Late home runs spoil Casey Mize’s strong start in Tigers’ loss

Salvador Perez has always hit well at Comerica Park, with 17 career home runs, but his 18th one was that cemented him in the Royals history books and gave Kansas City the 3-2 win over Detroit.

His 318th career home run makes him the all-time leader in team history, surpassing George Brett as his seventh-inning solo shot off Kyle Finnegan tied the game at 2 before Nick Loftin put Kansas City ahead with another solo homer in the ninth.

The loss ended Detroit’s three-game winning streak and dropped the Tigers to 50-55.

The Tigers received six strong innings from Casey Mize, who was making his first start since leaving his previous outing against the Los Angeles Angels with groin tightness and after being struck on the wrist by a comebacker.

Mize allowed one run on three hits without issuing a walk. He struck out four and retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. 

"I thought his stuff got better as the game went on, Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch said after the game on Mize. "Going into the game, we thought he would give us five innings, 75 pitches, he gave us more than that by being efficient in the middle innings"

Kansas City’s only run against Mize came in the second inning. Vinnie Pasquantino opened the inning with a single before Nick Loftin moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch advanced Pasquantino to third, allowing him to score on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly.

Detroit answered immediately.

Riley Greene led off the bottom of the second with a double to center field, and Hao-Yu Lee drove him home with a line-drive double into right. It was the beginning of another productive afternoon for Lee, who has continued to provide offense since returning to the major league roster.

Lee gave the Tigers a 2-1 advantage in the fourth when he lifted a Michael Wacha pitch over the left-field wall for his sixth home run of the season. Lee drove in both Detroit runs and finished 2-for-4 with two extra-base hits. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games. 

The Tigers had opportunities to extend their lead but could not add another run against Wacha. The veteran right-hander allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings, walking two and striking out three.

Detroit’s best chance came in the sixth. Kerry Carpenter singled and Greene walked with one out before Lee’s groundout moved both runners into scoring position. Zach McKinstry followed with a popout to shortstop, leaving the Tigers with a one-run lead.

That margin disappeared when Perez led off the seventh against Finnegan.

Perez drove Finnegan’s pitch into the left-field seats for his 15th home run of the season. Perez reached the franchise record in his 1,805th career game, compared with the 2,707 games Brett played during his Royals career.

Finnegan allowed a single to Pasquantino after the homer before striking out Loftin. Tyler Holton entered and retired the next two hitters to keep the game tied.

Kansas City threatened again in the eighth after Carter Jensen singled and advanced on a Jacob Waguespack wild pitch. An error by Gleyber Torres placed runners at the corners, but Waguespack escaped when Perez grounded into a forceout.

The right-hander was unable to keep the game tied in the ninth.

After retiring Pasquantino, Waguespack left a pitch over the plate to Loftin, who sent it over the left-field wall for his fifth home run of the season and a 3-2 Kansas City lead.

Detroit still had an opportunity in the bottom half.

Greene opened the inning with a single, and McKinstry singled him to third after Lee struck out. With the tying run 90 feet away, Matt Vierling struck out against former Tigers reliever Alex Lange.

Spencer Torkelson then pinch-hit for Jake Rogers but popped out to catcher Carter Jensen to end the game. Lange recorded his 10th save of the season against his former club.

Greene reached base three times with two hits and a walk, while Colt Keith added a double and a single. However, Detroit was held scoreless over the final five innings after Lee’s home run.

The Tigers will try to secure a series victory Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park. Framber Valdez is scheduled to start for Detroit against Kansas City right-hander Luinder Avila. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 p.m.

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