The Royals built an early 5-0 lead and used stellar defense to hold off the Tigers for a 7-6 win at Comerica Park.
Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar all homered for Kansas City, which has won three of its last four games to get back to .500 at 68-and-68.
Artie Lewicki took the loss in his big league debut. Nicholas Castellanos hit a three-run homer for Detroit in the ninth.
Detroit hopes to put the brakes on a five-game losing streak tonight as Anibal Sanchez returns from the disabled list to start for the Tigers opposite Kansas City's Jason Vargas.