The Royals failed to avoid the 100-loss mark this year, but did dodge being the worst team in the American League with a 10-8 win over the Tigers in 12 innings. Kansas City also played spoiler preventing Detroit from winning the AL Central title.
The Tigers needed just one win to wrap up the division crown, but lost their last five games including three straight to the Royals. Detroit will still participate in the playoffs holding down the Wild Card slot.
It looked like the Tigers would walk away with the win early in the game. Detroit scored a run in the second inning before unleashing a five-run rally in the third. Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, and Ivan Rodriguez each had RBIs in the inning that was capped by a Brandon Inge two-run homer.
The Royals seemed undaunted by the deficit scoring three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to come within 6-4. Kansas City put up four runs in the eighth to take a 8-7 lead.
Detroit tied the game 8-8 in the bottom half of the eighth before the game went into extra frames.
Esteban German’s RBI single in the 12th put the Royals ahead for good. Emil Brown’s bases loaded walk gave them an insurance run.