Kolek called it “really big” to get a win Saturday and said he was “pumped to help the team out in any way I can.” He pitched with poise and showcased a variety of pitches throughout his start, dueling with Detroit standout Jack Flaherty. Kolek relied on his affinity for groundballs to stymie the Tigers’ offense.
“He threw a ton of strikes and got a bunch of groundballs,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Kolek. “Made some nice plays behind him, but he was unpredictable. He used everything: slider, changeup, sweeper, two- and four-seam. The cutter was good to lefties, too. You give him a lot of credit. It’s a good lineup and he was on the attack.”