Sep, 25 2025
Game recap
Saturday night turned into a showcase for the Detroit Tigers as they held off the Kansas City Royals 4-2 at home. The win marked the fifth straight triumph for Detroit and the ninth in their last ten outings, a stretch that has turned their August into a statement month.
Spencer Torkelson supplied the headline play with a solo shot to left‑center in the bottom of the fourth. It was his 27th home run of the season and pushed the Tigers ahead 2-1. The blast came after a steady early start: Jake Rogers drove in Javier Báez with a double in the third, giving Detroit a 1-0 edge.
Kansas City answered in the fourth when Bobby Witt Jr. reached base and Vinnie Pasquatino doubled him home, knotting the game at 1-1. But Torkelson’s homer quickly restored the lead. A few batters later, Rogers added an RBI single in the fifth to make it 3-1.
The Royals stayed within striking distance. Witt launched a solo homer off reliever Troy Melton in the sixth, trimming the deficit to one run. He kept the pressure on in the eighth, singling and advancing on a Riley Greene error, then moving to third on another Pasquatino grounder. At that point, manager A.J. Hinch called on Will Vest, who struck out Maikel Garcia to end the threat.
Insurance arrived in the form of a pinch‑hit home run by Andy Ibáñez in the eighth inning, stretching the lead to 4-2. Vest then sealed the deal, collecting his 19th save of the year.
On the mound, Chris Paddack earned his second win with Detroit, improving to 5-11. He limited Kansas City to a single run over five innings, tossing 86 pitches and striking out six. Michael Wacha, who had ridden a four‑game winning streak into the contest, fell short, taking his record to 8-10 after surrendering three runs in six innings.
Kansas City had a chance to swing momentum in the seventh. After loading the bases with one out, they saw Nick Loftin ground into a 5‑4‑3 double play thanks to Tyler Holton’s poise on the mound, dousing the rally.
What the win means
Detroit’s surge is not just about the win‑column; it’s reshaping the AL Central race. The Tigers now sit just a game behind the division leader, and their recent form suggests they could make a late‑season push for a wild‑card berth if they keep the momentum going.
Spencer Torkelson’s power surge is the biggest story. His 27th homer ties him for third in the league for home runs hit this month, and his slugging percentage has climbed above .620 in August alone. If he maintains this pace, he could finish the season with 35‑plus long balls, a figure that would place him among the league’s elite power hitters.
Jake Rogers, who contributed two RBIs, has also emerged as a reliable middle‑of‑the‑order bat. His clutch double in the third inning snapped a brief slump and gave him a .310 average over his last 15 games.
On the pitching side, Chris Paddack finally looks like the starter the Tigers hoped for when they signed him. Prior to this season, he struggled with consistency, but his five‑run, five‑inning performance shows he can keep games within reach. Will Vest’s 19th save reinforces Detroit’s bullpen depth; his 2.85 ERA in the last ten appearances makes him a trustworthy late‑inning option.
For Kansas City, the loss is a setback but not a disaster. Despite dropping the series, the Royals remain the other team with the best August record in the American League. Bobby Witt Jr. continues to prove why he’s one of the league’s most exciting young talents, with a solo homer and several key hits. However, the inability to capitalize on the seventh‑inning bases‑loaded situation highlights a lingering issue: turning chances into runs.
Michael Wacha’s record now reads 8-10, but his ERA sits at a respectable 3.72. The Royals will look to bounce back on Sunday when Seth Lugo faces Jack Flaherty. A win could even the series and keep Kansas City’s winning streak alive.
Both clubs have plenty of games left in the regular season, and August is shaping up to be a pivotal month. Detroit’s five‑game run puts them within striking distance of the postseason, while Kansas City’s own surge ensures the AL Central remains tightly contested. Fans can expect more fireworks as the two teams finish the month with high stakes on the line.