Major League Baseball

Tigers 6, Royals 4

Published Jul. 9, 2011 4:46 a.m. ET

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Magglio Ordonez's two-run home run just six pitches into the game staked Rick Porcello to an early lead and got the Detroit Tigers rolling toward a 6-4 victory Friday night over Kyle Davies and the reeling Kansas City Royals.

Davies (1-8) lost his seventh straight decision and the Royals sank to 5-14 in their past 19 games.

Only one of the three runs the Royals scored off Porcello (8-6) was earned. The lanky right-hander went 5 1-3 innings and allowed six hits. He struck out five and walked just one - the 14th time in 17 outings he has allowed two or fewer walks.

Davies, making his second start since returning from the disabled list with inflammation of the right rotator cuff, gave up a leadoff double to Andy Dirks, who had three hits.

One out later, Ordonez hit the struggling right-hander's first offering over the fence for a 2-0 lead. Davies went six innings and allowed five runs and nine hits, with three walks and four strikeouts.

The Royals closed to 5-4 in the seventh when Melky Cabrera doubled home a run off reliever David Purcey. But with two outs, shortstop Jhonny Peralta made a standout play running to his right to stop Billy Butler's hard-hit grounder and nip the heavy-footed DH at first.

All-Star Jose Valverde labored through the ninth for his 23rd save in 23 opportunities. He loaded the bases with two outs with a single and two walks and went to 2-0 on Billy Butler before retiring him on a fly ball.

The Tigers loaded the bases with none out in the second on a walk and two soft singles but got only one run, on Dirks' infield grounder with one out.

Ryan Raburn, who had singled and was on first, went piling into shortstop Alcides Escobar to break up the attempted double play as Peralta crossed the plate.

The Royals bounced back with two unearned runs in the bottom of the first after Chris Getz reached leading off on third baseman Brandon Inge's fielding error.

After Cabrera's single, Alex Gordon rifled an RBI single into center with one out, Jeff Francoeur brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Victor Martinez's infield grounder brought in Ordonez from third base with another Detroit run in the third and then Peralta made it 5-2 with an RBI double.

Porcello, after striking out the side in the third, gave up three straight singles starting the fourth, including Butler's RBI single. Porcello escaped by getting Eric Hosmer on a fielder's choice grounder and Francoeur and Mike Moustakas on fly balls.

The Tigers added a run off Tim Collins in the ninth on Brennan Boesch's fielder's choice grounder.

Getz, a three-year veteran, was ejected for the first time in his career for arguing with first base umpire Tom Hallion after he was called out on a close play ending the fourth.

Notes: The Royals optioned LHP Danny Duffy to Triple-A Omaha and brought up LHP Everett Teaford. Duffy will return after the All-Star break and start against the White Sox on July 19. ... OF Austin Jackson underwent treatment for a sore left wrist and Detroit manager Jim Leyland said he would not start until after the All-Star break. ... KC rookie 3B Mike Moustakas was 0 for 4 and is hitless in his past 21 at-bats.

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