Royals beat Tigers 3-1 in final game of Gordon’s career
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brady Singer finished his rookie season with a stellar performance, Alex Gordon wrapped up his long Royals career and Kansas City ended its season Sunday with a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Adalberto Mondesi and Ryan McBroom homered for the Royals, who finished just above the last-place Tigers in the AL Central in their first season under manager Mike Matheny.
Kansas City (26-34 ) has been fourth in the division in back-to-back seasons. The Royals haven’t reached postseason play since winning the World Series in 2015.
Detroit (23-35) will finish last for the fourth time in six years. Lloyd McClendon wound up the season as the Tigers’ manager after Ron Gardenhire retired on Sept. 19.
Gordon played the final game of his career and got a fond Kansas City farewell.
After striking out in the top of the first, he took his spot in left field to begin the second. Gordon was then pulled and trotted off, hugging teammates and a Tigers opponent, and waving to his family watching in a private box at Kauffman Stadium.
The 36-year-old Gordon retires as one of three players in Royals history to play 14 or more seasons with the franchise. Only Frank White and George Brett had longer tenures in Kansas City. Gordon won seven Gold Gloves.
Singer (4-5) allowed one run, on Brandon Dixon’s double, on three hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked none.
The Royals bullpen held the Tigers hitless in three innings. Jesse Hahn recorded his third save of the season.
Mondesi hit his sixth home run in the fourth, connecting off Tarik Skubel (1-4) to make it 1-all. McBroom hit a solo homer the next inning.
Mondesi doubled home a run in the eighth, his eighth RBI of the season’s final homestand.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Open spring training play against Southeastern on Feb. 26 and start big league schedule the next day at the Yankees in Tampa, Florida.
Royals: Start exhibition play against Texas on Feb. 27 at the camp they share in Surprise, Arizona.
