DETROIT — James Outman’s two-out, three-run homer in the seventh inning narrowly cleared the right-field wall. It sparked a 4-3 Tigers win over the Kansas City Royals.
The blast tied the game. “I was just hoping the hand of God took care of it,” Outman said.
Detroit (49-54) trailed 3-0 entering the seventh. The crowd of 35,548 at Comerica Park had little to cheer.
Outman changed that. His 402-foot shot off Royals reliever John Schreiber erased the deficit. The game was tied 3-3.
The Tigers needed more. Dillon Dingler delivered.
In the eighth, with two outs, Dingler ripped a double off Steven Cruz. Hao-Yu Lee scored from second base. The go-ahead run.
“That’s a big spot for a young catcher,” manager A.J. Hinch said. Dingler showed composure.
Lee had scored the winning run. He walked to lead off the inning. A groundout moved him to second.
Dingler’s hit came on a 1-2 slider. He smoked it to left-center. The Tigers led 4-3.
Starter Troy Melton allowed three runs over 5.2 innings. Randy Dobnak pitched a scoreless seventh. The bullpen held.
The Royals bullpen faltered. Kansas City’s relievers allowed four runs in the final two frames. The Tigers capitalized.
This marks Detroit’s second straight comeback win. Lee had a game-breaking homer Wednesday. Outman and Dingler provided the heroics Thursday.
The win tightens the AL Central race. Detroit is now 4.5 games back of Kansas City. Series openers matter against division rivals.
“It’s everybody’s goal to help us win,” Outman said. The team’s never-say-die attitude showed.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: How did James Outman contribute to the Tigers’ win?
- A: Outman hit a two-out, three-run homer in the seventh inning to tie the game 3-3.
- Q: What was the key play in the eighth inning?
- A: Dillon Dingler hit a two-out double that scored Hao-Yu Lee, giving the Tigers a 4-3 lead.
Extended Reading
Data sourced from The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and Bless You Boys reports on the July 23, 2026 game.