Tigers Edge Royals 1-0 in Tight Contest

Zach McKinstry's leadoff triple in the third inning set the stage for a pivotal moment, as he crossed home plate on a wild pitch from Kris Bubic, leading the Detroit Tigers to a narrow 1-0 victory against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Riley Greene contributed significantly, recording two of the Tigers' five hits. This win marked a rebound for Detroit after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Kansas City the previous day, which had halted their five-game winning streak. The Tigers secured two out of three games in this series, achieving their 14th series win of the season.

Entering June, the Tigers boasted the best record in Major League Baseball for the first time since 2006, showcasing their strong performance this season.

Starting pitcher Keider Montero allowed seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. Chase Lee (2-0) stepped in to secure four outs for the win, while Will Vest notched his ninth save of the season.

Bubic (5-3) matched his career high with nine strikeouts across seven innings, surrendering only four hits and issuing two walks. Remarkably, he has struck out nine batters in three of his last four outings.

Despite Salvador Perez's impressive performance with three hits for Kansas City, the Royals struggled to capitalize, leaving eight runners stranded. This season has seen them score four or fewer runs in 50 of their 60 games.

In a last-minute change, infielder Maikel Garcia was removed from the starting lineup due to right thumb soreness.

The decisive run came when McKinstry scored after Bubic's sweeper bounced off Perez and rolled toward the Royals' dugout on the first-base side.

In their last 12 matchups, 10 games between these division rivals have been decided by two runs or fewer, highlighting the competitive nature of their encounters.

Looking ahead, RHP Jack Flaherty (3-6, 3.94 ERA) is set to start Monday night as the Tigers continue their seven-game road trip against the Chicago White Sox. Meanwhile, RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-6, 4.33) will take the mound for the Royals in their series opener at St. Louis on Tuesday.