• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Six-run fifth pushes Tigers over Royals

Aug 30, 2008 - 3:51 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- All it took was one error to open the floodgates.

The Detroit Tigers took advantage of a miscue and scored six runs in the fifth inning Friday en route to a 6-3 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.

After Marcus Thames reached on an error by shortstop Mike Aviles to start the inning, the Tigers used six hits to score all the runs they needed. Edgar Renteria followed with a single and, after Brandon Inge struck out, Curtis Granderson hit a triple to right-center field to plate two and give Detroit a 2-1 edge.

"I think the biggest part of the inning was Marcus being safe at first," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He hustled all the way and was there when the first baseman dropped the ball."

Placido Polanco delivered and RBI single and scored on Jeff Larish's two-run single three batters later. After advancing to second on a wild pitch by Kyle Davies, Larish came home on Gary Sheffield's single to cap the uprising as Detroit snapped its four-game skid.

"Guys kept getting good pitches to hit and they were finding the holes," Larish said. "You always want to end a four-game losing streak."

Zach Miner (8-4) allowed one run and six hits in six innings to notch his third straight win and fourth in five decisions since joining the Tigers' rotation.

"He was effective tonight," Leyland said. "When he's a starter, he's a four-pitch pitcher . His curveball and slider are getting better."

The Royals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a home run by Mark Teahen, his 11th of the season. But Davies (5-6), who lost his fourth straight start, could not hold it, allowing six runs - two earned - and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

"Went pretty well the first four innings," Davies said. "Even in the fifth, I threw some good pitches. A broken-bat (hit) falls, jam them with a pitch, it falls in. Two seeing-eye singles."

Aviles had two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which has lost four straight and 12 of 13.

"Not enough production," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Not enough two-out hits, that's a big part of it."