DETROIT _ Detroit Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd retired nine Kansas City Royals in a row Tuesday before a two-out walk in the sixth inning.
He walked the next batter before manager Ron Gardenhire removed him from the game. Boyd had thrown 105 pitches.
And when reliever Jose Cisnero got Edward Olivares to ground into a force-out, Boyd _ sitting in the dugout _ officially pitched a scoreless outing for the first time since May 28, 2019.
It's been 476 days.
The offense showed up with 14 hits, but it was Boyd who set the tone for the Tigers (21-26) in a 6-0 victory over the Royals at Comerica Park. He only allowed two hits _ something he hasn't done since Aug. 18, 2019.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd throws to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Detroit.
Detroit snapped a three-game losing skid and, as of Tuesday night, trails the Cleveland Indians by five games for the AL's eighth and final spot in the expanded 16-team postseason.
The Tigers wrap up a two-game slate with the Royals on Wednesday with left-hander Tarik Skubal before hosting four against the Indians from Thursday through Sunday.
