Michael Massey's 2-run, 2-out homer in 8th helps Royals beat Tigers 5-4 for 2nd straight win

LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

Jul 26, 2026


DETROIT (AP) — Michael Massey hit a go-ahead, two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals held on to beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Sunday.

The Royals led 3-0 through four innings, fell behind after giving up four runs in the fifth before going back ahead on Massey's blast to right.

Nate Pearson (2-0) threw a scoreless inning. Steven Cruz pitched the ninth for his second save after giving up a walk and hit to the first two batters, closing the game by striking out Riley Greene.

Drew Sommers (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings.

Dillon Dingler hit a go-ahead, two-run single in a four-run fifth inning for the Tigers, but they failed to maintain the lead and lost a second straight game to the last-place team in the AL Central.

The Tigers have a week to decide whether to keep ace Tarik Skubal or to trade him ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Lane Thomas led off the game with a homer and Luke Maile had an RBI double in the fourth, giving the Royals a 3-0 lead.

Matt Strahm entered to face Greene in the fifth and he hit a ball up the middle that could have been fielded by shifting shortstop Tyler Tolbert or second baseman Andrew Velazquez, who was charged with an error, and two Tigers scored.

Dingler followed with a shot that went behind Strahm's head to give Detroit a 4-3 lead that wasn't large enough.

Tigers RHP Keider Montero (7-5, 3.14) and Baltimore RHP Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.49) are scheduled to pitch on Monday night at Comerica Park.

The Royals have not announced who their probable pitcher on Tuesday night at Minnesota.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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NL EastWLPCTGB
94
68
.580
88
74
.543
6.0
80
82
.494
14.0
77
85
.475
17.0
74
88
.457
20.0
NL CentralWLPCTGB
103
59
.636
Cubs Cubs - w
89
73
.549
14.0
82
80
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21.0
77
85
.475
26.0
75
87
.463
28.0
NL WestWLPCTGB
100
62
.617
91
71
.562
9.0
86
76
.531
14.0
65
97
.401
35.0
58
104
.358
42.0
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Rays Rays - y
98
64
.605
93
68
.578
4.5
87
75
.537
11.0
79
82
.491
18.5
79
83
.488
19.0
AL CentralWLPCTGB
85
77
.525
84
78
.519
1.0
77
85
.475
8.0
76
86
.469
9.0
69
93
.426
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AL WestWLPCTGB
81
81
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80
82
.494
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76
86
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100
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