Boyd can't repeat past Nebraska magic vs. KC

OMAHA, Neb. -- Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd was truly excited about having the opportunity to pitch another game at TD Ameritrade Park.

But Boyd, who threw a shutout for Oregon State when he last worked in Omaha at the College World Series in 2013, could not rekindle the Nebraska magic on Thursday night. Boyd was stung by a Nicky Lopez homer leading off the second inning and it never got much better for Detroit in a 7-3 loss to the Royals.

Boyd, who balked home the second Kansas City run and later surrendered a two-run double to Whit Merrifield, left after delivering 94 pitches in four innings. It was the shortest outing by Boyd since he went four innings against the Astros on May 13.

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The Royals snapped a streak of 16 consecutive non-winning series with their victory in the rubber game of this set. Boyd allowed six hits and five runs (four earned) in his four innings.

This was the first MLB game played in the state of Nebraska. The Tigers lauded the event, which enabled the eight College World Series teams to take in an MLB game two days before the tournament commences.

“It was exciting and really good to play here,” Boyd said. “Things could have happened differently. I just didn’t have my fastball command like I’ve had.”

The balk call on Boyd came in the second inning and symbolized a night of frustration for the Tigers.

“He did about the same thing two times and on that one [first-base umpire Joe West] said it was a balk,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “It’s the slide step and it’s normally fine. But from Joe’s perspective, Joe thought he went too far.”

The Tigers’ offense didn’t do much early against Royals starter Homer Bailey and Kansas City built a 7-0 lead after six innings.

“[Bailey] did his thing and held us off for long enough,” Gardenhire said.

Although he was warming up in the bullpen when the eight college teams took the field with the two Major League teams in a pregame ceremony, Tigers starter Boyd could sense how special the moment must have been for the college players.

“I have to think that was a really special opportunity that they had,” Boyd said. “Baseball is so pure at the college level. The Draft is over and it’s a bunch of selfless guys trying to represent the name on the front of the jersey the best they can. To have had the opportunity that we all had in coming together like this tonight is a very cool thing.”