Kenley Jansen gets 479th save, moves past Lee Smith, as Tigers top Royals 2-1 for 4th win in row

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Kenley Jansen gets 479th save, moves past Lee Smith, as Tigers top Royals 2-1 for 4th win in row

Kenley Jansen gets 479th save, moves past Lee Smith, as Tigers top Royals 2-1 for 4th win in row

Kenley Jansen gets 479th save, moves past Lee Smith, as Tigers top Royals 2-1 for 4th win in row

Kenley Jansen gets 479th save, moves past Lee Smith, as Tigers top Royals 2-1 for 4th win in row

Kenley Jansen etched his name deeper into baseball history on Tuesday night, securing his 479th career save to pass Hall of Famer Lee Smith for sole possession of third place on the all-time list. The milestone moment capped a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory for the Detroit Tigers over the Kansas City Royals, extending their winning streak to four games.

With the Tigers clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth, Jansen navigated a tense inning. After allowing a leadoff single and a stolen base, he induced key groundouts before sealing the deal with a flyout. The save places the veteran closer in truly elite company, with only the legendary Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601) ahead of him.

The Tigers' win was a testament to late-game resilience. Trailing 1-0 entering the eighth inning, they mounted a rally against the Royals' bullpen. Zach McKinstry sparked the comeback with a leadoff double, eventually scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game. Rookie Dillon Dingler then delivered the decisive blow, smoking a 106.7 mph RBI double down the left-field line to complete the turnaround.

Both starting pitchers delivered gems, setting the stage for the late drama. Detroit's Framber Valdez allowed just one run on three hits over seven strong innings, while Kansas City's Cole Ragans was equally dominant, surrendering only one hit across six scoreless frames.

The Royals faced adversity early when left fielder Isaac Collins exited the game in the first inning after bruising his knee flipping over a wall chasing a foul ball. The series continues Wednesday, though forecasts of heavy rain could challenge the scheduled pitching matchup between Detroit's Jack Flaherty and Kansas City's Seth Lugo.

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