Tigers 7, Royals 5
The Kansas City Royals smacked out 16 hits and put up five runs in the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough to get past the Detroit Tigers, who held on on for a 7-5 decision on Monday.
The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Royals answered back with the five runs to take the lead. But Will Rhymes had a two-run shot - his first of the season - in the sixth to put Detroit ahead for good. Alex Avila went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and added his sixth homer of the year - a solo shot - in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Tigers some insurance.
Yuniesky Betancourt was 4-for-4 and drove in three RBIs with his 16th home run for the Royals. Kansas City was 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position while stranding eight on base.
Detroit starter Rick Porcello gave up five runs on 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings and Brad Thomas (6-2) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief. Phil Coke picked up his second save of the year for the Tigers.
Kansas City starter Zach Greinke (9-13) allowed five runs over six innings while striking out three to take the loss.