DETROIT _ The Royals' woes continued Friday at Comerica Park, where they lost, 3-2, to the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader.
Tigers left fielder JaCoby Jones smacked a solo home run off Royals rookie reliever Brad Keller for Detroit's walk-off victory in the 10th inning.
The loss spoiled a nine-inning gem from Royals starter Jason Hammel.
Hammel, often plagued by home runs and rarely supported by his offense (since the start of last season, the Royals have averaged 4.21 runs per game in his starts, the third-lowest average in the American League), held the Tigers to two runs on five hits and a walk, all while pitching through a pair of doubles that led off the fifth inning.
For the first time in his Royals career, Hammel pitched past the seventh inning. He averaged about six innings per start last season. Friday's outing was his longest since he pitched eight innings for the Cubs in a win over the Nationals on June 6, 2015.
Hammel's efforts weren't enough. The Royals lost their ninth game in a row.
