Despite an impressive start, the Kansas City Royals were unable to overcome the Detroit Tigers falling 5-2 Friday night.
Royals leadoff man Whit Merrifield would get the Royals rolling with his second career inside the park home-run. It wouldn’t take long for the Tigers to answer, however, scoring two runs off a Dawel Lugo single in the bottom of the first to take the lead.
Miguel Cabrera would single in Niko Goodrum in the fifth. Jake Rogers collected his third career home-run and Jody Mercer would score off a wild pitch to give the Tigers a 5-1 lead in the sixth.
Despite a home-run in the ninth by Jorge Soler, the Tigers would hold on to pick up the win. A big surprise Friday was Tigers starter Edwin Jackson who saw his first start for the Tigers since 2009.
Jackson gave up just one run on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Royals manager Ned Yost tipped his cap to the Tigers starter.
The Royals and Tigers continue their four-game series Saturday in Detroit. Mike Montgomery will get the start for the Royals. You can hear the game on KVOE 1400 am and 96.9 FM with pre-game starting at 4:30 pm and first pitch set for 5:10 pm.
