Melendez’s late home run lifts Royals to series win over Tigers

DETROIT, Mich. (KMIZ)

With his team just one out away from suffering a second straight loss to the Tigers, Royals manager Matt Quatraro called on MJ Melendez to provide a spark off the bench.

The third-year outfielder delivered more than a spark, changing the game with one swing. Melendez skied a 362-foot, go-ahead three-run home run over the right field wall to give Kansas City its first lead of the game, propelling the team to a 3-2 comeback win over Detroit.

Melendez's 13th home run of the season snapped a streak of eight scoreless frames for the Royals offense on Sunday. Before hitting his pinch-hit home run, Kansas City was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and posted seven hits before the team drove a run across the plate.

Melendez and six of his teammates each recorded at least one hit in the contest, led by right fielder Hunter Renfroe who recorded Kansas City's only multi-hit performance.

Michael Wacha answered for the lack of offense with a quality six-inning performance on the mound. The right-hander allowed just two earned runs on seven hits while adding a pair of strikeouts. Kansas City's bullpen aided Wacha's effort with three scoreless frames, culminating in Hunter Harvey securing his first save in a Royals uniform.

Kansas City enters a three-game series against Boston with a record that's 13 games above the .500-mark and sole possession of the American League's final wild card spot. First pitch of the Royals' series opener with the Red Sox is set for Monday, Aug. 5 at 7:10 p.m.