Tigers 3, Royals 2: Alex Avila hit two home runs, including a tie-breaking solo blast in the eighth inning, and Detroit edged visiting Kansas City in the rubber match of the three-game series.

Alcides Escobar scored on a wild pitch to tie the game in the eighth before Avila belted a one-out homer in the bottom half off Jeremy Guthrie (14-11), who surrendered three runs on 13 hits over eight frames. Drew Smyly (6-0) earned the win and Joaquin Benoit worked a perfect ninth for his 20th save for the Tigers, who remained five games ahead of Cleveland in the American League Central.

Prior to the late-inning drama, Tigers starter Max Scherzer struck out 12 over seven innings of one-run ball, but was denied his 20th victory for the fourth time. Scherzer's winless streak is his longest drought of the season.

Avila gave Detroit an early lead with a two-run blast in the second and the Royals answered in the fourth on Alex Gordon’s solo homer. The loss dropped Kansas City 3 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay and Texas, who share the AL wild lead.

Prince Fielder had three hits and Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez added two apiece for the Tigers, who won despite going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Avila hit two home runs in a game for the fourth time in his career. … Escobar went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to nine games. …. Guthrie has allowed a major league-leading 215 hits.