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Home runs doom Detroit Tigers in 9-8 loss to Kansas City Royals

The Detroit Tigers were on the right track entering the bottom of the fifth inning, carrying a 6-0 lead behind a three-run home run from Jeimer Candelario and a dominant start from rookie right-hander Casey Mize.

But the Royals scored four runs in the fifth inning and five runs in the seventh, sending the Tigers (47-53) to a 9-8 loss in the second of three games at Kauffman Stadium. In Friday's series opener, they were dealt a 5-3 loss.

Kansas City got three-run homers from Salvador Perez (his 22nd of the year) in the fifth against Mize and Carlos Santana (his 17th) in the seventh against Kyle Funkhouser.

The Tigers won their first seven games coming out of the All-Star break, sweeping a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins and a four-game set with the Texas Rangers. Since then, they've lost two in a row against the Royals. Their last win on the road came in Texas against the Rangers on July 7.

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Detroit Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario (46) fields a ground ball and throws to first base in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 24, 2021.
Detroit Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario (46) fields a ground ball and throws to first base in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 24, 2021.

In the ninth, Akil Baddoo hit a two-run homer with one out to cut the deficit to 9-8 after pinch-hitter Eric Haase opened the inning with a double. Jonathan Schoop grounded out to shortstop, but Robbie Grossman kept the comeback alive by drawing a four-pitch walk.

The Royals stuck with reliever Greg Holland to face Miguel Cabrera with two outs. Cabrera, serving as the game-winning run, walked on four pitches. Finally, after Holland missed on eight pitches in a row, he was replaced by Wade Davis with Candelario stepping to the plate.

Candelario struck out swinging to end the game.

After Mize was chased at 4⅔ innings by Perez's blast, left-handed reliever Daniel Norris entered. He only needed six pitches to retire the lone batter he faced to complete the fifth inning. Right-hander Joe Jimenez posted a perfect sixth, but Funkhouser blew the lead in the seventh.

One-out singles from Nicky Lopez and Whit Merrifield set the table for Santana. He drew a full count from Funkhouser, then hammered a two-seam fastball to right field for the Royals' first lead of the game at 7-6.

Later in the seventh, Hanser Alberto smacked a two-run triple against lefty Ian Krol, with both scores charged to Funkhouser, who conceded five runs on four hits and one walk while getting just two outs.

Righty Buck Farmer pitched the eighth inning.

One pitch spoils Mize's start

Through four innings, Mize had complete control of the Royals.

The first hit against him — a single from Ryan O'Hearn in the second inning — could have been scored an error on Jeimer Candelario, and he worked around the second hit — a one-out double from Nicky Lopez in the third — with consecutive strikeouts of Merrifield and Santana.

Merrifield struck out swinging twice on three pitches. Known for his plate discipline, Santana was also punched out twice. Mize finished with six strikeouts, generating six swings and misses with his slider, three with his two-seam fastball and a pair with his four-seam fastball.

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Casey Mize #12 of the Detroit Tigers throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Casey Mize #12 of the Detroit Tigers throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Riding a strong performance, manager AJ Hinch sent Mize back to the mound for the fifth inning; Mize is building his innings back up after being under strict limits in three previous July starts.

Three singles in a row put the Royals on the scoreboard.

Mize bounced back with two straight outs: Merrifield struck out swinging and Santana flied out to left field. Three pitches later, Perez deposited a two-seamer 452 feet in left-center. His three-run homer cut the Tigers' lead to 6-4 and forced Hinch to pull Mize from the game.

Over 4⅔ innings, Mize allowed four runs on six hits and one walk. He threw 52 of 79 pitches for strikes.

Big third inning

The Tigers scored first in the second inning, after Cabrera (single) and Candelario (walk) reached safely. Harold Castro grounded into what should have been a double play, but Hernandez — covering first base — missed the catch for an error.

On the play, Cabrera watched closely as he cruised into third base. Once the ball skipped past Hernandez, he dashed toward home plate and scored with ease for a 1-0 lead. But the key to the Tigers' success came in the four-run fourth inning.

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Detroit Tigers' Jeimer Candelario, center, is congratulated at home plate by Robbie Grossman (8) and Akil Baddoo (60) after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, July 24, 2021.
Detroit Tigers' Jeimer Candelario, center, is congratulated at home plate by Robbie Grossman (8) and Akil Baddoo (60) after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, July 24, 2021.

Derek Hill and Baddoo each drew full count walks to open the inning, and Grossman's one-out walk loaded the bases. Cabrera drove a sacrifice fly to right field to go ahead by two runs. It was the 1,769th RBI of his career, snapping a tie with David Ortiz for 20th place in MLB history.

And the Tigers couldn't let Hernandez off the hook. Not after the 24-year-old rookie walked the bases loaded and, despite flashing glimpses of promise, couldn't command any of his pitches. Candelario belted a changeup from Hernandez to straightaway center field, traveling 434 feet and over the wall for a three-run home run.

Candelario chased Hernandez and put the Tigers ahead by five runs.

Candelario's home run was his seventh long ball this season and third since July 7. Since returning from the All-Star break July 17, the third baseman is hitting .357 (10-for-28) with three home runs, seven RBIs, six walks and three strikeouts.

Adding a run

In the fifth inning, the Tigers scored again.

Baddoo and Schoop opened with consecutive singles to chase reliever Richard Lovelady. The slap single through the infield and into right field — extending Schoop's hitting streak to 14 games — advanced Baddoo to third base.

Despite Grossman's strikeout, Cabrera delivered his second sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead. Candelario grounded out to strand Schoop at second base.

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Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after scoring in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after scoring in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers doomed by homers in 9-8 loss to Kansas City Royals