By Larry Arreguin| LPL News Wire| April 15, 2026

DETROIT, MI (4/15/26) — The Detroit Tigers continued their surge with a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, extending their winning streak to five games behind timely hitting and strong pitching.

Detroit struck first in the third inning, manufacturing a run on a sacrifice fly from Jake Rogers that brought home Javier Báez for a 1-0 lead. The Tigers held that advantage deep into the game thanks to a solid outing from Jack Flaherty, who went 6.0 innings, allowing just one run while striking out seven.

Kansas City answered in the fifth inning, tying the game 1-1 on an RBI single from Kyle Isbel. Despite collecting six hits on the night, the Royals struggled to capitalize, going just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving seven runners on base.

The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the eighth inning, when Wenceel Pérez delivered the decisive moment. Pérez launched a solo home run—his first of the season—off reliever Evan Morgan to give Detroit a 2-1 lead and ignite the home crowd.

Out of the bullpen, Tyler Holton bridged the gap before Kyle Finnegan (1-0) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings. Veteran closer Kenley Jansen then sealed the victory in the ninth, picking up his fourth save of the season.

At the plate, Gleyber Torres led the Tigers with three hits, while Pérez and Báez each contributed key moments in the win. Detroit finished with seven hits and made the most of limited scoring opportunities.

With the victory, the Tigers continue to show balance across the roster—strong starting pitching, a reliable bullpen, and clutch hitting—as they build early-season momentum.