MLB: Detroit 7, Kansas City 2

DETROIT, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Marcus Thames homered twice and knocked in three runs Sunday afternoon as Detroit beat the Kansas City Royals, 7-2.

Thames hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, and added a solo shot in the third, giving him 17 homers this season.

Detroit’s Ryan Rayburn had two hits, one a solo homer in the eighth, and two RBI.

Carlos Guillen had one RBI, and a run scored on Tony Pena’s second inning throwing error.

Three players had two hits for the Tigers, who won twice in the three-game series.

Winner Justin Verlander (18-6) yielded two earned runs and five hits in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts.

Kansas City got a solo homer from Billy Butler in the second, and one RBI from Jason Smith.

Mark Teahen had a run and two hits for the Royals, who have split their last 10 games.

The losing pitcher was starter Jorge De La Rosa (8-12).