee doin' just fine

The Tigers tied the game at 1-1 with back-to-back doubles from Greene and Lee to start the second inning. Lee’s double extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games, tying Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the longest active hitting streak in the American League. 

And in the fourth inning, Lee’s solo blast broke the 1-1 tie, with the rookie sending a Michael Wacha changeup 402 feet into the left-field bleachers.

Lee had been on a tear over his last nine games entering Saturday, slashing .367/.387/.533 with a home run, 6 RBIs and a .920 OPS over 31 plate appearances. His production from the right side of the plate has helped bolster struggling performances from right-handed regulars such as first baseman Spencer Torkelson (.592 OPS in July, lowest of any month in the season) and outfielder Matt Vierling (.544 OPS in July entering Saturday).

The Tigers had a chance to add to their lead in the sixth inning after a one-out single from designated hitter Kerry Carpenter and a walk from Greene put two runners on for Lee, but Lee's groundout and McKinstry's infield popout ended the threat.

Next up: Series finale

The Tigers play the Royals in the final game of their four-game series on Sunday (1:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet), with lefty Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.57 ERA) set to face a Kansas City pitcher yet to be announced. The Tigers will then open a three-game homestand against the Baltimore Orioles – another sub-.500 team neck and neck with the Tigers in the wild-card chase – running from Monday-Wednesday before an off day Thursday, the Tigers' first of the second half.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers bullpen blasted late by Royals to end 3-game win streak

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