Tigers 7, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- J.D. Martinez singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers came from behind to beat the Kansas City Royals 7-4 Wednesday night.
The Tigers sent 10 men to the plate in the four-run eighth, capped by the right fielder's hit. Detroit chased Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez, who entered the game with a 7-2 record and 2.60 ERA at home.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler hit a two-run double for the big blow of the inning. Kinsler is 5-for-13 with four RBIs off Volquez.
Martinez' s single past shortstop Alcides Escobar with the infield close scored shortstop Jose Iglesias to put the Tigers up 5-4. Kinsler scored the final run of the inning on left fielder Tyler Collins fielder's choice grounder to first baseman Eric Hosmer.
The Tigers padded their lead in the ninth when designated hitter Victor Martinez doubled to score Kinsler.
Volquez (11-7) was charged with the loss, surrendering six runs, five earned, on two walks over seven innings, plus four batters.
Neftali Feliz (2-3), the second of four Tigers pitchers, picked up the victory. Bruce Rondon worked the ninth for his second save, although he hit right fielder Alex Rios and walked second baseman Omar Infante to create some tension.
The Tigers led off the first three innings with hits and converted those into two runs.
Center fielder Anthony Gose singled to center to start the game. Shortstop Jose Iglesias hit a comebacker to Volquez that could have been a double play grounder. Instead, Volquez's throw to second was off the mark for an error.
Gose moved to third on second baseman Kinsler's flyout to center fielder Lorenzo Cain and scored on designated hitter Victor Martinez's sacrifice fly to Cain.
Detroit left fielder Tyler Collins started the second with a double down the left-field line and scored on third baseman Nick Castellanos' single to center.
The Royals tied the score with two runs in the third. Right fielder Alex Rios doubled to begin the inning. With two outs, shortstop Alcides Escobar tripled to center, scoring Rios. When Iglesias' relay throw to third wound up in the Tigers' dugout, Escobar scored.
In the fourth, the Royals went ahead 4-2. Cain doubled to right center leading off the inning, stole third and scored on first baseman Eric Hosmer's opposite-field double. With one out, Tigers rookie left-hander Daniel Morris walked third baseman Mike Moustakas and Rios to load the bases. Second baseman Omar Infante's sacrifice fly got Hosmer home.
NOTES: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera probably will come off the disabled list Friday and start against the Astros. Cabrera went on the disabled list July 4 with a strained left calf. ... Royals C Salvador Perez was not in the lineup because of a sore left wrist. Drew Butera replaced him. ... Royals RHP Wade Davis threw in the bullpen and could be available soon after not pitching in the past six games. ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie will start the four-game series opener Thursday against the Angels, who will counter with RHP Garrett Richards. ... The Tigers are off Thursday before opening a weekend series at Houston, with RHP Alfredo Simon starting the first game.