Kansas City Royals Win Historic Small Ball Showdown Against Detroit Tigers

Bobby Witt Jr.'s extra-inning RBI against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday did more than just cap off a win for the Kansas City Royals, also snapping a bizarre 13-year streak in MLB.

Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) hits a single in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Neither the Kansas City Royals nor Detroit Tigers showed much pop at the plate on Sunday, but their series finale was still must-see TV for small ball fans everywhere.

The Royals got on the board in the second, stringing together four singles to score two runs. The Tigers eventually answered in the fourth, tying things up thanks to four singles of their own.

An RBI single from Zach McKinstry put Detroit on top in the seventh, only for Mark Canha to respond with another RBI single in the eighth.

The Royals finally jumped back ahead on a sacrifice fly from star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the top of the 10th, then closed things out in the bottom of the frame. They avoided the sweep and snapped their sixth-game losing streak with the 4-3 win, making history along the way.

Kansas City racked up nine hits, while Detroit finished with 10. Neither side had a double, triple or home run, though, with both teams relying solely on singles to get the job done.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, the Royals and Tigers' 19 combined hits without an extra-base hit are the most since the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals faced off on Sept. 4, 2012.

This game between the Royals and Tigers had 19 combined hits — no extra-base hits

That’s the most combined hits in a game with no XBH since September 4, 2012 NYM at STL https://t.co/TyT67ZtxMI

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 20, 2025

The Royals are set to return home for a series against the last-place Colorado Rockies, but only after taking Monday off. As for the Tigers, they will stay put in Detroit and welcome the first-place San Diego Padres on Monday.

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