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Verlander flirts with no-hitter as Tigers pound Royals

May 5, 2014 - 12:06 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Verlander carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning as the Detroit Tigers cruised to a 9-4 win over the Kansas City Royals to complete a three-game sweep.

Verlander (4-1) allowed three runs on four hits and four walks over seven frames to earn the win. The former Cy Young winner struck out seven.

"This is the way that we're expected to play baseball," Verlander said. "You keep guys off the board and allow the offense to go out and score runs and that's how you win a lot of ballgames."

Torii Hunter went 3-for-5 with three RBI, Alex Avila hit a two-run homer and Nick Castellanos clubbed a solo shot for the Tigers, winners in five straight.

Nori Aoki and Jarrod Dyson had two RBI apiece for the Royals, who have dropped four straight. Kansas City was swept at home for the first time this season.

Jason Vargas (2-1) was dealt his first loss of the season after allowing seven runs on 11 hits over five innings.

"Obviously it's not what we wanted to do," Vargas said of being swept. "We just have to forgot about it and move on."

The Tigers pushed at least one run across in four straight innings to take a 7-0 lead. Castellanos got things started with his solo shot in the second.

In the third, Hunter singled home Rajai Davis for a 2-0 lead.

With runners at second and third in the fourth, Ian Kinsler ripped an infield single to short to score Andrew Romine. Miguel Cabrera followed with a two- run double to right to make it 5-0.

Avila's two-run shot in the fifth gave the visitors a commanding 7-0 lead.

Billy Butler finally broke Verlander's no-hit bid with a two-out single in the sixth, and Kansas City broke through for three runs in the seventh.

Dyson tripled to right with runners on the corners and Aoki followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-3.

Hunter's two-run single in the eighth made it 9-3, with Aoki singling home Mike Moustakas in the ninth to account for the final difference.

Game Notes

Detroit outscored the Royals 26-8 in the series ... The Tigers were 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position ... Prior to the game, Kansas City activated pitcher Tim Collins from the 15-day disabled list and optioned reliever Aaron Brooks to Triple-A Omaha.