Greene, Carpenter and Dingler power Tigers to a 5-3 come-from-behind win over Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter hit two-run doubles and Dillon Dingler hit a solo homer as the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Friday night.

After Tigers starter Chris Paddack allowed three runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings, four relievers shut out the Royals on four hits. Kansas City was 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position over in the final five innings.

Kyle Finnegan (4-4) worked 1 2/3 innings of relief and got five outs, striking out three. Will Vest erned his 20th save.

The Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Mike Yastrzemski led off the first with a first-pitch homer, his 11th career leadoff homer and fourth since joining the Royals on July 31st. Bobby Witt Jr. followed with a single, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. One out later, Maikel Garcia’s 14th home run gave Kansas City a three-run lead.

Greene and Gleyber Torres each had three hits and the top four hitters in Detroit’s lineup collected nine hits. Dingler hit his 12th homer of the season in the eighth inning.

Seth Lugo (8-7) scuffled through 3 1/3 innings, allowing multiple baserunners each inning while surrendering four runs on eight hits and four walks.

Kansas City remained three games behind Seattle in the chase for the American League’s final wild card spot.

With runners at the corners, Carpenter leapt to snag Kyle Isbel’s drive at the top of the fence in right field, ending a scoreless sixth inning and maintaining Detroit’s 4-3 lead.

In seven starts since signing a two-year contract extension July 28, Lugo has one win and an 8.35 ERA.

Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (7-13, 4.87 ERA) opposes Royals RHP Stephen Kolek (4-5, 4.18) on Saturday night.

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Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia watches his two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers' Gleyber Torres breaks his bat as he hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey can't get to a solo home run hit by Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Will Vest throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t remember hearing boos from his home crowd during his brilliant 13-year career in Milwaukee.

It happened Tuesday midway through the Bucks’ 139-106 loss to a Minnesota Timberwolves team that was playing without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.

“I’ve never been a part of something like that before,” Antetokounmpo said after the game. “Something new for me.”

The two-time MVP responded the same way he has whenever he’s been booed on the road. After making a driving layup and drawing a foul in the opening minute of the third quarter, Antetokounmpo offered a thumbs-down gesture and booed back.

“When I get booed, I boo back,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve been doing it all season.”

Those boos poured down after Milwaukee trailed 76-45 at the break. Never before in franchise history had the Timberwolves built such a big halftime lead in a road game.

Antetokounmpo acknowledged the Bucks’ effort was low Tuesday. He also expanded on why the boos bothered him.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” Antetokounmpo said. “But everybody has their opinion to do what they want to do. I’m not going to tell them what to do and how they should act when we don’t play hard or win, or we lose games or we’re not where we’re supposed to be. And I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me how I should act on the basketball court after I’ve been here 13 years and I’m basically the all-time leader in everything.”

The Bucks’ latest loss came as they approach the midway point of a season that hasn’t met their expectations.

Milwaukee (17-23) is 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, meaning the Bucks would have to rally in the second half just to reach the play-in round of the postseason. That’s a precipitous fall for a team that has made nine straight playoff appearances and won the NBA title in 2021.

The Bucks’ precarious position means they can’t afford to have performances like the one they delivered against a short-handed Minnesota team Tuesday. Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers blamed it on “dead legs” after the game, noting the Bucks had just returned from a four-game trip and are about to go back on the road for their next two contests.

“Dead legs cannot be an excuse,” Antetokounmpo said. “We have to be better.”

Antetokounmpo noted that the improvement must start with him, though he delivered 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists on Tuesday. He was asked how the Bucks could step up in the second half to put themselves back in playoff position.

“Playing hard,” Antetokounmpo said. “Playing the right way. Playing selfless basketball, which we don’t. I don’t know. I really don’t know. Those three things are important. I know that they’re important for you to win. Right now there’s so many things that we can do better. Let’s just start by, ’Can we just play harder? Can we just play the right way? Can we create advantages for the next player? Can we just play for our teammate, play for the team, play for ourselves?' Let’s start with that, and I think everything will follow.”

Antetokounmpo has offered similar messages after other losses this season, but the Bucks still haven’t put it all together. They haven’t won more than two straight games at any point this season.

“Maybe we are not connected as much as we should,” Antetokounmpo said. “Maybe my voice is just a broken record and guys are just tired and guys might tend to do what they want to do. I don’t know. But as a leader, it doesn’t matter. Being a leader is the same thing as being a dad. You have to keep on being available, being consistent with your words and your actions over and over and over again. One day you hope the message is going to go through.”

In the meantime, Antetokounmpo says he will keep responding to boos the same way, no matter who’s doing the jeering.

“I thrive through adversity,” Antetokounmpo said. “I thrive when people don’t believe in me. Doesn’t matter if I’m on the road, if I’m at home, if I’m at my family dinner, if I’m at a practice facility against my teammate.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots between Minnesota Timberwolves' Julius Randle and Naz Reid during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts aftetr being fouled during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)