RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Detroit Tigers bullpen surrendered another lead late Sunday, July 26, in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals .
The Tigers held a one-run lead entering the eighth inning before Michael Massey, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter, hit a two-run home run off lefty reliever Drew Sommers to give the Tigers a 5-4 loss.
The Tigers (50-56) rallied from an early deficit with a four-run fifth inning, with runs driven in by Riley Greene on a fielder's choice and by Dillon Dingler on a single. The Tigers strung together three hits to load the bases and the two All-Stars delivered.
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The Tigers' offense, however, could not add any more insurance, leaving the bullpen in a precarious spot over the final four innings. And for the second straight day , Detroit's relievers could not hold onto the slim lead. In Saturday's 3-2 loss, Jacob Waguespack gave up a decisive solo home run in the ninth inning.
The Tigers' fifth inning erased the lead the Royals (45-62) built off starter Framber Valdez, who gave up three runs, two earned, across five innings.
The Tigers (50-56) split the four-game series with Kansas City, with all four games decided by a one-run margin. Detroit is 6-4 in the first 10 games following the All-Star break.
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At the plate: Middle of lineup delivers in 5th
The Tigers found some success against Kansas City starter Luinder Avila in the fifth. Lee got things going with his double off the center-field wall, followed by a walk by Colt Keith on a successful ABS challenge.
McGonigle loaded the bases with a single to center. The Royals pulled Avila in favor of left-handed reliever Matt Strahm to face Greene after he struck out Gleyber Torres.
In the left-on-left matchup, Greene fouled off four pitches before sending an inside sinker back up the middle on the ground. Both Royals' middle infielders pulled up, thinking the other would field it, allowing it to reach center and two Tigers runners to score.
this angle and edit >>> pic.twitter.com/2Uyz5mxK0f
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 26, 2026 Dingler then put the Tigers ahead with a line drive up the middle, recording his 67th and 68th RBIs of the season.
McGonigle reached base three times, with a pair of singles and a walk, while Dingler had two hits.
Detroit had one runner reach in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but ended each threat early – two double plays and then Zach McKinstry getting thrown out at third in the eighth. Lee and Keith led off the ninth with a walk and a single, respectively, but Royals closer Steven Cruz sat down the next three batters, including Greene with a game-ending whiff.
On the mound: Framber Valdez labors again early
Valdez had a long first inning for the second straight start. Although the Tigers lefty was able to get through the first three outs this time – he was pulled mid-first inning in his previous start , against the Cubs in Chicago – Valdez still had to grind early.
In the first at-bat, Royals center fielder Lane Thomas sent a Valdez sinker on the outside corner into the shrubs atop the right-field wall for a leadoff home run. Valdez gave up a single, hit Salvador Perez with a pitch and walked a batter to load the bases. He seemingly got out of the jam by inducing a groundball from Tyler Torbert, but Lee fumbled the grounder at second, allowing an unearned run to score.
Valdez retired eight straight after the error. In the fourth inning, he ran into trouble again, starting with a walk to Torbert after being ahead in the count. Catcher Luke Maile then drove in Torbert with a sharp double down the left field line.
Valdez gave up three runs – two earned – across five innings. He had four strikeouts, including three with his curveball, and three walks. 57 of the 97 pitches from Valdez were strikes as he dropped his season ERA to 4.53.
Right-handed reliever Ty Madden followed with 1⅔ innings of scoreless relief, with one strikeout. Sommers was in a groove until allowing Isaac Collins to reach on a single. Then, he gave up the two-run homer to Massey, who entered the game off the bench.
Next up: Bird(s) is the word
The Tigers will wrap up their seven-game homestand with three games against the Baltimore Orioles running Monday-Wednesday. Right-hander Keider Montero is slated to start against Baltimore right-hander Kyle Bradish on Monday (6:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet). Montero will be followed by RHP Troy Melton on Tuesday (against RHP Dean Kramer). On Wednesday, Tarik Skubal could make his final start at Comerica Park as a Tiger; he'll face Orioles lefty Trevor Rodgers in the series finale ahead of the Tigers' first off day of the second half – after a run of 13 games in 13 days – on Thursday.
Contact Jared Ramsey at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers rally for naught as bullpen blows it again vs Royals
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