Mike Moustakas had three hits and three RBIs and the Royals roughed up the reigning AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, Justin Verlander in a 9-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Verlander was charged with eight earned runs, matching his career high, in 5.2 innings. It was just the third time in Verlander’s career he had been tagged for eight earned runs and first since April 6, 2009, at Toronto.
The Royals’ 2-6 hitters, Alcides Escobar, Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Salvador Perez and Moustakas, combined for 12 hits and nine RBIs.
Verlander entered with a 9-2 record and a 1.83 ERA in 13 career starts at Kauffman Stadium and a 14-2 overall record against the Royals.
Royals minor league 1B Mark Donato, a 26th-round pick in June, received a 50-game suspension from the commissioner’s office after testing positive for an amphetamine. Donato was hitting .253 with three home runs in 38 games for Surprise in the rookie Arizona League.