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Rookie pitcher Brady Singer, Kansas City Royals beat Detroit Tigers to escape AL Central basement

The Detroit Tigers’ Daz Cameron, right, is congratulated by teammate Christin Stewart after scoring on a double by Brandon Dixon during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday. (AP photo)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brady Singer finished his rookie season with a stellar performance, Alex Gordon wrapped up his long Royals career with a fond farewell 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 Tigers in the AL Central in their first season under manager Mike Matheny.

“My regrets are that we have we don’t have 100 more games, because with what we are starting to put in place, the building blocks of a winning team, you are starting to see those come together,” Matheny said.

The Royals finished the season going 12-6 in an 18-game stretch to end the year, which was one of the best in the AL in that span.

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) finished 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.

“They gave us everything they had every day,” McClendon said.

“Some days were better than others, and that happens with young players, but they’re learning what preparation is all about and what it takes to get to the next level,” he said.

Singer (4-5) allowed one run, on Brandon Dixon’s double, on three hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked none.

“In the first inning, I started to struggle there and went in an made a little mechanical adjustment and took off from there,” Singer said.

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.

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