Tigers beat Royals in ten

Kansas City Royals second baseman Johnny Giavotella (9) takes the field for his first start during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 5, 2011.
Kansas City Royals second baseman Johnny Giavotella (9) takes the field for his first start during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 5, 2011.

KANSAS CITY (AP) - Brennan Boesch hit a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning Friday night to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Wilson Betemit led off the inning with a walk and pinch-runner Andy Dirks took second on a wild pitch by Aaron Crow (3-3) with one out.

Daniel Schlereth (1-1) worked two scoreless innings and Jose Valverde pitched the bottom of the 10th for his 31st straight save.

Austin Jackson and Boesch opened the game with back-to-back triples in the Tigers' two-run first inning. Alex Avila tacked on a solo homer in the fifth.

Johnny Giavotella made his debut for the Royals and hit an RBI single before scoring the tying run on Alcides Escobar's single in the seventh.

Royals starter Felipe Paulino gave up three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two.

Rick Porcello had a string of wins in five straight starts snapped. He left with one out in the seventh after giving up Giavotella's RBI single.

Phil Coke came on, gave up an RBI single to Mike Moustakas, and left. David Pauley gave up Escobar's tying hit to center field.

Giavotella went 2-for-3 in his big league debut, with a double, a walk a steal and a run in addition to his RBI single.

Notes: The Tigers began a stretch Friday where they are playing 12-of-15 games against AL Central opponents. ... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera singled in the fourth for his 80th hit in 65 games against the Royals. ... Royals DH Billy Butler extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a seventh inning leadoff single. . The Royals optioned INF Yamaico Navarro, who they acquired in a trade to Omaha to make roster space for Giavotella. ... The Royals fell to 10-7 in extra-inning games. ... RHP Justin Verlander, who starts tonight, is seven strikeouts shy of tying Denny McClain (1,150) for ninth place on the Tigers career list. Verlander will be seeking his 99th career win. ... LHP Danny Duffy, scheduled to start tonight for the Royals, has struck out 40 in 37 1/3 innings in his past six starts. In his first six, Duffy struck out just 20 in 30 1/3 innings in his first six starts.