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The Royals got back in the win column after taking down Detroit 4-0 on Wednesday. It was the club’s seventh win in their last eight tries.
Brady Singer made the start for Kansas City with the tall order of topping his previous performance against Cleveland, when he was four outs shy of a no-hitter. The right-hander wouldn’t complete a no-hitter, but he nearly joined an elite company in the top of the first. After Salvador Perez opened the scoring with a two-run blast, Singer came out firing strikes. He struck out the first two hitters on six pitches and came one strike away from an immaculate inning. He finished the inning with 10 pitches, 10 strikes and three strikeouts.
We command you to love and appreciate Salvador Perez.#AlwaysRoyal pic.twitter.com/hPplsMCAum
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 16, 2020
Fresh off a near no-hitter, Singer strikes out the side in the first inning. And he only needed 10 pitches. #AlwaysRoyal
— FOX Sports Kansas City (@FSKansasCity) September 16, 2020
TV: FSKC
Stream: FSGO - https://t.co/85LHMkL82r pic.twitter.com/IP56v4KU8h
Detroit received a nice start from 23-year-old rookie Tarik Skubal, as well. Following the Perez home run, Skubal retired 13 of the next 14 hitters. It wasn’t until the top of the six that the Royals struck again. With one out and a runner at second, Perez pounded an opposite field double to the deepest part of the park in right-center field. It marked the fifth-straight multi-hit game for Perez.
Make it 5⃣ straight multi-hit games for @SalvadorPerez15.#AlwaysRoyal pic.twitter.com/tDxnoVQCS8
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 17, 2020
Back on the mound, Singer continued his dominance. In six innings of work, the right-hander allowed just two hits. The first came on a soft fly ball to shallow left field and the second was an infield hit. Additionally, he tied a career-high with eight strikeouts. Jesse Hahn relieved him in the seventh and got three outs on seven pitches — lowering his ERA to 0.79 in 11 1⁄3 innings.
After tonight's gem, Brady Singer has now thrown 14 straight scoreless innings. pic.twitter.com/S0r1thrzKA
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 17, 2020
Brady Singer is the first pitcher in Royals history with 8+ strikeouts and no more than 2 hits allowed in back-to-back starts.
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) September 17, 2020
The Royals tacked on another run with two hits in the top of the eighth. After recording the first out, left-hander Gregory Soto allowed two infield singles, a walk, and spiked a wild pitch to give Kansas City its fourth run of the game. Scott Barlow came on in the bottom half and struck out two in a clean frame.
Greg Holland entered in a non-save situation in the ninth and completed the shutout to give the Royals a split in a brief two-game series with Detroit.
The Royals, now 21-29, have an off-day tomorrow before beginning their final road series of 2020 in Milwaukee. Kris Bubic will throw for Kansas City on Friday while the Brewers will counter with Adrian Houser. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. CT on FSKC.