DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Holding onto the lead after an eighth inning rally, Detroit took the first game of the series over Kansas City, 5-4. Gregory Soto pitched the ninth inning earning his 24th save of the year with three strikeouts in the inning. Drew Hutchinson worked 5.2 innings to start the game with five strikeouts. Andrew Chafin earned the win pitching the sixth and seventh innings (1.1 innings) no hitting the Royals for his first win of the year.

Detroit posted two home runs in Javier Baez and Willi Castro for three of the five runs. Castro led the team with three hits and Baez had two RBI.

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Kansas City took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and then held Detroit scoreless for four innings. It was the bottom of the fifth inning that Detroit struck back. After a Spencer Torkelson strikeout, Castro hit his sixth home run of the year in left field. After two straight walks on one out, Victory Reyes produced a sacrifice fly as Riley Greene came in to tie the game at two. Baez followed with a two-run home run to take a 4-2 lead.

Hutchison gave up the tying runs in the sixth inning and was relieved go off record for a win. Chafin came in and gave Detroit 1.1 innings of work retiring all four batters he faced. In the seventh inning, Castro had the go-ahead hit singling to left field as Ryan Kreidler came in.

ETBU will face Kansas City on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.