DETROIT (AP) -- Danny Duffy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and beat Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on a combined two-hitter Friday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Eric Hosmer homered for the Royals.
Ramon Santiago hit a pinch hit home run for the Tigers.
Duffy (1-0), making his second big-league start this season after being called up from Triple-A Omaha Friday morning, held Detroit hitless for 5 2-3 innings, while walking three and hitting a batter. Miguel Cabrera got the first hit, a one-hop liner to third baseman Emilio Bonifacio's right. Bonifacio dove for it, but the ball went off his glove and bounced toward left-center.
Kelvin Herrera replaced Duffy, who threw 96 pitches, in the seventh and retired the side in order. Aaron Crow worked the eighth and surrendered Santiago's pinch-hit home run leading off the inning. Crow got the next three batters.
Greg Holland pitched the ninth for his 33rd save.
Verlander (12-9) allowed two runs on seven hits in eight innings. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter.
Verlander gave up Hosmer's 13th home run of the season, leading off the fourth, which gave the Royals a 1-0 lead. The left-handed hitting first baseman drilled Verlander's pitch to the opposite field and into the left-field stands beyond the Tigers' bullpen.
Kansas City made it 2-0 on consecutive doubles leading off the seventh by Justin Maxwell and Bonifacio.
Phil Coke and Al Alburquerque pitched the ninth for Detroit, combining to retire the Royals 1-2-3.
NOTE: Tigers manager Jim Leyland said it was likely that neither closer Joaquin Benoit nor late-inning reliever Bruce Rondon would be available for either games of Friday's games because of how often they've been used in the past few games. . Royals manager Ned Yost said third baseman Mike Moustakas, who has been out since leaving Monday's game with a tight calf, would do some work on the field on Friday to assess his progress. . Tigers regular DH Victor Martinez and first baseman Prince Fielder switched places for the first game. Fielder served as the DH and Martinez played first. . Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias, as he squared to attempt a bunt, was hit in the groin area by a Danny Duffy pitch leading off the third inning. Iglesias hobbled toward first base before collapsing in foul territory. He remained in the game after being attended to by trainer Kevin Rand and after he recovered. . The Royals Billy Butler continued his mastery of Verlander. Butler was 2-for-3 to run his career mark against the Tigers' star to 27-for-62 (. 435). . The scheduled starters for Friday's night portion of the doubleheader are James Shields (7-8, 3.33) for Kansas City against rookie lefthander Jose Alvarez (1-2, 5.03), who was called up from Triple-A Toledo to make the start in the twin bill.
