KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 20 (UPI) -- Mike Moustakas belted a go-ahead homer and the Kansas City bullpen tossed three scoreless innings Saturday, nailing down the Royals' 6-5 win over Detroit.
The Royals led 5-3 after four innings, but the Tigers fought back to tie it in the top of the fifth on a two-run single from Alex Avila.
Moustakas, however, responded in the bottom of the innings, smacking a 2-0 pitch from Justin Verlander into the Royals' bullpen for the decisive blow.
He finished 3-for-4 and Salvador Perez drove in three runs for Kansas City.
Jeremy Guthrie (9-7) earned the win despite surrendering five runs on 10 hits over six innings, leaving it for Tim Collins, Luke Hochevar and Aaron Crow to follow with two shutout innings of relief.
Greg Holland threw a scoreless ninth for his 24th save as the Royals clinched their three-game series with American League Central-leading Detroit.
Verlander (10-7) was tagged for six runs (five earned) on eight hits in a 5 2/3-inning effort.
Victor Martinez went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Tigers.
