Royals 5, Tigers 1
DETROIT -- Salvador Perez had three hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.
The Kansas City catcher, who had been 2-for-21 on the team's 10-game road trip, knocked in the first three runs of the game. First baseman Eric Hosmer had two hits and scored twice while left fielder Ben Zobrist and right fielder Alex Rios drove in the other runs for the Royals (63-42).
Danny Duffy (5-5) notched the victory, going seven innings and allowing one run on five hits. That matched his second-longest outing of the season.
Tigers starter Justin Verlander (1-4) also lasted seven innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out five. Third baseman Nick Castellanos added three hits for the Tigers (51-55) in the opener of the three-game series.
Earlier in the day, the Tigers made a surprise move by replacing longtime president and general manager Dave Dombrowski with his assistant, Al Avila. Dombrowski had been with the club for 14 seasons and made three major deals last week before the trade deadline.
Perez had a .429 average against Verlander in 35 previous at-bats and did more damage to stake his club to a 3-0 lead.
He knocked in the game's first run in the second inning with a one-out single. That brought in Hosmer, who led off the inning with a single and advanced on another by third baseman Mike Moustakas.
Perez gave Kansas City a 3-0 lead in the fourth with his team-high 16th home run, a two-run shot over the left-field wall.
Left fielder Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly, which knocked in second baseman Omar Infante, made it 4-0 in the fifth. Duffy then wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning.
NOTES: Al Avila found out Saturday afternoon during a phone call from Tigers owner Mike Ilitch that he would be replacing Dave Dombrowski as the team's GM. "I think I am uniquely qualified and I'm prepared to do this," said Avila, who has served under Dombrowski for 14 years. "I've been waiting a long time. I just turned 57 years old on Sunday and I'm very excited." ... The Tigers named Matt Boyd, one of three left-handed pitchers they acquired from Toronto for ace David Price last week, as their starter for Wednesday's game. Boyd had an 0-2 record and 14.85 ERA in two starts with the Blue Jays but was 9-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 19 minor league starts. ... New Royals ace RHP Johnny Cueto, acquired from Cincinnati last week, will make his second start for Kansas City on Wednesday. He got a no-decision in his first outing against Toronto. ... The Royals began a stretch of nine straight games against division opponents.