Benintendi 3 RBIs, KC holds on, ends Tigers' win streak at 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andrew Benintendi drove in three runs, Josh Staumount escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 7-5 Saturday, stopping the Tigers' four-game winning streak.

The Tigers trailed 7-3 going into the ninth before Robbie Grossman hit a two-run homer.

Detroit then loaded the bases with one out. Staumont struck out Jonathan Schoop and Willi Castro to end it, finishing with a 100 mph fastball.

"We had our opportunities," Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. "We had plenty of traffic on our own side to create a few more runs, but unfortunately, we didn’t."

KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 22: Michael A. Taylor #2 of the Kansas City Royals scores against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 22, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

The Tigers went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position. Scott Barlow struck out Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded to end the seventh with Detroit down 6-3.

"I liked having Scott out there in that point," Kansas City manager Mike Matheny said. "We’ve seen them come through before. We wanted to move on from last night and Scott made some big pitches."

Cabrera punished the Royals with a grand slam in the opening game of the series.

Benintendi gave the Royals an early lead with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the first and made it 5-3 with an RBI single in the fifth.

"I’m pretty set in my approach," Benintendi said. "I’m just taking what they give me and not trying to do too much."

Brady Singer (2-3) gave up three runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six.

"That was a battle for Brady," Matheny said. "It was very impressive to see a young pitcher not have his command, but next thing you know he was finding ways to get outs."

Akil Baddoo had the first three-hit game of his career, including a two-run single in the Detroit second. Harold Castro added an RBI single in the fifth.

Matthew Boyd (2-5) allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings.

The Royals took a 4-2 lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Michael A. Taylor and a sacrifice fly by Nicky Lopez.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Jesse Hahn (right shoulder impingement) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Hahn was placed on the 10-day IL. ... 3B Hunter Dozier was sent to Triple-A Omaha on a rehab assignment following a stint on the seven-day IL with a concussion.

ROSTER MOVES

Royals: Kansas City acquired RHP Domingo Tapia from Seattle for cash and optioned him to Triple A Omaha.

UP NEXT

Casey Mize (3-3, 3.69 ERA) will start the series finale for Detroit on Sunday. Kris Bubic (0-0, 0.96 ERA) will make his second start of the season for Kansas City.