{"id":2409200,"date":"2026-05-09T16:26:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T16:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2409200"},"modified":"2026-05-09T16:26:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T16:26:21","slug":"detroit-tigers-blow-late-lead-in-kansas-city-on-wenceel-perez-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/detroit-tigers-blow-late-lead-in-kansas-city-on-wenceel-perez-error\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Tigers blow late lead in Kansas City on Wenceel P\u00e9rez error"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"videoWrap\" class=\"spacer-large videoWrap\" style=\"position:relative\"><media-video video-id=\"89965101007\" title=\"Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch reacts to Framber Valdez ejection\" poster=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/05\/06\/PDTF\/89965114007-aj-hinch-may-6-2026-photo.jpg?crop=3519,1979,x0,y0\" util-module-path=\"elements\/media\" placement=\"snow-video-story-priority\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"uwVideoPlaceholder\" slot=\"placeholder\" style=\"z-index:19;width:100%;padding-bottom:56.25%;position:relative\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"vidplaybtn\" style=\"display:-moz-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:-webkit-flex;display:flex;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,.4);border:2px solid #fff;border-radius:80px;cursor:pointer;height:80px;width:80px;position:absolute;top:50%;left:50%;transform:translate(-50%,-50%);z-index:10\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vidplayicon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/appservices\/universal-web\/universal\/icons\/icon-play-alt-white.svg\" alt=\"play\" style=\"height:40px;margin:auto 18px auto 27px;width:40px\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div slot=\"videoDetails\" id=\"videoDetails\" class=\"videoDetails\" style=\"padding-top:8px;padding-bottom:8px\">\n<div id=\"videoDetailsContainer\" class=\"videoDetailsContainer\" hidden=\"\">\n<p>Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch reacts to Framber Valdez ejection<\/p>\n<p>Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch talks about Framber Valdez getting ejected after a hit-by-pitch May 5, 2026, against the Red Sox at Comerica Park.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/media-video><\/div>\n<p>KANSAS CITY, MO \u2013\u00a0A hard-hit ground ball from Kyle Isbel shot past diving first baseman Spencer Torkelson and into right field, then snuck underneath the glove of right fielder Wenceel P\u00e9rez, rolling to the warning track.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"600\" fluid=\"\" outstream=\"\" momentum=\"\"\/>\n<p>It was a game-changing mistake for the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/sports\/tigers\/\">Detroit Tigers<\/a> in the eighth inning.<\/p>\n<p>The Tigers lost, 4-3, to the <a target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/kansas-city-royals\/231\" data-autotag=\"4e385f64-3a66-4395-b052-9f6495f4718b\">Kansas City Royals<\/a> on Friday, May 8, in the first of three games in the series at Kauffman Stadium, fueled by the Royals&#8217; two-run comeback in the eighth inning.<\/p>\n<p>The game ended with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.<\/p>\n<p>Isbel sawed off an up-and-in sinker from left-handed reliever Brant Hurter through the left side of the infield for a walk-off single, following pinch-hitter Nick Loftin&#8217;s double.<\/p>\n<p class=\"related-link\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong style=\"margin-right:3px\">SATURDAY&#8217;S STARTER? <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/tigers\/2026\/05\/08\/detroit-tigers-ty-madden-starting-rotation-kansas-city-royals-aj-hinch\/90000507007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Ty Madden listed as Tigers starter, but will he start? &#8216;I don&#8217;t know&#8217;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Tigers have lost four games in a row.<\/p>\n<p>The Tigers (18-21) and Royals (18-21) meet again Saturday (7:10 p.m., Detroit SportsNet) in another showdown between American League Central rivals. In the AL Central, both teams trail the first-place Cleveland Guardians by 2\u00bd games.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"390\" outstream=\"\"\/><partner-inline util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" class=\"spacer-large\" placement=\"native-article_link\" sizes=\"[[300, 250], [3, 3]]\" min-height=\"250\" fluid=\"\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>In the eighth inning, the Tigers turned to right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan. He was responsible for three hits and one walk, failing to record an out.<\/p>\n<p>The three hits were amplified by P\u00e9rez&#8217;s fielding error.<\/p>\n<p>On that play, Michael Massey scored from second base (as he likely would&#8217;ve regardless of P\u00e9rez&#8217;s mistake) and Isbel pulled into third base (though he probably could&#8217;ve scored), trimming the Tigers&#8217; lead to 3-2. The Royals tied the game, 3-3, on an ensuing RBI single from Maikel Garcia.<\/p>\n<p><cta-atoms-container-inline util-module-path=\"elements\/cta\" class=\"spacer-large\"\/><\/p>\n<p>It could&#8217;ve been worse, but Hurter \u2013\u00a0the Tigers&#8217; best weapon out of the bullpen against left-handed hitters \u2013\u00a0recorded all three outs to escape further damage.<\/p>\n<p>Hurter induced a double play against Vinnie Pasquantino, walked Salvador Perez on 11 pitches and generated an inning-ending groundout on a sinker to pinch-hitter Lane Thomas, stranding runners on the corners.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"600\" outstream=\"\" momentum=\"\"\/>\n<p class=\"related-link\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong style=\"margin-right:3px\">INJURY UPDATE: <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/tigers\/2026\/05\/08\/tarik-skubal-elbow-surgery-detroit-tigers-timeline\/90000986007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Tarik Skubal surgery complete, but no timeline for return to Tigers<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Right-hander Keider Montero set the tone in Friday&#8217;s game with another outstanding pitching performance.<\/p>\n<p>He owns a 3.18 ERA in seven starts.<\/p>\n<p>Montero continues to shine since joining the rotation as the replacement for injured right-hander Justin Verlander (who remains sidelined with left hip inflammation but is scheduled Saturday for a live batting practice session).<\/p>\n<p><media-gallery-promo asset-id=\"90003590007\" class=\"column ten-column no-gutter spacer-large\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Facing the Royals, Montero allowed one run on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts across six innings, needing just 71 pitches to record 18 outs.<\/p>\n<p>He has been incredibly efficient in his seven starts.<\/p>\n<p>The average pitches per inning?<\/p>\n<p>Only 14.<\/p>\n<p>For comparison, left-hander Tarik Skubal \u2013\u00a0the reigning two-time AL Cy Young winner \u2013\u00a0averaged 14.5 pitches per inning in his first seven starts before undergoing left elbow surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"390\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>The Royals scored their lone run with two outs in the second inning, following five outs in a row to start the game. A Jac Caglianone double led to an RBI single from Isaac Collins, hitting Montero&#8217;s two-strike changeup into right field.<\/p>\n<p>It tied the game, 1-1.<\/p>\n<p>And it was the only run Montero surrendered.<\/p>\n<p>The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning against left-hander Kris Bubic.<\/p>\n<partner-inline util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" placement=\"native-article_link\" sizes=\"[[300, 250], [3, 3]]\" min-height=\"250\" fluid=\"\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>Spencer Torkelson grounded into a double play with runners on the corners after Riley Greene&#8217;s double and P\u00e9rez&#8217;s single, but the runner scored from third base because the double play occurred with zero outs.<\/p>\n<p>The next two runs came in the sixth inning for a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n<p>Third-base coach Joey Cora deserves credit.<\/p>\n<p>Cora made his intentions known as he refused to stop waving his arm: He wanted Dillon Dingler to score from first base on a double from P\u00e9rez to the gap in left-center field.<\/p>\n<p>The ball beat Dingler home by a bit, but catcher Carter Jensen dropped the final leg of the relay from Isbel in center field to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to home.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"390\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>Just like that, the Tigers took a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n<p>The Royals replaced Bubic with right-handed reliever Nick Mears to get the favorable matchup with Torkelson, but Torkelson wasn&#8217;t fazed. He ripped an RBI double to left field off a down-and-in slider, providing a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n<p>The Tigers carried the two-run lead into the eighth inning, thanks to a scoreless seventh from left-handed reliever Tyler Holton against a pocket of left-handed hitters.<\/p>\n<p>After that, the Tigers fell apart with poor defense and a bullpen that struggles to miss bats.<\/p>\n<p>The P\u00e9rez error changed everything.<\/p>\n<p><em>Contact Evan Petzold at\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"mailto:epetzold@freepress.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">epetzold@freepress.com<\/a>\u00a0or follow him\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EvanPetzold\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@EvanPetzold<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<lit-timestamp class=\"column ten-column no-gutter spacer-small\" slot=\"timestamp\" publishdate=\"2026-05-09 02:33:48.288815649 +0000 UTC\" updatedate=\"2026-05-09 02:55:50.431702806 +0000 UTC\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.freep.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch reacts to Framber Valdez ejection Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch talks about Framber Valdez getting ejected after a hit-by-pitch May 5, 2026, against the Red Sox at Comerica Park. KANSAS CITY, MO \u2013\u00a0A hard-hit ground ball from Kyle Isbel shot past diving first baseman Spencer Torkelson and into right field, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2409201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[21849,351169,91466,22036,23427,345193,354103,353418,39514,321746,438640,22304,43627,317661,352799,340304,423377,364854,438391,424503,309642,313843,211924,21738,313320,347149,424370,239343,239453,27155,359142,354079,353422,21848,42570,359141,359143,326943,345190,354080,309297,353420,451059,351170],"class_list":["post-2409200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty","tag-baseball","tag-bobby","tag-bobby-witt-jr","tag-city","tag-detroit","tag-detroit-tigers","tag-finnegan","tag-holton","tag-jr","tag-justin","tag-justin-verlander","tag-kansas","tag-kansas-city-royals","tag-kyle","tag-kyle-finnegan","tag-lane","tag-lane-thomas","tag-loftin","tag-massey","tag-mears","tag-michael","tag-michael-massey","tag-neutral","tag-news","tag-nick","tag-nick-loftin","tag-nick-mears","tag-overall","tag-overall-neutral","tag-royals","tag-skubal","tag-spencer","tag-spencer-torkelson","tag-sports","tag-sports-news","tag-tarik","tag-tarik-skubal","tag-thomas","tag-tigers","tag-torkelson","tag-tyler","tag-tyler-holton","tag-verlander","tag-witt"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Detroit-Tigers-blow-late-lead-in-Kansas-City-on-Wenceel-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2409200"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2409202,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409200\/revisions\/2409202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2409201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2409200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2409200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2409200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}