Rick Porcello delivers a pitch against the Royals on Saturday. (photo/MLB)
Rick Porcello picked up his AL-leading 12th win and improved his career record against the Royals to 8-3 after he gave up one run on six hits in a 5-1 win over the Royals to give Detroit a 7 1/2-game lead in the AL Central.
Royals starter James Shield Shields (9-5) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked none while throwing 121 pitches.
The Tigers scored three in the ninth against reliever Aaron Crow, including a leadoff homer by J.D. Martinez. Alex Avila drove in three runs for Detroit. The Royals lone run came on a sacrifice fly by Billy Butler in the sixth.
