DETROIT (AP) — Harold Castro singled in the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning after tying it with a two-run single in the eighth in the Detroit Tigers’ 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Tucker Barnhart bunted pinch-runner Ryan Kreidler to third and Anthony Misiewicz (3-2) intentionally walked pinch-hitter Eric Haase.
Riley Greene struck out, and the Royals decided to walk Javy Báez to pitch to Castro with the bases loaded. He hit a soft grounder up the middle to win it.
“We were getting in the shower as soon as they walked Javy,” Spencer Torkelson said. “It was like, ‘All right, we’re getting to Hittin’ Harold.’ We have all the confidence in the world.”
Baez has struck out 143 times this year, including in a key situation in the eighth, but Royals manager Mike Matheny said he never considered pitching to him with the left-handed Misiewicz on the mound.
“We were going to make their lefties beat us,” he said. “Baez is a right-handed hitter who hits lefties really well. Anthony made a good pitch — (catcher Salvador Perez) was going down to block hit, but (Castro) got a piece of it.”
Castro also helped with his glove. In the top of the 10th, Bobby Witt Jr. led off with a bouncer down the third-base line. Castro made a diving stop and, while he didn’t have a play on Witt, was able to hold automatic runner MJ Melendez at second.
Alex Lange (6-4) retired Salvador Perez before getting Vinnie Pasquatino to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
The Tigers trailed 3-0 after seven innings against Zack Greinke, then tied it against Dylan Coleman in the eighth.
Torkelson started the inning with a walk, then beat third baseman Nate Eaton’s throw to second on a groundball. After Tucker Barnhart lined out, Akil Baddoo’s bunt single loaded the…