Royals 11, Tigers 8
Rookie Johnny Giavotella capped a four-run seventh with a go-ahead, two-run single and the visiting Kansas City Royals held on for a wild 11-8 victory over the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in three runs for the Royals, who earned a split of the four-game series and finished 5-5 on a 10-game road trip.
Magglio Ordonez homered and drove in three runs for the Tigers, who are 5 1/2 games ahead of both Cleveland and Chicago in the AL Central.
The Royals took advantage of Detroit manager Jim Leyland's decision to push ace Justin Verlander's start back a day. Verlander, who leads the majors with 20 wins, will start Friday's opener of a crucial three-game series with the White Sox instead.
Detroit took an 8-6 lead on Austin Jackson's two-run homer in the sixth, but Kansas City responded with its second four-run inning of the game. Francoeur had an RBI double to right field off Phil Coke (2-9) and rookie Mike Moustakas tied the game at 8 with a single to right.
Giavotella then plated both Francoeur and Moustakas with a bloop single to right off rookie Luis Marte.
Rookie Eric Hosmer added his 15th homer of the season in the eighth and Joakim Soria threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 32 chances. Rookie Aaron Crow (4-4) earned the win despite allowing three runs.