Royals end up on wrong side of 10-7 slugfest with Tigers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Miguel Cabrera wanted to keep a simple approach at the plate after the Detroit Tigers lost six of eight to begin this 11-game three-city trip.

Cabrera and J.D. Martinez each drove in three runs as the Detroit Tigers came from behind to beat the Kansas City Royals 10-7 on Monday night.

The Tigers scored four runs in the eighth, highlighted by Cabrera's two-run single. Cabrera, who reached base four times, walked with the bases loaded in a six-run Detroit fifth inning.

"I think we come in with that mentality today to try to slow the game a little bit," Cabrera said. "We don't try to do too much. Everybody here wants to get the big hit or with a big swing want to score three runs. I think we're pushing too hard. Everybody is trying hard. Everybody wants to do the job. Baseball is hard. It's a long season. I've got faith we're going to come through."

Joakim Soria (2-2), who is 0-for-3 in save situations, retired none of the five batters he faced in the eighth and four scored. He allowed three singles, walked two and allowed a run on a wild pitch.

"He just wasn't sharp and was struggling to find his command," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Two of our best relievers in (Mike) Minor and Soria, they've been consistently good all year. They took some damage tonight. It's a hard game to go out and be great every night."

Martinez hit a three-run homer in the fifth off Minor to give the Tigers a 6-3 lead. That ended Minor's scoreless streak at 14 1/3 innings over 10 appearances.

Whit Merrifield homered, tripled and doubled in his first three at-bats, but flied out to end the seventh. No Royal has hit for the cycle since Hall of Famer George Brett in 1990. Merrifield extended his hitting streak to a personal-best 14 games.

"Opportunities like that don't come around very often," Merrifield said. "I was excited, just the ovation I got that last at-bat, that's something I'll take with me for awhile. That was really cool. ... I got a changeup up. I put the barrel on it, but just got under it. I'd like to have it back."

Alex Gordon walked with the bases loaded and Alcides Escobar had a sacrifice fly in the sixth as the Royals pulled within one run.

Eric Hosmer hit a two-run opposite-field shot in the seventh to put the Royals up 7-6, but Soria failed to hold it. Hosmer homered off Francisco Rodriguez (2-5), who was credited with the victory.

"It was a little bit of a roller coaster," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "It was nice to see the bats perk up. A lot of guys up and down the lineup came up with some big hits.

Justin Wilson pitched the ninth to log his fourth save in five opportunities.

The Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but starter Jason Hammel failed to maintain it, giving up four runs on four hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings. The Royals have won only one of his 10 starts this season.

Tigers starter Daniel Norris was pulled after 96 pitches and five innings, yielding three runs on six hits, including Merrifield's homer in the third inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: C James McCann, who went on the disabled list Friday with a lacerated left hand after being hit by a pitch, is unsure when the five stitches will come out. "We'll just keep an eye on how it's healing," McCann said. "It's done well so far. I've done everything I can to keep it dry and let air get to it and all the things you're supposed to do."

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy is expected to be out six to eight weeks with an oblique strain, which he hurt Sunday while covering first base.

ROSTER MOVE

The Royals recalled RHP Kevin McCarthy from Triple-A Omaha, where he was 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 16 relief appearances. RHP Miguel Almonte was optioned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas after giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in an inning Sunday at Cleveland.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander has a 22-9 record with a 3.23 ERA in 41 career starts against the Royals.

Royals: RHP Eric Skoglund will make his big league debut. He went 2-3 with a 4.53 ERA in eight Triple-A Omaha starts.