Royals 1, Tigers 0
Ervin Santana threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings to win for the first time in six weeks and lift visiting Kansas City to a much-needed victory.
Eric Hosmer drove in the game's only run with an RBI triple in the first inning and Santana and three relievers made it stand up as the Royals remained 3 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the second wild card. The game ended when Alcides Escobar threw out Prince Fielder at the plate as he tried to score on a double by Omar Infante.
Santana (9-9) allowed five hits and struck out five for his first victory since Aug. 4, ending a seven-start winless drought and lifting his career record to 8-3 versus Detroit. Greg Holland notched his 43rd save thanks to the stellar defense from Alex Gordon and Escobar to end the game.
Doug Fister (12-9) was a hard-luck loser, giving up one run on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings as the first-place Tigers saw their lead over Cleveland cut to five games in the American League Central.
Kansas City got the only run it needed when Gordon led off the game with a single and scored on Hosmer's run-scoring triple to right-center.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Royals 2B Emilio Bonifacio was ejected in the third inning after he was picked off at first base on a close play and threw his helmet. Chris Getz took his place. ... Tigers DH Victor Martinez went 2-for-4, his third two-hit game in the past five contests. ... Royals 1B Carlos Pena, who was signed late last month after he was released by Houston, underwent an emergency appendectomy Saturday morning. He is expected to miss the rest of the season.