KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Willi Castro homered during a three-run rally in the seventh inning and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 Wednesday for a three-game sweep.
It was the Tigers’ first sweep in Kansas City since 2014.
The Royals have lost six in a row and 11 of 12. Kansas City starter Brady Singer was removed after just three innings with tightness in his pitching shoulder.
“It popped up after his last start,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “We knew going into today that we were going to see how he was feeling and try to limit the work. We’ll see how he responds from here, but we were just being cautious.”
Tarik Skubal (4-7) picked up the win. He allowed three runs on six hits in six innings, striking out seven against an all-righthanded lineup.
“The whole point as a starting pitcher is to give yourself a chance to continue the game,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s progressively gotten better at not having the big, explosive innings. He allowed us to slowly and surely get to their bullpen and come from behind and win.”
Skubal had a plan going in, and he stuck with it.
“I threw a lot more changeups than I did sliders,” Skubal said. “I knew the changeup would be a huge pitch for me against this lineup, just being able to work down and expand the zone.”
Michael Fulmer earned his fifth save in six chances.
Adalberto Mondesi hit a home run in his first at-bat since returning from the injured list. Salvador Perez also connected for the Royals, hitting his 17th of the season.
“(Mondesi) is unbelievable,” Matheny said. “The first time he steps in the box, he blasts it.”
Greg Holland (2-2) gave up three runs while getting just one out.
Holland issued a four-pitch walk to the first batter he faced, Niko Goodrum, in the seventh and Castro homered to make it 3-all.
“The hitting coach said after he gets two strikes he likes to throw the breaking pitch,” Castro said. “I was just trying to battle and let my abilities do the work.”
Holland left after a one-out single by Robbie Grossman, and reliever Scott Barlow gave up a single to Akil Baddoo and threw a wild pitch that let the go-ahead run score.
The Tigers’ fifth run also scored on a wild pitch in the eighth and Detroit added a run in the ninth for a 6-3 lead.
