KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rookie Spencer Torkelson hit a long two-run homer and had two of Detroit’s three hits, and the Tigers handed the Kansas City Royals their fifth straight loss, 2-1.
Miguel Cabrera doubled with one out in the seventh, leaving him five hits shy of 3,000.
Torkelson followed one out later with a 432-foot bomb to left off Brad Keller, the second of his career.
Tarik Skubal fanned six of the first eight Royals batters and retired the first 11.
Jacob Barnes (1-0) worked 1 1/3 hitless innings for the win and Michael Fulmer pitched a perfect ninth for his first save.