Royals 6, Tigers 2
DETROIT -- Alcides Escobar and Eric Hosmer drove in two runs apiece to back a strong pitching performance by Jeremy Guthrie as the Kansas City Royals downed the Detroit Tigers 6-2 on Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Escobar, the Royals' shortstop, smacked a leadoff homer and added an RBI single for the Royals (19-11), who moved a half-game ahead of the Tigers atop the American League Central. First baseman Eric Hosmer also drove in runs during the first two innings.
Guthrie (2-2), who allowed six runs on 11 hits to the Tigers in a loss on Sunday, limited Detroit to two runs on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings this time. His only other victory came in his first start on April 11.
Losing pitcher Anibal Sanchez (2-4), who held the Royals to three runs in 7 1/3 innings on Sunday, allowed five earned runs on nine hits in six innings in this game. He was 6-2 with a 1.40 ERA against the Royals entering the game.
Third baseman Nick Castellanos drove in both runs for Detroit (19-12).
Escobar hit Sanchez's first pitch over the left-field wall for his first home run of the season. Hosmer's RBI double made it 2-0.
The Royals scored twice more in the second on run-scoring singles by Escobar and Hosmer.
Detroit scored in the bottom of the inning on Castellanos' sacrifice fly. Catcher Drew Butera's bases-loaded groundout in the third brought home Kansas City's fifth run.
Second baseman Omar Infante, who had three hits, made it 6-1 with his fourth-inning RBI single.
Castellanos knocked in the Tigers' final run with an RBI triple in the sixth.
NOTES: Detroit C Alex Avila was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, retroactive to Thursday, with a loose body in his right knee. Avila, who is hitting .200 with two home runs and eight RBIs, had an MRI on Friday and will likely require arthroscopic surgery. C Bryan Holaday was recalled from Triple-A Toledo. Holaday, who played 62 games with the Tigers last season, was batting .230 with one home run and nine RBIs in 18 games with the Mud Hens. ... Tigers LHP David Price has a mild right hamstring strain and it's uncertain if he will miss a start. Price, who was injured stepping on a bat while trying to back up home plate on Friday, underwent an MRI on Saturday morning. ... Royals RHP Chris Young will start Sunday night's nationally televised game, according to manager Ned Yost. The 6-foot-10 veteran held the Tigers hitless while striking out nine on May 1 in his only start this season. ... The leadoff home run by Royals SS Alcides Escobar was the team's first since Lorenzo Cain hit one against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 25, 2014.