Omar Infante went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI as the red-hot Kansas City Royals opened a key four-game series with the Detroit Tigers with an 11-8 decision at Comerica Park.
The Royals racked up 17 hits and battered the struggling Justin Verlander for seven runs in six innings en route to their eighth consecutive victory, though they had to withstand a six-run ninth by the Tigers that was highlighted by J.D. Martinez's grand slam.
Billy Butler added a three-run double and Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain each finished 3-for-5 with an RBI for Kansas City, which now sits just a half-game back of Detroit for first place in the AL Central.
Jason Vargas (7-2) did his part on the mound as well, holding the Tigers to two runs on seven hits through seven effective innings.
Verlander (6-7), on the other hand, was tagged for 12 hits to fall to 1-5 over his last six outings. The former AL Cy Young winner has now allowed five or more runs in six of his past seven assignments.
Rajai Davis went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs for Detroit, while Victor Martinez collected two hits, an RBI and two runs scored.
[SportsNetwork.com]
