CHICAGO (AP) — When the Chicago White Sox scheduled Greek Heritage Night for Tuesday, they probably didn’t consider that Mike Moustakas would be in the visiting dugout.

Moustakas put a capper on the festivities by homering twice to help the Kansas City Royals snap a four-game losing streak with a 7-1 rout.

Afterward, Moustakas was asked if he was aware of the promotion.

“Oh, I knew,” he said. “I was telling everybody that today was my day. It just ended up working out that way.”

Moustakas, who has 12 homers this season, went 3 for 5 with three RBIs. He raised his batting average to .198

The Royals entered the game with a major league-worst 55 homers and had managed a total of six runs during the losing streak.

“He’s starting to swing the bat pretty good,” manager Ned Yost said of Moustakas. “We’ve seen him in spurts, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching. When he’s right, he’s putting good swings on the ball.

“Tonight he was really seeing the ball good, he was in a good position to hit and he was really driving the ball.”

Bruce Chen (2-2) allowed one run and five hits in five innings to get the win.

Chen has 82 career victories to tie former New York Yankees great Mariano Rivera for the most wins by a Panamanian.

“For me, he’s one of the best pitchers to ever pitch in the big leagues and to tie him for most wins by a Panamanian really means a lot to me, and my family is very happy,” Chen said.

Adam Dunn went 2 for 4 with a solo homer for the White Sox, who had won three of four.

Chicago starter Scott Carroll (4-6) allowed five runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings.

“I thought I was just rusty; that’s kind of the way I felt,” Carroll said. “Overall, I just didn’t think I had my best stuff. But I have to be better, the sixth inning is what really got me. Up until that point I just felt rusty.”

The Royals had a players-only meeting before the game and needed a good start. Moustakas provided it when he led off the second with a long homer to right field to make it 1-0. The White Sox tied it when Dunn led off the fourth with a homer to left.

The Royals broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning thanks to some timely hits — another missing element during the losing streak — and White Sox miscues.

Billy Butler led off with a double and the next batter, Raul Ibanez, drove him in with a double to make it 2-1. Alcides Escobar followed with an infield hit to put runners on first and third, and Ibanez scored on a passed ball as Nori Aoki walked for a 3-1 lead.

That was all for Carroll as Javy Guerra entered.

Guerra, though, immediately dug a deeper hole with his defense. With runners on first and second, Jarrod Dyson bunted back to the vicinity of the mound. Guerra fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first base was wild and sailed by second baseman Gordon Beckham and down the right field line, allowing Escobar to score on the throwing error.

The Royals capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly by Omar Infante to make it 5-1.

“The tack-on runs were huge for us right there,” Yost said.

Moustakas added a two-run homer in the eighth.

— Associated Press —

The Kansas City Royals return for their first home stand after the All Star Break with some fun promotions this week.

The Royals host the Cleveland Indians (July 24-27) and the Minnesota Twins (July 29-31). Throughout the homestand, fans can be a part of some terrific events including Mizzou Night (July 25), Faith and Family Night (July 26) and Hunting and Fishing Night (July 29). Fans will also have the opportunity to get some great giveaways including a special edition Omar Infante poster (July 27) and another edition of T-Shirt Tuesday (July 29).

Thursday, July 24 – Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.
· GordoNation – Fans can enjoy being a part of GordoNation, a special seating section in left field that will be reserved for die-hard Alex Gordon fans on Thursday home games throughout the season. The first 100 GordoNation fans will also receive an Alex Gordon big head. Tickets cost $35 and come with a gold GordoNation t-shirt. (photo attached) For details, visit www.royals.com/gordonation.

· All You Can Eat Seats – Fans can purchase All You Can Eat Seats located in the Loge Level (Sec. 318 – 325), which include unlimited ballpark fare. All the hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, pretzels and Pepsi products you can handle for $40 per seat! Individual and group discount tickets are available. For details, visit www.royals.com/allyoucaneat.

Friday, July 25 – Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.
Mizzou Night – Supporters of The University of Missouri can join fellow Tigers for a day of big league action presented by FOX Sports Kansas City and Rally House. Visit www.royals.com/mizzou for details or to purchase discounted tickets. The first 3,500 Mizzou fans who bring their Mizzou Night discounted ticket to the Tigers table located inside Hy-Vee Gate B will receive a limited edition black and gold KC Royals Mizzou cap.
· Buck Night – Hot dogs, small Pepsi products and peanuts are just $1 each all night long. www.royals.com/fanvalue.
· Summer Fireworks – Fans will enjoy a spectacular fireworks show, presented by Hy-Vee and Pepsi, after the game.

Saturday, July 26 – Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 6:10 p.m.
· Faith and Family Night presented by Hobby Lobby – The postgame festivities include appearances by select Royals personnel and Scott Dawson. Contemporary Christian musician Matthew West will also perform. Tickets for the game and postgame event start at just $10! www.royals.com/faith.

Sunday, July 27 – Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 1:10 p.m.
· Omar Infante Poster – The first 10,000 fans will get a poster of Royals second baseman Omar Infante, courtesy of Pittcraft Printing and The Kansas City Steak Company.
· Mother/Son Day ­– Mothers and sons can enjoy a special day at the ballpark by purchasing a ticket package that includes a limited edition hat and commemorative photo. For more information, visit www.royals.com/family.
· Family FunDay Sunday – Each Sunday home game features pregame interactive kids entertainment by School of Rock, plus face painters, caricature or balloon artists in the Outfield Experience. New this season, fans also have the opportunity to get pregame autographs from select players each Sunday. All-Day Play Passes for unlimited activities in the Outfield Experience are available for just $10. In addition, the Royals are offering a Family FunDay Sunday 4-Pack that includes four Hy-Vee Infield tickets, $10 in loaded value per ticket to use for concessions and merchandise and four All-Day Play Passes – over $150 in value – for just $80! For more information, visit www.royals.com/sunday.
· Sunday Fun Run – All fans 14 and under can run the bases after the game (conditions permitting).

Monday, July 28 – Off Day

Tuesday, July 29 – Minnesota Twins vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.
· Hunting and Fishing Night – The Royals have teamed up with Heartland Waterfowl to present Hunting and Fishing Night at The K that includes a special Field Plaza or Hy-Vee Infield ticket offer.

The first 750 people who bring the Hunting and Fishing Night ticket to the Hunting and Fishing Night table will receive a limited edition KC fishing lure. For groups of 20 of more, please call (816) 504-4168. Visit www.royals.com/huntingandfishing for more information.

· T-shirt Tuesday – The first 10,000 fans will receive a heather blue vintage Royals t-shirt, courtesy of Sprint.

Wednesday, July 30 – Minnesota Twins vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.
Student Night presented by INK Magazine – Rivals Outfield Box or Hy-Vee Infield tickets are available for Wednesday home games for youth and students with a valid ID at the Kauffman Stadium Box Office for just $8. Select tickets are also available online at www.royals.com/studentnight. Seating is subject to availability.

Also Wednesday, July 30: Local Music Showcase presented by INK Magazine – Catch a free pregame concert on us. Every Wednesday Student Night also features live local music prior to the game in the Outfield Experience. Performing during this showcase will be the band, Katy Guillen & the Girls. For details, visit www.royals.com/studentnight.

Thursday, July 31 – Minnesota Twins vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.
· GordoNation – Fans can enjoy being a part of GordoNation, a special seating section in left field that will be reserved for die-hard Alex Gordon fans on Thursday home games throughout the season. The first 100 GordoNation fans will also receive an Alex Gordon big head. Tickets cost $35 and come with a gold GordoNation t-shirt. (photo attached) For details, visit www.royals.com/gordonation.
· All You Can Eat Seats – Fans can purchase All You Can Eat Seats located in the Loge Level (Sec. 318 – 325), which include unlimited ballpark fare. All the hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, pretzels and Pepsi products you can handle for $40 per seat! Individual and group discount tickets are available. For details, visit www.royals.com/allyoucaneat.

Fans may purchase tickets online at royals.com, by calling 1-800-6ROYALS, at area Hy-Vee stores or at the Kauffman Stadium Box Office.
For more information, members of the media may contact the Royals Publicity Department at (816) 921-8000

CHICAGO (AP) — About the only pitch that Chris Sale wouldn’t make Monday night was his case for the American League’s Cy Young Award.

Then again, if he keeps pitching like he has so far this season, he won’t have to say much.

Sale pitched seven effective innings in his first outing since the All-Star break and Adam Dunn had two RBIs and scored a run to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 3-1 victory over the slumping Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Sale (9-1) wasn’t at his best, allowing seven hits and a walk in seven innings, but he worked out of jams in the fourth and sixth innings. He struck out eight and now has allowed three runs or less in 14 of his 15 starts this season.

Those certainly appear to be Cy Young-worthy numbers, right?

“Like I’ve always said, I don’t pay too much attention to that,” Sale said. “I have a job to do and I have to focus on doing that and playing games. We’re right in the hunt right now, so these are the dog days and you have to bear down now. Now’s not the time to be thinking about yourself or some trophy or whatever.”

Chicago manager Robin Ventura, though, didn’t hesitate to respond when asked if Sale was a legitimate candidate for the award despite missing a month earlier in the season.

“Oh, yeah, absolutely,” Ventura said. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in the discussion. I don’t care if he missed a month or not. He’s good.”

Dunn went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks as the White Sox for the third time in four games since the break.

Danny Valencia went 1-for-2 with a RBI for Kansas City, which has dropped four straight and seven of eight. The Royals had a team meeting before the game, but couldn’t turn around their fortunes as they dropped two games below .500 (48-50).

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (5-9) gave up three runs on five hits in six innings to get the loss. He had been 4-0 against the White Sox with the Royals before Monday.

“I thought Guthrie threw the ball all right,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “The first inning they had some well-placed groundballs. He was a little off command-wise in the first inning. Ended up hitting two guys by mistake but still kind of limited the damage there.”

The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as the first four batters reached base and then Dunn singled up the middle against the shift — essentially hitting the ball to the normal shortstop position — to score both Adam Eaton and Alexei Ramirez.

The Royals trimmed the lead in half in the fourth. Alex Gordon singled with one out, stole second and then scored on a two-out single by Valencia. The next batter, Alcides Escobar, doubled down the left-field line, but Valencia was nailed at the plate as left-fielder Alejandro De Aza and Ramirez got the ball to catcher Tyler Flowers for the putout to end the inning.

“That’s huge,” Sale said of the play at the plate. “That’s a game-changer, a game saver, just gives us momentum. It was awesome.”

The White Sox regained the two-run edge in the sixth as Dunn scored on a sacrifice fly by Gordon Beckham to make it 3-1.

That was plenty of a cushion for Sale, who has allowed a total of three runs in 23 ? innings in his last three starts.

Ronald Belisario pitched and eighth and Jake Petricka worked the ninth for his fourth save.

“I think I’m just trying to get better day in and day out,” Sale said.

— Associated Press —

We’re not sure which we enjoyed more, this ball girl’s impressive fielding skills on a fair ball…
…or the face she made afterward.

BOSTON (AP) — Jon Lester just wants to put up impressive numbers on the mound. He will worry about the figures on his next contract later.

Red Sox fans showed appreciation for his latest brilliant outing with loud applause as he walked to the dugout after his eighth and final inning Sunday.

“I hope people are more pleased with how I’m pitching and not how I’m handling contract stuff,” the All-Star left-hander said after a 6-0 win that gave Boston a three-game sweep over the Kansas City Royals.

Lester, who can become a free agent after the season, allowed no earned runs for the third time in four starts. He struck out eight and gave up two walks and four hits. Only one Royals player reached third base.

Clearly, he hasn’t let the uncertainty over where he will be pitching next season hurt his pitching this season.

“He’s been a model for others to witness as players get to that stage of their career,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He’s been able to handle it, I think, in a professional manner.”

Lester (10-7) is 4-0 with a 0.85 ERA over his last seven starts with 47 strikeouts and eight walks in a span of 52 2/3 innings. He has yielded just one earned run in 31 innings.

“You’ve got to take each one as an individual,” Lester said. “If I’m out there thinking about what I did last time, I’m not worried about the right things.”

Lester extended his scoreless streak to 14 innings before Junichi Tazawa got the first out of the ninth. Edward Mujica retired the next two batters.

“We matched up against an All-Star pitcher today and he was on top of his game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Yordano Ventura (7-8) gave up all six runs.

The first scored on Dustin Pedroia’s forceout at second base in the first, Daniel Nava hit a two-run double in the third, and Boston added three in the fourth on David Ross’ two-run homer and Nava’s sacrifice fly.

That was more than enough support for Lester as he keeps building a case for a lucrative contract.

“If these guys are happy with the way I’m throwing and how I’m going about my business, then that’s all I care about,” he said. “The other stuff will take care of itself when the right time comes.”

Boston entered the game in last place in the AL East, percentage points behind Tampa Bay, but won for the seventh time in eight games.

Kansas City went scoreless after losing 2-1 Saturday night. The Royals have lost nine of 12, are 9-17 since a 10-game winning streak, and have scored less than two runs in four of their last six games. They open a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

“You basically just shake it off and get right back out there,” designated hitter Billy Butler said. “We faced a tough left-hander today and it doesn’t get any easier. We face Chris Sale tomorrow.”

The Royals put runners at first and second in the first when Eric Hosmer was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Danny Valencia singled. But Alex Gordon flied to left.

Alcides Escobar was left on base after a one-out single in the second, and Lester retired eight consecutive batters before Escobar led off the fifth with a double. He reached third on a one-out groundout, but the threat ended when Lorenzo Cain flied out, leaving him hitless in 22 at bats.

Hosmer singled with one out in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. After Valencia struck out, Gordon drew a walk, the first issued by Lester in three starts. But Butler grounded out.

Cain walked leading off the eighth, but Lester finished his outing by getting Omar Infante to ground into a double play before fanning Hosmer.

“Jon Lester did a really nice job of holding us down,” Yost said, “mixed in his curveball effectively, spotted his fastball well and used his cutter really well.”

Brock Holt scored Boston’s first run after he and Nava singled. Nava’s double in the third came after a walk to Ross and a single by Jackie Bradley Jr. In the fourth, Shane Victorino doubled and scored on Ross’ sixth homer. Nava’s sacrifice fly drove in Bradley, who had singled.

— Associated Press —

BOSTON (AP) — Rubby De La Rosa quietly walked up behind reporters waiting for him and went unnoticed before he got their attention.

His actions are much louder on the Fenway Park mound.

De La Rosa had another strong home start, going seven solid innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

“He’s been outstanding at home,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “Even in the couple of situations where we gave an extra baserunner, he shut it down and pitched with a lot of poise tonight.”

Mike Napoli hit a tiebreaking homer, sending the defending World Series champions to their sixth win in seven games. Boston is looking to climb back into the race from the AL East’s basement.

Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer extended his career-best hitting streak to 15 games with a single. The Royals lost for the eighth time in 11 games, falling to 10-20 in one-run games after leading the AL with 31 victories last season.

Napoli’s homer cleared a billboard atop the Green Monster seats and completely left the park in the sixth.

De La Rosa (3-2) gave up one run on five hits, walking four and striking out two. He worked out of trouble most of his outing.

“It’s fun to pitch here,” he said. “I feel comfortable here at Fenway. I like the mound. I like the fans. I feel comfortable here.”

Danny Duffy (5-10) allowed two runs — one earned — on six hits in 6⅔ innings. It was his fifth loss in six starts, but he’s allowed two or fewer runs in four of the losses.

“We’re not scoring enough runs. It’s as simple as that,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of the one-run losses. “When we score, we win. Our bullpen does a nice job of holding it close. It’s a combination of not capitalizing on opportunities, and we had opportunities tonight, a couple of them.”

The Royals have scored four total runs, and not more than one in any of Duffy’s past five losses.

“I don’t even think about it that way,” he said. “These guys in here got my back day in and day out.”

Andrew Miller pitched a perfect eighth and All-Star Koji Uehara a 1-2-3 ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.

In two of his three home starts, De La Rosa pitched seven shutout innings. In his last one, he gave up three runs in five innings.

De La Rosa stranded runners at second base in four of the first six innings, twice also leaving a runner on first.

“I didn’t try to think about me on base,” he said, flashing a quick smile. “I try to think about the next hitter.”

The Royals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third when Jarrod Dyson tripled and scored on shortstop Omar Infante’s sacrifice fly.

Infante’s fielding error allowed Boston’s tying run in the fourth. With runners on first and second, Infante had Shane Victorino’s probable inning-ending, double-play grounder go right through his legs, scoring Napoli.

Boston left fielder Jonny Gomes bumped into shortstop Brock Holt, dropping a ball for a two-base error in the fourth, and called off Holt, but had the ball fall in front of him for a double in the fifth.

— Associated Press —

BOSTON (AP) — Jonny Gomes hit a go-ahead two-run pinch homer in the sixth after another two-run shot in the inning by Xander Bogaerts and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Friday night.

The Red Sox maintained their momentum after winning four of their last five games before the All-Star game. They entered the break in last place in the AL East but were coming off Clay Buchholz’s 11-0 complete-game win over Houston, their season high for runs.

Buchholz (5-5) allowed four runs in six innings against Kansas City. Koji Uehara allowed Omar Infante’s two-out double in the ninth but got his 19th save in 21 chances.

Scott Downs (0-3) gave up the homer to Gomes, the first batter he faced after replacing James Shields.

Eric Hosmer had three hits and two RBIs for the Royals as he extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Daniel Nava started Boston’s four-run rally with a one-out single that slid out of left fielder Alex Gordon’s glove as he dove. Bogaerts was in a 14 for 123 (.114) slump, but hit Shields’ 1-1 pitch into the center-field bleachers.

That cut the deficit to 4-3 and Stephen Drew, batting .158 in 29 games since joining the Red Sox in late May, followed with a ground-rule double. After David Ross struck out, lefty Downs came in to face lefty Jackie Bradley Jr.

But the right-handed Gomes pinch hit and drove a 2-2 pitch to nearly the same spot where Bogaerts’ homer landed. It was Gomes’ sixth homer of the year and his second as a pinch hitter.

The Royals had taken a 1-0 lead in the first on a double by Infante and an RBI single by Hosmer.

The Red Sox tied it in the second when Bogaerts reached first on a throwing error by shortstop Infante, and Drew and Brock Holt singled.

Kansas City made it 3-1 in the fourth on run-scoring singles by Salvador Perez and Gordon than added a run in the fifth on Hosmer’s RBI single.

David Ortiz led off the third for Boston and was out on a strange play.

He hit a towering popup to the first-base side of the mound. Shields appeared uncomfortable trying to catch it so first baseman Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas raced in to help. Hosmer raised his glove, but the ball ticked off it and Moustakas cradled it for the out.

More strange glove work occurred in the top of the fourth when Hosmer hit the ball sharply down the first-base line.

A ball girl, seated beside the low fence in foul territory, fielded it cleanly then quickly dropped it. It was too late, though, and Infante, who had singled, was stopped at third while Hosmer reached second. Both ended up scoring anyway on the singles by Perez and Gordon.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Despite being only two games above .500 and facing a 6.5-game deficit against first-place Detroit, the Kansas City Royals believe they have their rivals right where they want them.

Judging by recent history, maybe they do.

A five-run seventh inning keyed by Omar Infante’s two-run single and an RBI double from Eric Hosmer enabled the Royals to avoid a demoralizing four-game sweep against the Tigers on Sunday.

It also brought to mind the league-best 33-20 mark they logged last season after stumbling into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak.

“We’re eight games better than we were at this time last year,” manager Ned Yost said. “And we’re a second-half team. We’ve always been a second-half team.”

Exactly why they seem to play better after the break, no one seems to know.

“I’m not sure,” designated hitter Billy Butler said. “The season’s long, It wears on guys as they get older. We’re young. And sometimes I think as guys get older … I don’t know.”

But he does know last year’s second-half surge makes this year’s challenge seem less daunting.

“We’re just better the second half. It’s our track record and we’re starting to count on it.”

Four of the seventh-inning runs were charged to Justin Verlander (8-8), who started the inning with a two-hit shutout but loaded the bases on three straight singles.

“Things were going well for us and we ran into the seventh,” said Verlander, who lost for just the fifth time in 15 decisions in Kauffman Stadium. “A couple of balls fell in the right spots and I’m out of the ballgame. They were able to find some spots.”

Since June 18 when K.C. beat the Tigers for their 10th straight win and went a season-best seven games over .500, the Royals have gone 9-14 while the Tigers went 17-6.

Verlander gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out three and walked one.

Yordano Ventura (7-7) pitched 1 2/3 innings in his first career relief appearance and got the win.

He allowed one hit and struck out three for the Royals, who beat the Tigers for only the first time in seven tries this year at home.

Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 26 opportunities.

After Raul Ibanez loaded the bases in the seventh with a single that snapped a 0-for-25 skid, Alcides Escobar brought in a run with a slow-rolling infield single that second baseman Ian Kinsler failed to pick up cleanly. A second run then scored on Jarrod Dyson’s fielder’s choice.

Ian Krol replaced Verlander and after intentionally walking pinch hitter Salvador Perez, gave up a two-run single to Omar Infante that made it 4-2.

“I waited for that pitch and made good contact,” Infante said.

Hosmer’s double stretched his career-best hitting streak to 13 games.

Rajai Davis and Austin Jackson opened the third with back-to-back singles and the Tigers took a 2-0 lead on Miguel Cabrera’s sacrifice fly and a two-out bloop single by J.D. Martinez, which fell in between shortstop Escobar and left fielder Ibanez as Jackson came around from first.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rick Porcello outdueled James Shields and the Detroit Tigers won their fifth in a row, beating the Kansas City Royals 5-1 Saturday night.

Porcello (12-5) raised his career record against Kansas City to 8-3 while yielding six hits and one run through seven innings.

Alex Avila drove in three runs, putting the Tigers in position to go for a four-game sweep on Sunday in what had been billed as an AL Central showdown.

The Royals have lost six of their last eight. They are 0-6 at home against Detroit this year.

Shields (9-5) went seven innings and allowed two runs and seven hits. He struck out eight and walked none while throwing 121 pitches.

The Tigers scored three in the ninth against reliever Aaron Crow, starting with J.D. Martinez’s leadoff home run.

Nick Castellanos was safe at first after a replay review overturned a call, and Avila hit a 427-foot homer.

Ian Kinsler’s RBI single put the Tigers on top 1-0 in the third.

In the fourth, Torii Hunter hit a drive into straightaway center field over the head of Jarrod Dyson and turned it into his first triple of the season. The relay throw actually beat the sliding Hunter to the bag, but he was safe when third baseman Mike Moustakas failed to get the tag down. Avila’s RBI single made it 2-0.

Billy Butler had a sacrifice fly in the sixth after the Royals had wasted several scoring chances.

Alcides Escobar bounced into an inning-ending double play in the second, Lorenzo Cain did the same in the third and then, with the bases loaded and two out in the fifth, Porcello struck out Cain on a 2-2 pitch.

Al Alburquerque pitched a perfect ninth for the Tigers, who held the Royals to one run for the second night in a row.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Anibal Sanchez tossed seven stingy innings, Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera drove in runs and the Detroit Tigers squeaked out a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Sanchez (6-3) scattered eight hits without a walk to help the AL Central-leading Tigers take their second straight from Kansas City. The second-place Royals dropped 6 1-2 games back in the division with two games left before the All-Star break.

Salvador Perez drove in the only run for the Royals, who squandered a solid start by Danny Duffy (5-9). He gave up both runs, only one earned, while losing for the fourth time in five starts.

Joe Nathan worked around a single and a walk in the ninth inning to earn his 19th save, and gave Detroit its fifth straight win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium this season.

Nathan got Nori Aoki to ground out on a full-count pitch to end the game.

The Royals appeared to be 90 feet from tying it with no outs in the eighth, when Aoki swiped second base and went to third when the throw from catcher Bryan Holaday squirted into center field.

While that was going on, though, plate umpire Chad Fairchild was calling batter interference on Lorenzo Cain for stepping into the way of the throw to second. Cain was out and Aoki was forced to make the long, slow trot back to first base. He wound up getting stranded by Joba Chamberlain.

After the Tigers opened the series with a 16-4 blowout Thursday night, Sanchez and Duffy waged an entertaining pitchers’ duel. And just like when they met in June, Sanchez was one run better.

Duffy surrendered a leadoff double to Austin Jackson and an RBI single to Kinsler in the first inning, and then gave up another run in the third when Cabrera hit a lazy sacrifice fly.

Duffy wound up allowing five hits while striking out six without a walk. He departed after hitting the Tigers’ Nick Castellanos leading off the seventh inning, but Kelvin Herrera — who hit the first batter he faced — managed to wiggle out of the jam without any more damage.

Meanwhile, Sanchez was churning through the Royals lineup.

They scored their only run in the first inning when Eric Hosmer stretched a single into a double and Perez followed with a base hit. Sanchez struck out Billy Butler to end the inning, and then kept Kansas City at bay over the next six — though none of them was clean.

Sanchez worked around a single in the second, a double in the third, a leadoff single in the fourth, and singles in the fifth and sixth innings without another run.

His tensest moment came in the seventh, when Mike Moustakas doubled off the wall in center field, missing a tying homer by a couple of feet. The Royals got Moustakas to third with a groundout, but Sanchez induced two more groundouts — one a magnificent spinning stab by shortstop Eugenio Suarez — to quietly end the threat.

— Associated Press —