The Detroit Tigers secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, but the win came at a cost as utility man Zach McKinstry exited the game with an injury. McKinstry's night was a physically taxing one, marked by two separate collisions at third base with Royals rookie Jac Caglianone.

The trouble began in the third inning when a tangle at the bag left McKinstry with a wrenched shoulder. He bravely stayed in the game, but his night ended in the seventh after Caglianone, running to third, tripped him up as he charged a ground ball. McKinstry hobbled off the field favoring his ankle and did not return.

Manager AJ Hinch was forced into swift defensive reshuffling, inserting Wenceel Pérez into the game. The moves saw Kevin McGonigle shift from shortstop to third and Javier Báez move from center field to shortstop.

In a dramatic twist, Pérez, batting in McKinstry's spot, led off the bottom of the eighth inning and launched a go-ahead home run to right field, breaking a 1-1 tie and proving the value of a deep roster. The Tigers will now await word on the severity of McKinstry's injuries as they look to maintain their momentum.