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Tigers can’t hold late lead, fall out of WC spot
- Updated: September 25, 2016
DETROIT — What looked like another step in the Tigers’ charge toward the American League playoffs became a potentially costly stumble in the ninth, courtesy of a Royals rally reminiscent of last year. Eric Hosmer’s go-ahead three-run homer punctuated a five-run ninth off Francisco Rodriguez, propelling Kansas City to a 7-4 win Saturday in front of a stunned Comerica Park crowd.
The loss ended Detroit’s five-game winning streak and dropped the Tigers out of playoff position, with the Orioles beating the D-backs at night to take sole possession of the second AL Wild Card spot. With the Blue Jays’ 3-0 win over the Yankees, the Tigers are two games out of the first AL Wild Card.
“We have to just continue to have fun with this challenge,” center fielder Cameron Maybin said. “It’s going to be a challenge. It isn’t going to be easy, but we have to continue to enjoy it, play hard.”
The Tigers took a 4-2 lead into the ninth, but the Royals denied them more by stranding 14 Detroit baserunners. Daniel Norris and three relievers carried the lead to the ninth for Rodriguez, who was 44-for-48 in save opportunities entering the day. Singles from Alex Gordon and Hunter Dozier brought the tying run to the plate, but Rodriguez was a strike away from thwarting the threat.
“One pitch away, one strike away, and I couldn’t make one pitch,” Rodriguez said. “The result of that is obviously five runs after two outs, and pretty much the game wrapped up. It definitely hurts. This one hurts, big time.”
Paulo Orlando chased a 2-2 pitch from Rodriguez at the knees but over the plate and drilled it over center fielder Cameron Maybin’s head and to the wall for a game-tying two-run double. Cheslor Cuthbert’s walk extended the inning for Hosmer, whose 24th home run turned the game around.
• Hosmer’s huge HR gives him 1st 100-RBI year
“Obviously these are huge games for them right now,” Hosmer said of the Tigers. “They’re right in the thick of things in the Wild Card. It was kind of a flashback of what we do. We keep it close to the end, we’re hard to put away as a team and it was good to see signs of that same team we all remember.”
Royals starter Yordano Ventura left after facing one batter in the fifth because of lower back tightness and spasms. …
