DETROIT — A late rally by the Kansas City Royals came up just short, and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 5-4 victory at Comerica Park on Thursday afternoon.
Tigers starter Doug Fister set a new American League record after striking out nine consecutive batters. Fister (3.38 ERA) finished with 10 strikeouts, giving up three runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings.
The Tigers (84-72, 50-31 home) now lead the Chicago White Sox by 1.5 games for first place in the AL Central.
An RBI triple by left fielder Quintin Berry gave Detroit a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Kansas City stormed back to score three runs in the eighth, and tied the game on a solo home run by Billy Butler in the ninth.
The Tigers were quick to respond. Catcher Alex Avila grounded out to first for the walk-off RBI in the ninth.
The Royals (70-86, 34-44 away) finished the game with five errors. Three of those errors were charged to third baseman Mike Moustakas.
Royals starter Luis Mendoza (4.36 ERA) surrendered four runs on seven hits in seven innings, fanning six and walking one. Lefty reliever Tim Collins (5-4, 3.39 ERA) earned the loss.
Royals lefty Will Smith (6-8, 4.88 ERA) takes the hill against Cleveland Indians lefty David Huff (2-0, 2.25 ERA) for game one of three on Friday night at Progressive Field.