Tigers use big first inning to edge Royals 4-3

Niko Goodrum and Austin Romine keyed a three-run first inning, and the Detroit Tigers edged the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Saturday night.

The Tigers made the third start for Kansas City right-hander Carlos Hernandez one to forget. Detroit got to Hernandez in the first inning on Goodrum's RBI single and Romine followed with a two-run double.

Willi Castro's RBI single in the second made it 4-1.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (27) tags out Detroit Tigers Niko Goodrum (28) during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Goodrum was caught stealing on the play. The Tigers defeated the Royals 4-3. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

Hernandez (0-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits.

Adalberto Mondesi homered to left in the first inning to get the Royals on the board. He added an RBI double and scored on a single by Maikel Franco to cut the lead to 4-3 in the third.

Matthew Boyd (3-7) pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three runs with three strikeouts for Detroit.

Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon takes the field for of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

The Tigers' bullpen tossed three shutout innings. Bryan Garcia pitched the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

The Royals stranded seven men, but their bullpen kept them in the game. Mike Montgomery, Jake Newberry, Josh Staumont, and Tyler Zuber tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just three hits.

ROYALS MILESTONES

Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) high-fives teammates before a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

Mondesi tied a club record by safely reaching base in 11 straight plate appearances with a walk in the fifth inning. Whit Merrifield notched his 150th career double in the seventh inning.

LIMPING TO THE FINISH

Detroit was forced to make defensive adjustments as two starters left the game with injuries. Willi Castro was removed in the second inning with right shoulder tightness. Harold Castro was also removed in the fourth with lower back tightness.

Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez (13) is hit by a pitch from Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

UP NEXT

Detroit: Tarik Skubal (1-3, 6.00 ERA) pitches for the Tigers.

Kansas City: The season finale for the Royals was moved up to 12:05 (CT) due to possible inclement weather in the forecast. Brady Singer (3-5, 4.40) will be on the mound for Kansas City and will be aiming to bounce back after allowing a career-high five walks in just three innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday.

Kansas City Royals Adalberto Mondesi (27) celebrates with teammate Maikel Franco (7) after his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

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Kansas City Royals Adalberto Mondesi hits a solo home run off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd delivers to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

Detroit Tigers Austin Romine (7) misses the plate while sliding against Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, left, during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Romine was then tagged out by Perez. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)