KANSAS CITY — Kyle Isbel delivered a night to remember, and the Royals are riding a wave of momentum. Isbel's walk-off single in the ninth inning capped a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday, extending Kansas City's hot streak to six wins in their last eight games.

The game was a showcase of resilience and defensive brilliance. Trailing 3-1 in the eighth, the Royals mounted a comeback. Michael Massey led off with a double, setting the stage for Isbel and Maikel Garcia to deliver back-to-back RBI singles. Isbel's hit was especially eventful—he took third base when the ball slipped past Tigers right fielder Wenceel Pérez for a two-base error, putting the tying run 90 feet away.

Then came the ninth. With two outs, pinch-hitter Nick Loftin doubled to keep the inning alive. Isbel stepped to the plate and sliced an opposite-field single just past the diving glove of third baseman Kevin McGonigle, scoring Loftin for Isbel's first career walk-off hit and the Royals' third walk-off win of the season. The crowd erupted as Kansas City improved to a perfect 6-1 in their City Connect uniforms—a streak that's quickly becoming a fan favorite.

But Isbel's impact wasn't limited to the batter's box. In the eighth inning, he made a spectacular diving backhand catch in left-center to rob Pérez of an extra-base hit with a runner on base. Two pitches later, he sprinted back to make an over-the-head, inning-ending grab of Spencer Torkelson's drive just in front of the warning track. It was the kind of defensive sequence that changes a game—and maybe a season.

Lucas Erceg (3-1) earned the win after stranding two runners in the ninth when Colt Keith popped out. The Tigers, who have now lost four straight, struggled to capitalize on opportunities, going just 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Detroit struck first in the second inning on a run-scoring double-play grounder from Torkelson, but the Royals answered immediately with an RBI single from Isaac Collins. The Tigers regained the lead in the sixth on a two-out RBI double from Pérez, though the play was controversial—shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. took Isbel's throw from left and made a strong relay to catcher Carter Jansen, but the ball popped out of the glove just as the runner slid home. Torkelson later added an RBI double off Nick Mears to make it 3-1.

Royals starter Kris Bubic pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks, while Tigers starter Keider Montero was sharp over six innings, surrendering just one run on three hits.

In other Tigers news, Detroit signed right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor league contract, adding depth to their bullpen. The Tigers will look to bounce back behind right-hander Burch Smith (0-1) in Saturday's matchup.

For now, though, the night belongs to Isbel—and to a Royals team that's finding ways to win in dramatic fashion.