KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Alex Gordon homered and Kyle Davies beat Detroit for the first time in six home starts, leading Kansas City past the Tigers 2-1 on a warm, windy Sunday afternoon.
Davies (7-9) went six innings and allowed only three hits and one run, a home run by Casper Wells in the fifth. He walked three and struck out four after coming in with an 0-5 record and a 6.59 ERA in five starts against the Tigers in Kauffman Stadium.
Joakim Soria had two strikeouts while pitching a perfect ninth to extend his club record with 30 consecutive saves. The right-hander has not allowed a score in 17 straight innings, spanning his last 17 outings. He has converted 37 of 39 save opportunities this season.
The victory enabled the Royals to avoid a three-game sweep by the Tigers, who were trying to climb above .500 for the first time since July 31.
Billy Butler, who had singled, was on second when Wilson Betemit lifted a high fly ball to deep right field. Brennan Boesch got turned around and may have lost the ball in the sun before he fell behind him and bounced over the wall for an RBI double.
Wells, a late-minute replacement in left field for an ailing Ryan Radburn, hit an 0-1 pitch from Davies for a home run that tied it 1-1.
Brad Thomas (5-2) relieved starter Armando Galarraga starting the sixth and Gordon hit his first pitch for the go-ahead home run.
Armando Galarraga practically matched Davies pitch for pitch, working five innings and allowing four hits and one slightly tainted run.
Tiger outfielders had problems with the sun in the early innings. Brayan Pena was awarded a double when Wells lost his high fly ball and had it bounce off his arm.
The Royals loaded the bases in the third on Billy Butler's double and two-out walks to Betemit and Gordon. But Galarraga escaped by getting Brayan Pena to fly out on a 3-2 pitch.
In the Detroit fifth, Alex Avila walked, went to second on a balk and advanced to third on first baseman Butler's fielding error. But with two outs and the bases loaded, Johnny Damon fanned on a 3-2 pitch.
NOTES: Gil Meche, who opted not to have shoulder had another impressive outing out of the bullpen. The former starter pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning. ... Soria has shattered the Royals former record of 24 consecutive saves set by Jeff Montgomery. ... Since the start of the 2006 season, the Tigers are 29-16 in Kauffman Stadium.
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