In Detroit, Royals try for rare winning streak

The Kansas City Royals haven't been able to string together two wins since late May. They will try to end that dry spell in Detroit on Wednesday afternoon.

The Royals won for just the third time in 18 games on Tuesday, blanking the Tigers 1-0. Matt Beaty, who was promoted from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, drove in the game's lone run.

Beaty was designated for assignment by San Francisco earlier this month and reacquired by the Royals, who had dealt Beaty to the Giants for cash considerations during spring training.

"Coming back here and being able to put the Royals uniform on finally, it's special," Beaty said.

Brady Singer (4-6, 6.33 ERA) will start the rubber match of the three-game series for the Royals. The 26-year-old right-hander has lost his past two starts, most recently falling on Friday when he gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels.

Singer relies on his fastball and slider, with an occasional changeup mixed in.

"The biggest thing that I want to do right now that I haven't been able to do is stay in the zone," Singer said. "I've let some walks go on, bad pitches. I tried to compete in the zone with what I had (Friday) as much as I could. I feel like I can always use the slider when I need to, but to have the slider and the fastball, it's better."

Run support has been an issue. Kansas City has scored a total of five runs in the past four games he has started.

Singer faced Detroit on May 22 and allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings. He gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out three before being removed. He wound up with a no-decision in that game.

Singer has traditionally given the Tigers fits, posting a 6-0 record and 3.05 ERA in 11 career starts against them.

He will be opposed by left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-5, 5.60 ERA), who also has failed to find a consistent groove this season. Boyd inexplicably has pitched poorly in his home park, going 0-5 with an 8.46 ERA in six starts.

Boyd recorded a victory in his most recent outing, at Minnesota on Thursday, lasting six innings while giving up four runs on seven hits and one walk. He also notched eight strikeouts, tying his second-highest total of the season.

All four runs came in the second inning, which included Donovan Solano's three-run homer.

"Just stay the course, stay with my process and it worked out well," Boyd said of overcoming his rough inning. "I felt good. It's unfortunate they hit those mistakes in the second inning. A three-run homer is never ideal. That's tough. But I felt good with my fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. We used it all and got swings and misses with everything. It was solid."

Boyd has faced Kansas City 28 times, including 27 starts, going 7-11 with a 5.32 ERA.

The Tigers had just two hits on Tuesday against Kansas City starter Daniel Lynch (seven innings) and relievers Aroldis Chapman and Scott Barlow (one inning apiece).

"We just didn't do anything offensively to pressure Lynch," Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. "When you go in and swing at a lot of first pitches and we don't generate a lot of hard contact, it makes for a quick night."