Massey’s go-ahead 2-run homer lifts Royals past Guardians 5-3 for their fifth straight win

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Massey hit a go-ahead two-run homer, Isaac Collins also went deep and the Kansas City Royals pushed their winning streak to five with a 5-3 victory over the AL Central-rival Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.

Stephen Kolek allowed a three-run shot by Rhys Hoskins but little else over six innings in his season debut. The right-hander strained his oblique in his first start of spring training, but Kolek had pitched well in four rehab starts at Triple-A Omaha before the Royals had him make a spot start for Noah Cameron, who's dealing with some lower back tightness.

Nick Mears and Daniel Lynch IV handled a scoreless inning apiece in relief for Kansas City, and Lucas Erceg worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to earn his third save in four games and 10th of the season.

The Guardians' Gavin Williams (5-2) allowed five runs and eight hits with two walks while losing for the first time since March 27, when the Mariners beat him in the second game of the season. Williams had since won five decisions covering six starts.

The Royals jumped to a 2-0 lead on Salvador Perez's single in the first, but the Guardians pulled ahead in the fourth. With two runners aboard, Hoskins sent a 2-1 pitch from Kolek clanking off the left-field foul pole just above the outfield padding for a 3-2 lead.

Massey answered with his two-run homer in the bottom half, though. The 392-foot drive off Williams' 2-2 pitch came moments after Guardians catcher Bo Naylor had challenged a called ball, which would have produced a strikeout had he been successful.

Collins added his homer in the sixth inning, giving him a 3-for-3 night but leaving him a triple short of the cycle.

LHP Joey Cantillo (1-1, 3.67 ERA) starts for Cleveland on Wednesday night. LHP Cole Ragans (1-4, 5.29) starts for Kansas City.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Kansas City Royals pitcher Stephen Kolek throws to a Cleveland Guardians batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams delivers to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martínez, left, makes the catch while colliding with center fielder Steven Kwan (38) as they both go after a fly ball by Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey during the second inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey, celebrates his two-run home run with Kyle Isbel, left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey, reacts as he celebrates his two-run home run as he crosses home plate near Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor, left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham scored 23 points, Tobias Harris had 20 and the Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Duncan Robinson added 19 points for the top-seeded Pistons, who ended an NBA record-tying 12-game postseason losing streak against a single opponent, a drought that dated to the 2007 Eastern Conference finals.

Game 2 is Thursday night in Detroit.

Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, ending his NBA-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in nine straight series openers.

James Harden had 22 points and Max Stus scored 19 for the No. 4-seeded Cavs, who pulled into a tie midway through the fourth quarter after trailing for most of the night and by as much as 18 points.

Cleveland center Jarrett Allen was limited to two points and three rebounds, coming off a 22-point, 19-rebound performance in an elimination game against Toronto.

Two days after both teams won a Game 7, the Pistons started strong and led 37-31 after a quarter. Detroit took a 59-46 lead into the second half, when the cushion was no longer comfortable.

Cleveland pulled within three points late in the third and Ron Holland hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the quarter and put the Pistons up 83-76.

After the Cavs cut their deficit to three again early in the fourth, the Pistons responded with eight consecutive points to restore a double-digit lead.

Cleveland, though, wouldn’t go away.

Harden, playing the Pistons for the first time since Cleveland acquired him, scored seven straight points to pull the Cavs into a 93-all tie with 5:28 left.

Jalen Duren blocked Harden’s next shot and dunked on Detroit’s next three possessions — each off Cunningham assists.

The Pistons won the Central Division this year by eight games ahead of the defending champion Cavs, splitting four games during the regular season.

Detroit earned 60 victories and the top seed in the East just two years after losing 68 games and setting a single-season NBA record with 28 straight losses.

The Pistons rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the first round against Orlando to advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Cleveland outlasted Toronto in seven games to reach the second round for the third straight year, a run that started with Bickerstaff, who was fired by the Cavs and hired a month later by the Pistons.

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

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defended against a shot by Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) passes the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) and guard Dennis Schroder (8) during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) talks with referee James Capers (19) during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) drives against Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)