DETROIT _ For the second time in four days, the Royals played a doubleheader.
They looked to be on the verge of being swept for the second time in a doubleheader, too.
But in an unlikely turn of events, the Royals went from almost losing their 10th game in a row to winning for the first time since April 9.
The Royals defeated the Tigers, 3-2, at Comerica Park on Friday night. In the top of the ninth inning, Jon Jay hit a routine ground ball to first base that the Tigers mishandled. Alcides Escobar scored the game-winning run.
Moments earlier, Royals outfielder Abraham Almonte had battled through an eight-pitch at-bat against Tigers closer Shane Greene. Almonte hit a bloop single to right field to drive in the game-tying run.
Royals closer Kelvin Herrera worked around a two-out single in the ninth and notched his third save.
"One big hit, one hit to help us gain a little momentum," Royals manager Ned Yost had said after the 5-4 loss in the first game of the doubleheader, lamenting the opportunities the Royals' offense squandered by hitting just 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
The Royals looked no better to start the night game.
They couldn't hit with runners in scoring position, stranding seven of them through eight innings. They couldn't cash in on the four leadoff walks they drew in the game. They couldn't build any momentum after Whit Merrifield blasted a two-out, solo homer to tie the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning.
But in the end, they were able to pick up starting pitcher Jakob Junis, who delivered eight innings of two-run, four-hit baseball. Junis earned his third win of the season and the Royals improved to 4-14.
