Jim Adduci delivered a two-run double in the ninth and scored the go-ahead run on James McCann's double as the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.
After Adduci's double off Brandon Maurer tied it, Jason Hamel replaced Maurer and gave up a first-pitch RBI double to McCann, his third hit, to put the Tigers ahead.
Maurer (0-4) faced three batters in the ninth and all scored.
Alex Wilson (1-3) picked up the win. Shane Greene gave up a two-out single in the ninth before earning his 20th save in 23 chances.
Heath Fillmyer, who was making his second Royals start, allowed two runs, one unearned, on three singles, while striking out six and walking two in 6 2/3 innings.
He had retired 15 in a row before walking Victor Martinez with two outs in the seventh. After Adduci dumped a single down the third-base line, Kevin McCarthy replaced Fillmyer. McCann and Jose Iglesias delivered run-producing singles.
Francisco Liriano, who threw 50 pitches in the first two innings, yielded three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. Liriano is winless in his last 11 starts since an April 28 victory.
Left-handed hitters entered the game hitting .088 against Liriano, so Royals manager Ned Yost stacked his lineup with eight right-handed hitters.
Lucas Duda, the lone lefty, laced a two-out, two-run single in the first and singled home Jorge Bonifacio in the fifth to chase Liriano.
Mike Moustakas' pinch double in the seventh scored Salvador Perez from first base, giving the Royals a 4-2 lead.
PEREZ PLAYS FIRST
All-Star C Perez made his second start of the season and his fifth career appearance at first base. He also made an unwitting web gem. Perez fumbled Adduci's grounder to lead off the fifth before making a back-handed flip to Fillmyer covering the bag. Perez smiled and tipped his cap to the crowd after the play.
NEW ARRIVAL
Manager Ned Yost said OF Brian Goodwin, who the Royals acquired in a trade with the Nationals, would "mostly" be used in center. Goodwin had an infield pinch single in the seventh and singled again the ninth in his Royals debut. The Royals optioned IF Ramon Torres to Triple-A Omaha to make room.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: RHP Blaine Boyer (back strain) reports Tuesday to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to begin a minor league rehab assignment. . LHP Eric Skoglund (elbow strain) allowed one earned run and three hits over four innings in a rehab start Monday for Northwest Arkansas. He struck out two, walked none and threw 42 pitches.
UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann, who is 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA in six career starts at Kansas City, is the probable for the second game of the series.
Royals: Rule 5 pick RHP Burch Smith will make his third start and his first at home.
