DETROIT (Interstat) — Dillon Dingler’s RBI double in the eighth inning lifted the Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 comeback win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. The Royals scored in the second on Carter Jensen’s forceout. The game remained 1-0 until the eighth, when Dingler drove a two-out pitch from Nick Mears into left field to score Kevin McGonigle with the tying and go-ahead runs. Both teams managed only four hits. Kansas City’s Cole Ragans allowed one hit over six scoreless innings, while Detroit’s Framber Valdez yielded one run over seven strong frames. Will Vest earned the win with a perfect eighth, striking out three. Kenley Jansen worked the ninth for his third save. Attendance was 16,655. The game took 2 hours, 18 minutes.

DETROIT (Interstat) — In a tense, low-hit pitchers’ duel that defied pregame projections, the Detroit Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to stun the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. A crowd of 16,555 watched as both starting pitchers dominated for much of the brisk two-hour, 18-minute contest, which saw the teams combine for just eight hits. The game’s decisive moment came with two outs in the eighth, when Detroit catcher Dillon Dingler lined a two-run double to left field to erase a 1-0 deficit and propel the Tigers to victory. The win improved Detroit’s record to 8-9, while Kansas City fell to 7-10. The game was a stark contrast to the offensive output predicted by National Statistical’s game simulator, which had projected a 5-4 Tigers win. The total of three runs fell well under the over/under line of 7.5, despite Kansas City having been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. National Statistical’s ELO system had given Detroit a 52.7% probability to win. The most important part of the game unfolded in the bottom of the eighth inning against Royals reliever Nick Mears. With one out, Zach McKinstry laced a double to right field. He advanced to third on a groundout by Gleyber Torres. After Colt Keith lined out to shortstop, Mears walked Kevin McGonigle, putting the potential tying run on base. Dingler then stepped in and drove a sharp ground ball down the left-field line, scoring both McGonigle and McKinstry to flip the scoreboard. Dingler finished the night 2 for 4 with the game-winning two RBIs. McKinstry was 1 for 3 with a run scored. The late rally made a winner of Tigers reliever Will Vest, who earned his first victory against two losses. Vest was electric in the top of the eighth, striking out the side in order. Kenley Jansen then worked a scoreless ninth, allowing a leadoff single and seeing the tying run advance to third with one out, before securing his third save of the season. Mears took the loss for Kansas City, falling to 1-1 after surrendering two runs on two hits in his one inning of work. The game was defined by exceptional starting pitching. Kansas City’s Cole Ragans was brilliant, tossing six shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out one. He was matched nearly pitch-for-pitch by Detroit’s Framber Valdez, the top star for the Tigers. Valdez delivered seven strong innings, giving up one run on three hits with one strikeout. His performance was a strong rebound from his previous start on April 8, when he allowed eight earned runs in a loss at Minnesota. Kansas City’s lone run came in the second inning against Valdez. Salvador Perez and Starling Marte singled, and Jonathan India walked to load the bases with one out. Designated hitter Carter Jensen then grounded into a forceout at second, allowing Vinnie Pasquantino to score from third. From there, the pitchers took control. The Royals managed just one more hit off Valdez, while Ragans and reliever Matt Strahm kept the Tigers off the scoreboard until the eighth. Both teams turned two double plays, snuffing out potential rallies. The Royals’ offense, which mustered only four hits total, was led by Lane Thomas, who went 1 for 3 with a walk. Bobby Witt Jr. also had a single. The victory gives Detroit momentum heading into the second game of the three-game series on Wednesday. The Tigers will look to build on the win before embarking on a four-game series at Boston. Kansas City, which had won two of three from Chicago over the weekend, will aim to even the series before traveling to face the New York Yankees for a three-game set starting Friday.

Rain Expected as Royals, Tigers Open Series in Detroit DETROIT (Interstat) — The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers, both sitting at 7-9, will look to gain an early edge in the AL Central when they open a three-game series Tuesday at Comerica Park, though rain in the forecast could complicate matters. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT under threatening skies, with a game-time temperature near 80 degrees and rain expected. The Royals will send left-hander Cole Ragans (0-3, 5.68 ERA) to the mound, hoping he can reverse his early-season fortunes. Kansas City has lost each of his three starts, including his last outing on April 8 when he allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 10-2 loss at Cleveland. He’ll be opposed by Tigers lefty Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.00 ERA). Valdez is coming off a strong performance, holding the Miami Marlins to one run on two hits over 6 2/3 innings in an 8-2 win last Wednesday. A player to watch for Kansas City is left-hander Noah Cameron, though he is not scheduled to start. Cameron took the loss Sunday, allowing five runs to the Chicago White Sox, but had posted a 1.42 ERA over his two previous starts. For Detroit, all eyes will be on ace Tarik Skubal, who dominated the Marlins in his last start. The left-hander struck out seven and allowed just two hits over 6 2/3 innings. He has 23 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings this season. Both teams are coming off mixed results against their previous opponents. The Royals dropped two of three to the White Sox, including a 6-5 loss on Sunday. The Tigers, meanwhile, took three of four from the Marlins, capped by Sunday’s 8-2 victory behind Skubal and home runs from Dillon Dingler and Kevin McGonigle. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the Tigers are projected to win a close one, 5-4. Despite this, Kansas City has been installed as a pregame betting favorite with a spread of -1.5. The over/under is set at 7.5 runs. Following this series, the Royals continue their road trip with a three-game set against the New York Yankees. The Tigers will host the Royals for two more before heading to Boston for a four-game series against the Red Sox.