Tigers 16, Royals 4: Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez drove in three runs apiece and visiting Detroit routed Kansas City while setting a season high for runs scored.

Hunter homered among his three hits and scored twice while Ian Kinsler and Eugenio Suarez each had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored for Detroit, which collected eight doubles among its 19 hits and cruised to its third straight win. Drew Smyly (5-8) allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings and snapped a two-game losing skid.

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (5-8) yielded a season-high eight runs on eight hits and exited after four innings for the second straight start. Detroit, which outscored Kansas City 26-8 during a three-game sweep in early May, scored three runs in the first and never looked back in the opener of a four-game series.

Billy Butler homered to begin the fourth to cut the deficit to 6-2 before the Tigers sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on eight hits in the fifth. Hunter blasted a leadoff homer and later singled in a run, Suarez added a two-run double and Nick Castellanos capped the rally with an RBI double off Louis Coleman, who allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Eric Hosmer lined a two-run homer in the seventh for the Royals, who remained winless in four home games against the Tigers this season. Kansas City played without left fielder Alex Gordon, who missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left wrist and will not participate in the All-Star Game.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kansas City placed LHP Jason Vargas on the 15-day disabled list with appendicitis and recalled Coleman from Triple-A Omaha. … Tigers DH-1B Victor Martinez missed his fifth straight game with a sore back and is not expected to play during the series. … Hunter is 16-for-33 with three home runs and 13 RBIs over his last eight games.