Royals 9, Tigers 8: Mize, bullpen blow early lead
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Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigers built a 6-0 lead only to blow it on Friday night in Kansas City. A pair of three-run shots powered the Royals to a 9-8 victory, and a chance at a series sweep on Sunday.
Early on, the Tigers looked like they might run away with this one. The Royals didn’t get a runner to second until the third inning, when Nicky Lopez hit a sinking liner to right center and a diving Derek Hill just couldn’t squeeze. Lopez cruised into second, but Casey Mize then blew Whit Merrifield away on three pitches, closing with a whistling two seamer that nearly hit a swinging Merrifield. Carlos Santana gave him a good battle, but Mize got him swinging over a slider to end the inning.