Zack Short homers, Javier Báez gets 1,000th hit to lead Tigers over Royals 9-4

DETROIT -- — Zack Short homered and drove in three runs, Javier Báez got his 1,000th career hit and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Wednesday.

The Royals have lost 15 of 18 games.

Matthew Boyd (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings for Detroit. He struck out seven without a walk.

“He had a really good changeup and a pretty good slider today,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He can fall in love with them a little. You want him to maintain his fastball command at the top of the zone. But he did a very nice job for us.”

Brady Singer (4-7) lost his third straight decision, giving up five runs, seven hits and a walk in seven innings. He entered the game with a 6-0 record in 11 starts against Detroit but allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision on May 22.

“I thought he threw the ball well, but he couldn't get them to miss his slider,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He had good movement, but they kept making good contact.”

The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the second. Maikel Garcia and Samad Taylor singled before Freddy Fermin hit a line drive to left-center field. Left fielder Andy Ibañez and center fielder Matt Vierling both went for the ball, which evaded Ibañez's reach then bounced off the wall and past Vierling for a two-run double.

Eric Haase tied it with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning, and Short made it 3-2 with an RBI single.

“We got shut out last night, and then they come out and get the two quick runs on us today,” Hinch said. “To be able to answer back was really nice and then we kept tacking on and built some separation as the game went on.”

Báez put the Tigers ahead 4-2 in the third, driving in Kerry Carpenter with his 1,000th hit.

“I congratulated and reminded him he's still 2,118 behind (teammate Miguel Cabrera), so he better keep it up,” Hinch said.

Short led off the fifth with his fourth homer, giving the Tigers a three-run lead.

Kansas City second baseman Taylor and right fielder Matt Beaty collided going after Spencer Torkelson's shallow fly ball to lead off the eighth. Both players stayed down for several minutes, but Taylor stayed in the game and Beaty walked off under his own power.

“That was scary, because Matt went down really hard and Samad also went down hard,” Quatraro said. “Luckily, it isn't a serious injury. He's got a non-concussive whiplash injury, which is a lot better than it could have been.”

Torkelson ended up on third and scored on Báez's single over a drawn-in infield. The Tigers added three more runs in the inning for a 9-3 lead.

BRIGHT AND EARLY

The 1:10 pm start was Detroit's 38th day game of the season, the most in the majors. The Tigers are 14-24 in afternoon games as opposed to 18-17 at night.

ROUGH FINISH

Moments after Taylor was shaken up by the collision with Beaty, he was taken out on a hard slide by Jake Marisnick while trying to turn a double play. In the ninth, he was hit on the left hand by a 94.4 mph fastball but stayed in the game after another visit with the trainer. Adding insult to injury, after a review, it was ruled a foul ball.

UP NEXT

The Tigers have Thursday off before opening a weekend home series with the Minnesota Twins. LHP Joey Wentz (1-7, 6.82) is scheduled to start the opener.

Kansas City will travel to Florida for a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Royals will use RHP Jose Cuas (3-0, 4.15) as an opener on Thursday while Tampa Bay has not announced a pitcher.

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