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Tigers rout Royals, extend AL Central lead

Sep 20, 2014 - 4:40 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Ian Kinsler homered and drove in three runs, and Justin Verlander pitched into the eighth inning in Detroit's 10-1 rout of the Kansas City Royals in a key AL Central showdown.

Eugenio Suarez knocked in two runs for the Tigers, who opened a 1 1/2-game lead on the Royals atop the division. J.D. Martinez continued to torch the Royals, as he went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Verlander (14-12) scattered seven hits and gave up a run over 7 1/3 innings in Detroit's fifth victory in seven games.

"He certainly seemed like he was up for this game tonight. It was one of the best games he's thrown all year," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.

Jason Vargas (11-10) threw 30 pitches in the first inning and was charged with nine hits and five runs over 3 1/3 frames.

Jayson Nix drove in the lone run for the Royals in the opener of this three- game set.

Kansas City is in second place in the wild card standings, a half-game behind Oakland and a half-game in front of Seattle.

Kinsler singled to start the game, and with one out Miguel Cabrera doubled to left field off the glove of Alex Gordon for a 1-0 lead.

"The ball was probably knuckling because it was hit so hard," Royals manger Ned Yost said.

Victor Martinez followed with an RBI single to right-center. J.D. Martinez then singled, and with two down Suarez's base hit to left made it 3-0.

Torii Hunter doubled to right-center to score Rajai Davis in the second, and Verlander escaped a 2nd-and-3rd jam in the bottom portion.

Kinsler doubled in a run in the fourth before the Tigers busted it open by scoring five times the next inning. Kinsler highlighted the frame with a two- run homer to left.

Nix's sacrifice fly to left scored Johnny Giavotella in the eighth.

Game Notes

The Tigers are 7-1 at Kauffman Stadium this year ... Detroit catcher Alex Avila missed the game due to concussion-like symptoms ... In 14 games this season, J.D. Martinez is hitting .458 with 11 runs scored ... Verlander is 11-5 in his career at Kauffman Stadium.