How Kyle Isbel became Royals’ walkoff hero after making 2 huge catches vs. Tigers
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- Kyle Isbel made two huge center‑field catches that prevented extra bases.
- Isbel’s RBI single in the eighth sparked the rally that tied the game.
- Isbel hit a ninth‑inning game‑winning single that drove home Nick Loftin.
Major League Baseball games are often decided by razor-thin margins. And on Friday, the Kansas City Royals found themselves walking a tightrope again.
This time, however, they maintained their balance for a 4-3 comeback victory at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals (18-21) overcame a two-run deficit against the Tigers. In the eighth inning, Kyle Isbel started a late rally defensively and at the plate.
Isbel saved a couple of extra-base hits with terrific plays in center field. He made a diving catch and then a running grab to end the top half of the inning.
“I try to do my best every single night,” Isbel said. “And I was able to come away with a couple of good plays tonight.”
In the bottom half, with the Royals at the plate, it was Isbel’s RBI single that sparked Kansas City’s comeback. Maikel Garcia followed with an RBI of his own as the Royals tied the game 3-3.
Isbel came through again in the ninth. He hit a game-winning single that drove home pinch-hitter Nick Loftin from second base. Loftin had doubled to get there.
“(I was) looking for something away there, try to hit the hole,” Isbel said. “I was able to get enough of it to get it through.”
The Royals’ pitching staff needed it. In the sixth inning, KC was one out away from a scoreless frame. Royals starter Kris Bubic had skirted trouble all night. He needed to retire Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez to protect a 1-1 contest.
The Tigers (18-21) had catcher Dillon Dingler at first base after he reached on a fielder’s choice. Perez battled Bubic before hitting a 92.4 mph sinker into the center-field gap.
Dingler raced around the bases. Isbel quickly corralled the baseball before firing to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Witt turned and threw a strike to home plate as Dingler was dashing to score.
It seemed Dingler would be out by several feet. However, catcher Carter Jensen didn’t complete the relay. The incoming baseball popped out of Jensen’s glove before he went to tag Dingler.
Just like that, the Tigers had a 2-1 lead. From there, the Royals took Bubic out of the game and summoned right-hander Nick Mears in relief.
“They were, as they typically are, they’re pretty patient,” Bubic said. “They don’t chase. So it puts more onus on you as a pitcher to get ahead in counts and then rely on your chase later.”
Mears gave up an additional run. Detroit slugger Spencer Torkelson hit an RBI double, putting the Tigers up by two.
Bubic was tagged with a no-decision. He allowed three earned runs and four hits and issued four walks in 5 2/3 innings. Per Statcast, he registered 41 swings and seven whiffs.
The Tigers didn’t chase his fastball. He struggled to land the heater consistently, and that led to additional traffic on the base paths. Despite pitching out of trouble, Bubic wasn’t able to go as deep in Friday’s contest as he would have liked.
“I think the biggest culprit, obviously, the walks are thing that stick out to me,” he said. “You know, it’s been a frustrating part of my season so far. Part of it is lack of getting ahead in counts. But part of it, I think, is I’m just not zoning my four-seamer nearly as much as I need to be, especially to righties.”
The Royals’ relief unit of Mears, Luinder Avila and John Schreiber kept the deficit manageable. But the bullpen was also assisted by Isbel’s two stellar defensive plays.
Both came in the eighth inning. First he robbed Perez with a diving grab in left-center. Then he took away extra bases from Torkelson in deep-center with a nice catch on the warning track.
That glovework was prelude to his big hits to come, including the walkoff single.
“He’s elite,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Yeah, I mean, we’ve seen it now the whole time I’ve been here. And you guys have seen it before that. I mean, he gets great reads and he runs great routes. And he is a well above-average center fielder. It saved us tonight.”
In the ninth, Royals closer Lucas Erceg worked around a leadoff double. He also avoided serious injury after colliding with catcher Elias Diaz — who had subbed in for Jensen — while both were racing to catch a popup bunt in front of the plate.
The Royals finished 4 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
Earlier in the game, Tigers starter Keider Montero allowed one run in six innings. He mixed his fastball well with his knuckle-curve and other off-speed pitches. He, too, earned a no decision on the night.
The Royals got back into the win column behind Isbel’s strong night. KC is now 6-1 when wearing their new City Connect jerseys at Kauffman Stadium.
What’s next: Royals right-hander Michael Wacha (3-2, 3.05 ERA) will start opposite Tigers righty Ty Madden on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. Central Time at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 9:46 PM.
