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Detroit Tigers inch closer to playoffs with epic 7-6 comeback win vs. Kansas City Royals

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Detroit Tigers inch closer to playoffs with epic 7-6 comeback win vs. Kansas City Royals


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The Detroit Tigers fell behind by four runs on a grand slam by Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. in the third inning, but they chipped away at the deficit in the middle innings.

The never-quit approach from the Tigers resulted in one run in the fourth, three runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth. Along the way, the Tigers received key hits from Colt Keith, Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling, among others.

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“I don’t think anybody thought we were out of it,” Keith said.

The Tigers beat the Royals, 7-6, in Monday’s opener of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

With the win, the Tigers (78-73) trail the Minnesota Twins by 1½ games for the third and final spot in the American League wild card, with 11 games remaining. The Twins blew a three-run lead in a 4-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in the first of four games in their series.

The Tigers have a 23-10 record in their last 33 games.

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“Huge win,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “It was an incredible win because of how we had to do it. … Incredible win and great performance by so many of our guys.”

To get to the finish line, the Tigers had to keep the Royals from scoring in the final four innings after grabbing a 7-6 lead in the sixth inning. They were successful in doing so, thanks to strong performances from relievers Brenan Hanifee, Will Vest, Beau Brieske and Jason Foley.

In the seventh, Vest stranded runners on the corners when he recorded flyouts against both Witt and Salvador Perez. In the eighth, Brieske stranded runners on first and second when he struck out MJ Melendez and induced an inning-ending double play against Maikel Garcia.

Brieske struck out Melendez with a 99.5 mph fastball.

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“A couple different times they responded to us scoring by getting guys on base,” Hinch said. “It’s a ton of pressure. They run a lot. They have a lot of athleticism. There’s a reason why these guys have a ton of wins, and why they’re in the thick of things. They play their 27 outs, too.”

Foley took over for the ninth inning.

He retired pinch-hitter Robbie Grossman, Kyle Isbel and Tommy Pham in order for his 24th save in 27 chances.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

Reese Olson returns

Right-hander Reese Olson returned from a near two-month absence on the injured list. The 25-year-old hadn’t pitched for the Tigers since July 20 because of a right shoulder strain.

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He retired six batters in a row, a product of his nasty slider, before walking Adam Frazier to open the third inning.

“I felt fine,” Olson said. “That’s a win, I guess. The first two innings, I felt about as good as I could. In the third inning, I walked a guy, ground ball finds a hole, the bunt, and then I made one bad pitch. It’s four runs, but the guys picked me up.”

The Royals loaded the bases in the third, thanks to Frazier’s walk, Yuli Gurriel’s single that got past shortstop Trey Sweeney, and Isbel’s perfect bunt single.

Witt took advantage by crushing Olson’s hanging curveball for a grand slam — putting the Royals ahead, 4-0 — with one out in the third inning. After that, Perez slapped a single to right field that chased Olson from his start.

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Olson allowed four runs on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts across 2⅓ innings, throwing 50 pitches. He generated five whiffs on 18 swings, but all five whiffs were from sliders.

Rally Tigers

The Tigers stranded the bases loaded in the third inning, when Keith grounded out, but the Tigers didn’t miss later opportunities to score against right-hander Seth Lugo.

Sweeney delivered a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, cutting the Tigers’ deficit to 4-1. The Royals answered with a run against left-handed reliever Sean Guenther in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth inning, Vierling hit an RBI single and Keith crushed a two-run home run, making it a 5-4 deficit.

Keith pulled Lugo’s first-pitch changeup for a two-run home run to right-center field. It was his 13th homer in 138 games but his first homer since Aug. 24 (and his second homer since July 27).

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“I thought he was going to throw a first-pitch fastball,” Keith said, “and I wanted to hit it to center and get the barrel out on it. He ended up throwing a changeup, left it in the zone, and I just tried to stay through it as best I could. I ended up back-spinning it, so that got it out of the park.”

Lugo allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts across 4⅔ innings, throwing 96 pitches. He entered Monday’s game with a 2.94 ERA but departed with a 3.05 ERA following his 31st start.

The Tigers worked Lugo for 64 pitches in the first three innings, including 24 pitches in both the first and third.

“It’s nothing overpowering,” Spencer Torkelson said. “It’s not like it’s 98 (mph) where you don’t see it. It’s really an at-bat where you get yourself out early if you let him. You know he’s not going to give in. It’s being selective, but not too selective. It’s like a semi-selective aggressive approach.”

Again, the Royals responded with another run — taking a 6-4 lead — on Isbel’s triple and Witt’s infield single against right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee in the bottom of the fifth.

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The Tigers, though, wouldn’t go away.

Back-to-back singles from Andy Ibáñez and Jake Rogers against left-handed reliever Sam Long put runners on the corners in the sixth inning, with Pérez driving them in with a pinch-hit, two-run double into the left-field corner. After that, Vierling shot an RBI single into right field, facing right-handed reliever John Schreiber.

The three-run sixth put the Tigers ahead, 7-6.

“He’s a guy that was hitting in the middle of our order, gets hurt (with an oblique strain), and when he comes back, everything on our team has changed, and he didn’t change,” Hinch said of Pérez. “He hasn’t missed a beat. We hurried him back to get him in the mix because having a switch-hitter, even if it was on the bench, is going to be very valuable to make decisions during the game.”

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.





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Kansas Basketball Gaining Momentum with Top 2025 Five-Star Prospect

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Kansas Basketball Gaining Momentum with Top 2025 Five-Star Prospect


Kansas basketball continues to position itself as the frontrunner for one of the top recruits in the class of 2025: Darryn Peterson.

The No. 3 prospect in the country, Peterson recently hosted a visit from Kansas head coach Bill Self and two of his assistants at Prolific Prep.

Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson takes the ball up the court during the first half at Canton Memorial Field House, Satur

Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson takes the ball up the court during the first half at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. / © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK

Peterson, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, boasts an impressive 6-foot-10 wingspan and a strong, defined frame, giving him the physical tools to excel at the next level.

His blend of size, length, and scoring ability makes him a versatile threat, capable of playing both on and off the ball.

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What truly sets Peterson apart is his natural ability to score and make plays from various spots on the court while maintaining efficiency and poise.

Mar 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self during the second half in the second round of the

Mar 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self during the second half in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Vivint Smart Home Arena-Delta Center. / Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Kansas has been a major player in Peterson’s recruitment, and the Jayhawks remain a strong contender as he approaches decision-making mode.

Kansas State is scheduled to visit Peterson later this month, but many believe that Kansas leads the pack. Peterson also recently visited Ohio State.

Those close to Peterson have indicated that a decision could come before his senior season, meaning Jayhawks fans may not have to wait much longer to find out if they’ve landed one of the best prospects in the 2025 class.

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In addition to Peterson, Kansas is also heavily recruiting the No. 1 overall prospect, AJ Dybantsa.

The combination of Peterson’s scoring versatility and Dybantsa’s dynamic athleticism would instantly elevate the Jayhawks to national championship contenders.

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Winners and Losers from Chiefs’ Week 2 Victory Over Bengals

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Winners and Losers from Chiefs’ Week 2 Victory Over Bengals


Two weeks into the 2024-25 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs have brought both of their games down to the wire. Despite their opponents’ efforts, the back-to-back Super Bowl champs have managed to take down the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals to start the year.

Sunday’s victory over Cincinnati, another home matchup, was a thriller. Neither side of the ball put together an elite performance, but Kansas City mustered enough production to get some late stops on defense and get in field goal range on offense. Thanks to Harrison Butker’s long-range kick as time expired, the Chiefs rose to 2-0 and enter Week 3 with plenty of momentum on their side.

With that in mind, let’s point out some of the Chiefs’ biggest winners and losers from the second week of the regular season.

For the second week in a row, wideout Rashee Rice was far and away the Chiefs’ most impressive pass catcher on offense. This time around, the sophomore receiver posted five receptions on six targets for 75 yards. He also scored his first touchdown of the season after beating Cam Taylor-Britt down the field, showcasing a new wrinkle to his game. If Rice can threaten vertically with any sort of regularity, it completely changes his already promising outlook as a player. Week 2 was a nice flash from Rice.

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Seeing Patrick Mahomes’s name in this section is about as rare as a solar eclipse. The NFL’s best quarterback played like anything but that against Cincinnati, which seems to be a common theme. It’s hard to tell exactly what knocks Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid off their game when the Bengals take the field, but it’s a trend now. Mahomes threw for just 151 yards, which was his lowest full-game total ever, and posted an ugly -0.19 EPA/play on Sunday fueled by a pair of turnovers. He’ll surely bounce back. He’ll need to after such an uncharacteristic performance.

A game-winning field goal has to be about as pressure-packed of a moment as there is in professional sports. Somehow, Harrison Butker makes those plays look routine. It’s uncommon for just about everyone in the stadium or watching from home to chalk up a 51-yarder as a make, yet that seemed to be the case when the veteran placekicker stepped up on Sunday afternoon. Kicking woes plague teams on several occasions throughout the league every season, although Kansas City doesn’t really have to experience that. When Butker is healthy and available, there may not be anyone better in the sport.

Rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia drew the short straw when he got matched up with Trey Hendrickson this weekend. Folks knew he’d be in for a long day, but seeing him struggle so mightily was still a bit of a shock. The second-round pick surrendered multiple pressures and sacks, also committing costly holding penalties in Week 2. After benching Suamataia late in the fourth quarter, Reid isn’t committing to him as his sure-fire starter for this Sunday. This writer would still lean that he’s back in the lineup, but that being in question is never a good thing.

With each passing game, there becomes more and more of an argument for Trent McDuffie being a top-five cornerback in the NFL. The former first-round selection picked back up where he left off on Sunday, lining up across from Ja’Marr Chase on 17 routes and holding him to one reception for four yards. Joe Burrow didn’t challenge McDuffie much, and for good reason. Regardless of his assignment or alignment, the Washington product simply produces. The Chiefs miss L’Jarius Sneed, sure, but the presence of McDuffie helps mitigate that loss more than most other teams would benefit from.

Let’s preface this by saying it’s still early in the season and from a quality standpoint, Travis Kelce doesn’t look like a diminished player. He’s still capable of being effective and getting open. With that said, four catches for 39 yards in two games is a steep fall from what many have grown to expect from the future Hall of Fame man. On Sunday, he was targeted three times but brought in a lone pass for five yards. Kelce deserves the benefit of the doubt – and likely a few more weeks to get going – but as his 35th birthday approaches, the concern surrounding his lack of production will only grow louder. A big game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3 could nip that in the bud.

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Read More: Report Adds Unfortunate Context to Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown Return Timeline



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Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Exudes Style in Chunky All-Black Sneakers and Off-White Jersey and Shorts for Cincinnati Bengals Game Arrival

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Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Exudes Style in Chunky All-Black Sneakers and Off-White Jersey and Shorts for Cincinnati Bengals Game Arrival


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Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs was spotted prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium today in Kansas City. The football star’s girlfriend Taylor Swift was also in attendance.

Ahead of the game, the tight end laced up all-black sneakers in a chunky style. The silhouette, likely from Nike, included cloth uppers with glossy black accents, forest green trim around the ankles and coordinating black lace-up closures.

Travis Kelce, sneakers, all-black, Nike, Kansas City Chiefs, jersey, Off-White, Cincinnati Bengals

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs arrives prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City.

Rubber non-slip soles rounded out the set. The sneaker pick can be likened to skateboarding-inspired styles. Kelce paired his all-black kicks with black and white Nike socks. Similar styles to Kelce’s own can be purchased from brands like Adidas, Prada, Balenciaga, Asos and Dior, among others.

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Repping his favorite brand from head to toe, the athlete sported a green, black and white long-sleeve jersey from Nike in collaboration with Off-White. Crafted of 100% polyester, the crew neck featured a wavy psychedelic print with striking embroidered branding fixed to the front. Co-branding can be found throughout. In a less sporty twist, Kelce donned black leather shorts with silver zipper accents, making his look more street-style-inspired.

Travis Kelce, sneakers, all-black, Nike, Kansas City Chiefs, jersey, Off-White, Cincinnati BengalsTravis Kelce, sneakers, all-black, Nike, Kansas City Chiefs, jersey, Off-White, Cincinnati Bengals

A closer look at Travis Kelce’s shoes.

Kelce boasts strong footwear choices, making him a strong contender for most-fashionable NFL player. Standing at 6’5, the athlete wields a striking size 14 or 15 size shoe, but that depends on the brand.

Both on and off the field, you’ll usually find the football star in an array of styles from Nike, given he signed a footwear and apparel deal with the brand upon entering the NFL in 2013. Since then, both powerhouses have collaborated giving Kelce a signature line and Nike Alpha Menace 4 Elite player-exclusive cleats in a “Travis Kelce” colorway. Nike styles Kelce has worn recently have included Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Air Force 1 Low Premium, Nike Mars Yard 2.0 and Air Jordan 1 Low x Travis Scott Black Phantom sneakers.

Travis Kelce, sneakers, all-black, Nike, Kansas City Chiefs, jersey, Off-White, Cincinnati BengalsTravis Kelce, sneakers, all-black, Nike, Kansas City Chiefs, jersey, Off-White, Cincinnati Bengals

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs arrives prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City.

Launch Gallery: Travis Kelce’s Sporty Style Over The Years: Sneakers, Loafers & More

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