Royals blast Tigers 8-3 for series sweep

Cole Ragans struck out a career-high 12 batters, Freddy Fermin drove in three runs, and the host Kansas City Royals completed a three-game series sweep by downing the Detroit Tigers 8-3 on Wednesday afternoon.

Ragans (4-3) gave up just one hit and walked three in six scoreless innings. Bobby Witt Jr. supplied a two-run double and Nelson Velazquez had a solo homer for the Royals. Maikel Garcia had two hits and scored two runs.

Detroit starter Tarik Skubal (6-1) gave up four runs and six hits in five innings with six strikeouts. Andy Ibanez led the offense with a two-run double.

The Royals broke through in the second inning. Velazquez drew a one-out walk before Fermin ripped a double off the left-center field wall, allowing Velazquez to score. After a strikeout, Garrett Hampson lofted a double to the warning track in left to score Fermin.

Ragans struck out six of the first eight batters before walking Jake Rogers. Ragans then struck out Ibanez with a slider.

Velazquez led off the bottom of the inning with his fourth homer, a blast to left-center off a Skubal fastball.

After getting the first out in the fifth, Skubal gave up consecutive singles to Garcia, Witt and Vinny Pasquantino, with Garcia scoring to make it 4-0.

Ragans recorded his 10th strikeout against Ibanez to start off the sixth. Matt Vierling then drew a four-pitch walk. With two out, Riley Greene ended the no-hit bid with an opposite-field single. Ragans struck out Gio Urshela to end that threat.

Detroit got on the board against Will Smith in the seventh. Cole Keith walked and Rogers had a one-out single before Ibanez doubled to left to knock in both runners.

Kansas City responded in the bottom of the inning. Adam Frazier walked and Garcia singled, then stole second. Witt delivered both runners with a double. After the Royals loaded the bases, Fermin ripped a two-run single to center.

Baez had an RBI single in the eighth.

--Field Level Media