Royals use 3 solo homers to power past Tigers 5-2 for a sixth straight win
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino celebrates in the dugout after scoring off a Michael Massey single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Credit: AP/Colin E. Braley
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Vinnie Pasquantino, Kyle Isbel and Carter Jensen all hit solo home runs to power the Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Friday night for their sixth straight victory.
Noah Cameron (8-8) allowed two hits and walked three in five shutout innings. The left-hander was coming off his first career complete game in a 3-0 victory, a one-hitter on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.
John Schreiber got two outs in the seventh, but gave up two runs before Steven Cruz ended the rally with a scoreless 1 1/3 innings. Nate Pearson struck out Dillon Dingler with two on in the ninth for his third save.
Pasquantino hit a one-out double off rookie Troy Melton (7-2) in the fourth and scored on a two-out fielding error by rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle on Michael Massey's grounder to give the Royals the lead.
Isbel hit a leadoff homer in the fifth to put the Royals up 2-0.
Pasquantino hit his eighth homer, a leadoff shot in the sixth to make it 3-0.
Zach McKinstry had an RBI double and McGonigle singled in a run as the Tigers cut it to 3-2 in the seventh.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton delivers to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Credit: AP/Colin E. Braley
Jensen answered with his 17th homer — a 443-foot shot to center — in the seventh. Isbel doubled in a run in the eighth for the final margin.
The Royals were coming off their first four-game sweep of the Athletics in 32 years.
The Tigers have lost three straight and six of their last seven.
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Tigers RHP Drew Anderson (4-4, 4.01) starts Saturday opposite Royals RHP Michael Wacha (6-8, 3.58).
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