Tigers 6, Royals 5, 11 innings
DETROIT -- Ian Kinsler led off the 11th inning with his 11th home run of the season Saturday night to give the Detroit Tigers a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Despite the loss, Kansas City's magic number for clinching the American League Central Division title dropped to four because Minnesota lost a doubleheader to the Los Angeles Angels.
Lefty Tom Gorzelanny (2-2) picked up the victory for two scoreless relief inning for Detroit while right-hander Miguel Almonte (0-1), who also gave up a home run to Kinsler in his major league debut Sept. 1, suffered the loss.
It was Detroit's third straight extra innings game, all wins.
An umpire-initiated review negated what seemed to be Detroit's winning run in regulation. A safe call at the plate on an apparent one-out sacrifice fly was overturned, sending the game into extra innings.
Second baseman Kinsler was called safe at the plate on a mad dash to score on a one-out fly ball to center fielder Jarrod Dyson. But the review, called by crew chief and home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom, determined catcher Salvador Perez tagged Kinsler before he crossed the plate, keeping the game at 5-5.
First baseman Eric Hosmer had tied the score at 5-5 with a solo home run off right-hander Bruce Rondon with one out in the eighth. It was his 15th home run of the season and the Royals' third of the game.
Designated hitter Victor Martinez had slammed a two-run home run, his 10th, in the seventh to give Detroit a 5-4 lead. Right-hander Chris Young had walked first baseman Miguel Cabrera with one out before Martinez struck.
Tigers right-hander Al Alburquerque gift-wrapped two runs for Kansas City in the top of the seventh. He wild-pitched home a run to tie the score at 3, and gave up a two-out single to shortstop Christian Colon to make it 4-3.
Right-hander Edinson Volquez lasted six innings for Kansas City, allowing three runs on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Lefty Matt Boyd allowed three hits over six innings for Detroit with one walk and six strikeouts.
NOTES: Kansas City 2B Omar Infante is "seriously sore," manager Ned Yost said and his return to action is indeterminate. He left Friday night after five innings with a left oblique strain. ... LHP Matt Boyd, coming up on a loose innings limit, will make just two more starts for Detroit this season. ... SS Alcides Escobar, hit in the left elbow with a pitch Friday night, was not in Saturday night's starting lineup for the Royals. He is not expected to be out of action long. ... The Tigers entered Saturday sporting a 36-27 record against division opponents.